OT: Red Wings thoughts
I saw the Wings at NJ last night, and I have to say a few things about how they look early this year.
1. Meech looks like he is out of his depth, and the dude is ridiculously casual with the puck in his own end.
2. Helm, Draper and Eaves is our second best line. I love watching them skate.
3. Every time I watch Lidstrom I am simply amazed at his brilliance, and I hope he resigns for a couple of years at the end of the season.
4. Bertuzzi and Leino have been awful this year, and they did nothing to dispel that last night. Do we have anyone in Grand Rapids who can replace Leino?
5. As much as I love Ozzie, I find Brodeur to be simply incredible. Both will probably make the Hall of Fame (Ozzie will finish his career in the top 10 all time), but I was nervous when the game went to the shootout.
On to MSG tonight.
Go Wings
December 6th, 2009 at 9:07 AM ^
"Every time I watch Lidstrom I am simply amazed at his brilliance, and I hope he resigns for a couple of years at the end of the season."
Resigns? What would we do without him? ;~)
December 6th, 2009 at 1:31 PM ^
Resigns as in re-signs or signs again. Understandably confusing.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:07 AM ^
3. For a massive discount, yes. But in a salary cap world, I'm not dropping many millions on an aging Lidstrom.
4. Haha...better question, do we have anyone left in Grand Rapids? It seems like half of our team is composed of call ups with the lackluster free agency this year and the injuries.
It's funny, everyone talks about how the Red Wings draft so well because of Datsyuk and Zetterberg. But honestly, since the early part of this decade, the Wings haven't really been impressive. Kronwall and Hudler were first and second round picks, and I guess picking up Franzen in the third round of 2004 was nice. But no one else impresses me. While I like the attitude that guys like Helm bring, they're a dime a dozen.
I know it's not Holland's style, but with a lot of salary coming off the books this year we're going to have to make a splash in free agency. We have no goalies, little offense (though that's probably due in part to injuries), and a "meh" defense. We don't have any legitimate prospects in Grand Rapids to fill the top spots on this team. We need experienced, proven talent because our drafting hasn't been as productive as in the past. Here's to hoping Holland is a bit more liberal with the checkbook come July.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:00 AM ^
Drafting at the bottom of the first round every year doesn't help. This is also the problem that shows up with the Pistons. After so many years of success in the regular season, it's really tough to find good young players that can make an impact on your team when you draft in the bottom half of the first round.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:34 AM ^
Oh certainly! I guess what I was getting at is that, in my opinion, for the past 6-7 years the Red Wings have been average at drafting. Compound this with their low drafting position, and you get a bunch of good not great players who can fill out the bottom two lines.
This is expected, but what it means is that the Red Wings will have to look to the free agency market to try to fill out their top roster spots. The Red Wings need a serious goalie. They need another top defenseman and it wouldn't hurt to get a top young-ish talent on the wing. They'll have the money to spend this off season, so we'll have to see what moves they make.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^
He's still one of the top 3 D-men in the league. I don't care how old he is - if he's good, he's good. I think he won the best D-man award 2 years ago and finished second to Chara last year and ahead of Mike Green.
He's regularly the best player on the ice (for either team).
December 6th, 2009 at 9:17 AM ^
Bettman is finally getting what he wanted when he instituted the salary cap: the Wings aren't dominant any more.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:54 AM ^
I think that injuries are doing more to make the wings mediocre than Gary Bettman is.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:28 AM ^
We're also playing shorthanded right now due to some injuries. We've basically got a #2 line out right now with injuries (Franzen, Filppula and Williams), plus a top defensive pair in Kronwall and Rafalski (not to mention Lilja who may never play again).
I'm not saying we're in the Cup finals once all of these players return, but we've just got to tread water until then and we'll be okay. I do agree that Bertuzzi and Leino have given us nothing this year. I was against the Bertuzzi signing because I just don't like the guy and don't want to have to root for him, but I really thought Leino would turn into another Filppula - hasn't happened yet. He seems to miss the net more often than not - maybe trying to be too fine with his shot.
Also, has Cleary been disappointing this year or what? He's horrible defensively (I think he's something like -7 or -8 on the year). I also tend to think this is Maltby and possibly Draper's last year. Those guys are now overpaid for the roles they fill. And, as much as I love Lidstrom - probably my 2nd favorite Wing of all-time behind Stevie Y - he's probably not worth $7.5M at this point in his career. I hope we bring him back, but at a friendlier cap number next year. We've got to bring in some scorers on this team (I'd love for us to make a serious run at Ilya Kovalchuk).
December 6th, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^
The first regular season that has mattered in a long long time.
I dont know, part of me kinda likes having to skate our way into the playoffs for a change. you know, a for the die hards only type of season. I forgot what an important regular season game looks like.
But, the burden is on teams like LA, Phoenix, Colorado and Nashville maintaining their strong starts. Wings arent close to their ceiling for the year, those teams might be. We'll see how they last.
Big December slate for the Wings with multiple games with Hawks and jackets.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:43 PM ^
Rangers!
December 6th, 2009 at 2:33 PM ^
I think the Red Wings need to get healthy to be at full force. They have about four injuries to key players. But it is going to be wierd not having the division wrapped up by February. Just so used to it.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:38 PM ^
But Detroit does need to get their act together quickly or they are going to find themselves last in the Central and out of the top 10 in the west. Bertuzzi earlier on was looking good, he's had some great goals this season thus far including some good game winners. Keep in mind people were suffering from injuries too. Having Johan Franzen out of the lineup has hurt the Wings a great deal, he's a key player in the wings offense. Losing the mule early like this has affected our scoring in my opinion. Kronwall's absence is also hurting us. His defensive style of play really helps gives this Wings team a lift after a big hit or play like he creates. Filppula being hurt is another huge loss it all comes down to how healthy a team can stay and right now Detroit is suffering from the injuries it's taken and it's very clear when you watch.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:45 PM ^
Went to the Wings game last week, and was upset at all the chances. We out shot Atlanta 19-8 in the 1st period (40-25), and had chances. We need that final goal scorer to put us over the top.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:58 PM ^
But I think Detroit needs a complete over haul. Today's NHL is a young man's game now last face it. Youthfull teams are having the most success because they are younger, quicker and have more energy late in games rather than a team who's average age is 34 or 35. I think Detroit needs to start looking at a new roster in the coming year next season and start scouting and bringing in players who are younger. If you want to keep a franchise going then the only way to continue is to keep finding younger talent out there. The days of the old NHL veterans is quickly diminishing. Players like Modano, Lidstrom, and Osgood aren't going to be around very much longer. Detroit still has the oldest team in the NHL and next year might be even more difficult finding the right people to fill those shoes left by players like Holmstrom, Listrom, Draper and Osgood should they retire.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:39 PM ^
Keep Lidstrom, you need him to teach the younger defense men how to play the game, no one better! We are 30, 36, 25, 34, 25, 27, 28 39 (years of age on Defense). Add Rafalski as another defensive player to teach the younger players for the next two seasons. In 2011 we will be a younger team
Drop:(end of 2009-10 season)
Bertuzzi
May
Drop: (end of 2010-11 season)
Rafalski
Draper
Osgood
Maltby
Holmstrom
Lilja