OT - Official Post-Game Red Wings Discussion
I would say that was actually probably the closest 4 games to 1 loss I've ever seen us play. We outscored the Sharks by 2 goals actually. Four 1 goal losses? Yeah, they really got SMOKED....
On to my thoughts...It's going to be hard for me to let go of this year's team. I got more attached to this team than even the better, previous versions. I think it had a lot to do with getting so much more into the regular season this year based on the fact we were fighting just to MAKE the playoffs at one time. I had a blast with this team. We got 12 playoff games of exp. for JIMMAH Howard. That will be very valuable in the future. Things still look bright! Come back next year well rested (An extra month of this year as opposed to the last two), and let's win our Stanley Cup back in 2011!
When you are playing 5 on 4 for most of the game, and have a 5-3 in 4 out of 5 games.
This was a bit of a bizarre series. How many times does a team score more goals total and lose in five?
Ultimately, the Wings needing a late push to make the playoffs, combined with a rough first round series and a number of long playoff runs, just didn't seem to have a lot of gas left in the tank. San Jose took full advantage of the opportunities they had (numerous 5on3's, Lidstrom's broken stick, etc.) and Detroit just didn't seem to have the energy to counterpunch.
I'm still bummed about this (and I still don't like Nichol, Murray, Heatley, Setoguchi and friends) but seeing the Wings congratulate Todd McLellan after the game made it hurt a little less. It's unfortunate that his success had to come at the expense of the Red Wings, but if you put a gun to my head and asked which Western Conference team I would be most ok with the Wings losing to, it would have been San Jose. I don't know why that's true, but it is.
We've just concluded the worst year for hockey (Michigan and Red Wings) in the last 15. Considering what the two teams accomplished this year, that's a pretty remarkable statement and I wish all my rooting interests were similarly blessed.
"This was a bit of a bizarre series. How many times does a team score more goals total and lose in five?'
<<Check out my avatar, that series the wings scored more goals yet still lost.
And to that, I say, "Ha!"
... now I'm going to rip the Pens.
Penguins best players: Crosby, Malkin, Fleury... all top 3 picks overall.
Red Wings best players: Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen, Kronwall, Howard... all drafted late first round or 5th, 6th, or 7th rounds.
Difference between the organizations: Anyone WOULD have drafted Pittsburgh's best players, but they couldn't. Meanwhile, anyone COULD have drafted Detroit's best players, but they didn't.
Red Wings best organization in hockey, hands down.
The wings have $13 million in cap room to resign Lidstrom and 5 forwards (Holmstrom, Helm, Abdelkader, Ritola, Eaves, Bertuzzi...?). If Lidstrom resigns for $5 million or less that will gives us some flexibility (however small) to maybe go after a skilled forward to pair on the third line with Clearly and Hudler (or however Babcock wants to distribute them). I am pretty optimistic considering Chicago has a goalie, 2 defenseman, and 3 forwards to sign for next year and they are already $800,000 over the cap. The Sharks also have to resign Marleau and are feeling a little bit of cap heat, so here is to hoping those two clubs take a step back and the Wings retool and get rested after 3 long playoff runs.
I believe that Lidstrom will take less then 5 mil. He's already said if he comes back, he will not be part of a rebuilding process. So with that in mind, and i've said this before, I think he will take that Yzerman like contract. Holland will get that point across too, although he probably already knows it. It may not be 1 mil like Yzerman, but I can easily see a 2-3 million dollar contract. I also think it'll be his last season too. That alone should give this team motivation to win 1 more.
I'm a 'Nucks fan now. Or if they lose Bruins.
is now irrelevant to me, lets go Tigers!!!!
just don't want those penguin boys to win
I thought the Wings would dominate the poop-flavored San Jose Sharts. I was wrong. However, the Wings and their fans can take some solace knowing they got further than the goddamn poop butt Caps with their butts full of poop and shit.
:(
amen.
I seriously thought this series would be over in five the other way. The Sharks did nothing to impress me through the regular season or their first round to give me any confidence in them. Turns out the minor miracle it took to get into the playoffs was the last hurrah this team would have. I like a lot of the players and I'd love to have them back...It may be an unpopular sentiment but I think its time to hang 'em up for Malts, Draper, maybe even homer (as much as I love him.) You've seen the reduced value in draper and malts as helm has emerged, zetterberg and dats have emerged on the PK, and getting good fill-ins like Miller and Abbi. I know that drapes and malts don't make a ton together (a little over two mil says nhlpa.com) but that extra room would help. I think Nick would come back for a much more friendly number (3 mil?).
Hudler's contract is taken care of by the dismissal of brad may, jason williams, (2 mil total) and some other minor changes. So he's not affecting your cap number that much. They won't be in the market for a huge name but nice mid level scorer or a 3rd/4th defensemen (in anticipation of Nick's retirement) would be a nice addition.
I'd like to see Lebda not come back and as much as I like Derek Meech he just doesn't seem to fit. Its going to be another Kyle Quincey situation. Great kid, just doesn't fit here and will go on elsewhere to be successful.
i dunno about saying bye to malts and drapes quite yet. drapes was one of our best skaters through the playoffs. his line with gator was always high energy and just flying around the ice. hes a experienced vet who doesnt take very much against the cap, and can tutor our young stars (gator, ritola, and co). malts is still an absolute pest, and should roaring to go after finally getting surgery on his shoulder.
and you want homer to go? hes still one of the best PP assets in the league. naw, bring those guys back, move off williams, toss in happy, give the kids some more time to develop in the minors.
one thing that wouldnt surprise me were if rafalksi were traded in the next year or two to give our younger D men (kindl, smith, ericcson) a chance for more PT. rafi looked old and overmatched at times this postseason.
San Jose is a great team but also benefited from some lopsided officiating in this series. My prediction for the next round: the officiating will be lopsided again... but the Sharks will be in for a huge surprise because this time it'll be in favor of the Blackhawks.
That's right - San Jose will look like a completely different team in the conference finals because they'll be on the PK in that series for almost as long as they were on the man advantage in this series.
The Sharks are about to get a taste of what the Wings just went through. Bettman wants Chicago in the Cup Finals.
Can we stop with conspiracy theories? Yeah, there were quite a few questionable calls in the Wings/Sharks series, and most of them went against the Wings. It sucks, we lost, but it wasn't because Bettman had the refs on speed dial.
... used hear that for about 15 years regarding the NBA and their biased officiating.
Then the FBI caught Tim Donaghy selling inside information to the mafia at a better than 60% rate of return.
Not hearing anyone defend the NBA anymore.
The Red Wings actually outscored the Sharks, but Detroit was 0-5 in one goal games this playoff year. The Wings also outscored PIttsburgh last year, Anaheim in '07, and Calgary in '04. As a franchise, the Wings have sucked badly in one goal games this decade and that is what has cost them in years where they haven't won the Stanley Cup.
I think Bert stays. It's not just about production anymore. It's about production vs. cap hit. With Bertuzzi, it's a good trade-off. I think that the Wings have to let Draper and Maltby go. Hopefully Lidstrom will re-sign with a much lower cap hit. I think that Holmstrom also re-signs with a lower cap hit. Detroit has some space due to get freed up, and nobody due for a significant raise, except maybe Helm.