very nice post Olympic break

[yave1964]

  Wow what a start to the post Olympic playoff push. A nice win against the Canadiens (only nice because Howard gave up a tying goal with 20 seconds to go allowing Montreal to steal a point) followed by a thrashing of the Ottawa Senators. A three point lead over the Flyers for the seven seed, only one point behind the Rangers.

  Franzen has come back taking right back over where he left off pre injury. Datsyuk is still nursing his injury and has been less than himself but he will get better, Nyquist has turned into everything we could have hoped for and then some.

  Weiss is due back next week and a tough decision must be made with one of the kids, Sheahan looks like a man who wants to stay, Jurco makes many mistakes and is raw but wow is he talented. In the numbers game however one should be sent out rather than wasting their talent by sitting them in a press box.

  My personal opinion is Jurco should go. Sheahan just looks like the more mature player NOW who is more NHL ready at this time. Two, three years from now that might not be the case but right now Sheahan is the better fit.

 

  As the trade deadline nears, I read everywhere that the Wings number one need is a shut down defenseman who can play big minutes and that is what they are looking for. Frankly, I have to disagree, Kronwall is almost a star, Eriksson has developed into a legitimate top pair d-man, Smith still makes mistakes but they are not as common and he deserves to play, Dekeyser and Kindl form a solid second pair. Quincey, while not a top player has been very solid lately and Lashoff as a number seven is not bad.

  If we trade for a d-man I would rather see an Erhoff type come on board, a power play guy who can run the second unit. I think we need offense from our defense more than another stay at home blue liner.

  Even with the play of Franzen and the imminent return of Weiss with Zetterberg out I would love to see the club add a top six forward. Weiss is kind of like a trade deadline addition but a sniper on the wing would be huge.

  And lastly, Alfie has been hinting at being open to returning next season with the understanding that if he does it would only be with the Wings. I would love to see this, he brings something to the team we have sorely lacked.

[SpikeDDS]

@yave1964

My opinion--and I am saying this ignorant of who would have to clear waivers and who would not, and if that needs to be considered, my answer may be different--is that I like the kid line of Sheahan, Tats, and Jurco. I'd rather see Andersson or Glendening sit than break up this line. They may not score every single night, but Tats and the boys are almost always a threat to score. Without Z, we need every threat to score we can get. I don't dislike Andersson or Glendening, BTW. But if you ask which player impacts the game more, the answer is Jurco right now, even with his occasional defensive lapses. He seems, in comparison, to have a much bigger plus-side than, say, Brendan Smith (who I must say has had fewer lapses of late--very good to NOT see, right?) whose lapses seem to have been more costly. He has certainly been better since Babs sat him out. Much more responsible. Jurco does make mistakes, but I think his creativity and chemistry with Tats more than makes up for his lapses. And the more he plays, I think the fewer of those lapses we will see.

I also agree that Quincey has been a better player since around December. He was awful at the beginning of the season. He, too, has been more responsible of late. I wonder if his expiring contract has anything to do with his improved play of late, trying to increase his value.

As far as defense goes, unless the deal is too good to pass up, I'm not sure I'd be making to many big deals right now on D. We are going to get the opportunity to rework the back end after this season. I would rather sit on and develop our young talent than give it away on a D-rental, again, unless the deal is too good to pass up. We've got some talent coming. Some of it is here, and you can see the potential. I would honestly rather miss the playoffs this year, but keep the talent. I don't know that we WILL miss the playoffs. My prediction was/is that we make it, even without Z. But I do get concerned about the kid line coming to the end of the regular season as playoff hockey starts to get played and time and space begin to dwindle. We'll have to see how the kids respond. It may be tough. Then again, our young guys from last year (Nyquist and Brunner) were some of our best offensive players in the playoffs last year.

Finally, what a testimony it would be to have Alfie stay for another year, especially since his numbers have only been good, and also since it was a bit tough on his family leaving Ottawa and coming to Detroit. I think that may play into him not wanting to go anywhere else if he continues. His wife and kids have had to make new friends. Would he out them through that for another one-year deal? Or is he better off staying and letting Holland make some moves with the resources that we have during the post-season and making a final run with the Wings? The future of this franchise does hold some good promise, and his veteran leadership would have lots of value. Seems smart to me.

[yave1964]

@SpikeDDS

 

 I had Glendening out of the equation already when considering the roster.

 

The roster with Weiss coming back:

 

 Weiss, Pavel, Mule, Alfie, Miller, Bert, Tatar, Nyquist, Adersson, Sheahan, Jurco, Abby, Helm, Cleary.

A total of 14 forwards. If you consider Eaves the 13th guy, press box material to enter when someone is hurt or needs a day off, that leaves for consideration to remove

Andersson: out of waivers too good to release, someone would snag him in a heartbeat.

Bert: looks good since reinserted in the lineup

Cleary: 4 goals, 4 assists in 52 games. Stick a fork in him but for some reason they wont let him go.

Sheahan has size and 12 points in 20 games and can play center.

Jurco: cat like quick and 9 points in 21 games.

 

  I agree the kid line is a whole lot of fun to watch, Tatar was the leader of the Grand Rapids team that won the Caler Cup last year, he appears to be one of those guys that other players look up to. Kind of reminds me of Marty Lapointe in that regard the more i watch him. I also would hate to break the kids up.

  So the more i think about it we do not have any cap issues with Z out for the year, so we could sit Cleary along with Eaves and keep the kids in tact. Lines, while not exact, could look like this

 

Bertuzzi        Datsyuk      Nyquist

Franzen        Weiss         Alfredsson

Tatar            Sheahan     Jurco

Miller            Andersson  Abdelkader

 

Cleary and Eaves paid spectators.

Works for me. Still would love to see us add a top six forward if we can get one without breaking the bank.

[SpikeDDS]

@SpikeDDS

Bertuzzi Datsyuk Nyquist

Franzen Weiss Alfredsson

Tatar Sheahan Jurco

Miller Andersson Abdelkader

Cleary and Eaves paid spectators.

Works for me. Still would love to see us add a top six forward if we can get one without breaking the bank.

You forgot Helm! Put him between Miller and Abby and you've got quite a "grind" kind of line. Remember though that Datsyuk seems to like playing with Abby. Maybe switch Abby and Bert. I like Abby-Datyuk-Nyquist if you're gonna break up Nyquist-Franzen.

I think you keep Jurco and lose Andersson, replacing center for center (Helm for Andersson). I also think if Datsyuk starts scoring, that you keep Nyquist and Franzen together. They seem to really be clicking, although I suppose you can say the same for Alfie and Franzen too. Either way works. And it certainly makes sense to have a scorer for Datsyuk to either feed or to act as a decoy and/or score himself. Decisions decisions!

Again, though, it depends on waiver status. We are starting to run tight on players who can be sent back down without waivers, so it may force Jurco to be the one that goes. Unlikely that Andersson would clear waivers.

Coming soon to a post-season near you, Holland may have to make a deal just so we don't end up having to eventually give up one of our kids to waivers and get nothing back for him. Yeah, we've got some guys who will be leaving the roster after this season, but we may still have too much talent to simply sit on it all. Might come back to burn us in the butt if we do, thinking ahead.

Edited March 1, 2014 by SpikeDDS

[WingNut722]

@SpikeDDS @yave1964

 

Good morning, all.  Good discussion in this thread so far, but it seems you guys have counted out Zetterberg.  He's out for the rest of the regular season, yes, but would return right in line for the Playoffs.  So where do you stick him?

 

I have to quote Yave

 

Andersson: out of waivers too good to release, someone would snag him in a heartbeat.

 

 

Exactly my point in one of the other threads.  Why send him through waivers?  Trade him, Glendening and Eaves for a decent defensemen (and a later round draft pick) in return.  Sheahan stays with the notion that Franzen can also play center in a pinch.  That takes care of the absence of Andersson.  Here are your lines now. 

 

Bertuzzi        Datsyuk      Nyquist

Franzen        Helm          Alfredsson

Tatar            Sheahan     Jurco

Miller            Weiss         Abdelkader

 

I put Weiss on the fourth line in reference to Babs quote from the other day saying that they need to "play back in" to the lineup.  Weiss will get his fair shot and will be playing against Sheahan for the last centerman spot once Zetterberg returns.  

 

I would disagree on getting a forward through trade because, where do you put him?  There's no reason to move anybody out of the lines above just for the sake of moving them.  Everyone on that list brings something valuable to the tale come playoff time.  Concentrate on that D-Man for second pairing.  DeKeyeser is money, but Smith/Quincey are just not there yet to defend against these playoff powerhouses.  

Edited March 3, 2014 by WingNut722
Accidentally hit Enter

[SpikeDDS]

Good discussion in this thread so far, but it seems you guys have counted out Zetterberg.  He's out for the rest of the regular season, yes, but would return right in line for the Playoffs.  So where do you stick him?

 

Quite honestly, you look at the four centers that you have playing at the time, and Z kicks out the least effective one. The boys have a little over a month to win their place on the playoff roster. And, quite honestly, the question assumes that none of our centers will be injured during that time. If one of them gets hurt, your question is easier to answer. But barring injury, it would SEEM that it would either be Weiss or Sheahan that would have to go, You make Weiss a healthy scratch and waive Cleary. Sheahan would be more convenient, because Weiss won't clear waivers, and cleary may not either, but if Sheahan and the kids are lighting it up, you dance with the one who brung you.

[WingNut722]

@SpikeDDS

 

All good points.  And again, the added bonus is that Franzen can play center if needed, the Wings would sit comfortably at the Center position with some NHL-established backups.  Meaning they can spare some.

 

Since D-men are in high demand, don't expect much from the Red Wings by Wednesday.  Maybe a few back-end prospects and late-round draft picks going this way or that...maybe.  Those kind of deals generally aren't worth the paperwork.

[SpikeDDS]

@SpikeDDS

 

All good points.  And again, the added bonus is that Franzen can play center if needed, the Wings would sit comfortably at the Center position with some NHL-established backups.  Meaning they can spare some.

 

Since D-men are in high demand, don't expect much from the Red Wings by Wednesday.  Maybe a few back-end prospects and late-round draft picks going this way or that...maybe.  Those kind of deals generally aren't worth the paperwork.

I am expecting nothing. If they make a move I will be surprised. If they make a significant move, it would be a significant surprise. Just not enough bang for the buck/prospect out there, which is why, when Kenny said what he said that i was OK with it. Off-season would be more promising than deadline at this point, and we'll have way more flexibility.

[jammer2]

  I don't see a team with old man Bertuzzi on the top line making the playoffs. He is so hot and cold, I'd ship him to the bottom six or even better, the press box.

[SpikeDDS]

I don't see a team with old man Bertuzzi on the top line making the playoffs. He is so hot and cold, I'd ship him to the bottom six or even better, the press box.

He DOES have some value in shootouts. Obviously, once the playoffs come, that value goes away. But to get there, he can be the difference between 1 point or two. (I hate the SO, for the record, but that's how it is now.)

And I would think that without the presence of Z in the locker room, he's probably got more leadership value, helping keep the kids calm and demonstrating how to not panic. Z displays that well, and that'll be missed while he's not in there.

And I would say that his play has been better in the last two games. He scored once int eh game against the Habs. Needs to continue to play well, though. If he stops, then sit him.

Edited March 4, 2014 by SpikeDDS

[jammer2]

@SpikeDDS  Exactly, ride him while he is hot and if he goes into one of his famous disappearing streaks....to the press box.