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The Day After
by IwoCPO on 02/27/08 at 07:53 AM ET
Comments (29)
Updated below with feedback on Derek Meech’s play last night.
Jiri Hudler was so excited that the Wings kept him in Detroit that he went out and sucked worse than he has all year. Like invisibly sucked. Four shifts in the second. Four more in the third. None in OT and a shootout attempt he could have kicked from the bench with more chance of success.
If not for The Lilja Situation, Hudler could easily be considered a goat today. But far be it from us to take any of the spotlight away from Lilja. Trouble in his own end? Say it isn’t so. My memory is foggy, of course, but I’m sure that’s the first time we’ve seen anything similar to that.
On a night when the Wings seemed to finally decide between the second and third periods that it may be time to end the foolishness, the mistakes of the past reared up to punch us in the face.
The way Ken Daniels reacted when play stopped with 1:40 left in the third, I thought Lilja may have been hurt. Then Larry Murphy starting mumbling and I knew it wasn’t an injury, just...Lilja being Lilja. And when....just a second. Just got this email and wanted to share my good fortune with you:
----
Dear Sir,
Best compliments of the day. I have a client who wants to invest overseas in your country with about US$12.5M. My client is a retired General in the Liberian army and he needs protection for his family.
If you can handle such a huge sum of investment please get back to me as soon as possible to discuss, for example the investment plan and agreement procedure.
Kindly reply with your business profile to enable us advise our client accordingly,and do not forget to include your telephone and fax contacts for easy communication.
Thank you.
Adamu Abubakar,ESQ
----
And compliments of the day right back to you Adamu. My business profile? Here it is: frigging pain my man. Pain. As in a pain broker? No.
Unfortunately, motherf***, that’s not how I’m rolling these days. Why am I in pain Adamu? Thank you for asking.
Because, as I was saying, it hurts to be able to see into the future. It hurt last night when I knew, the second I saw Pisani on the ice, that he was going to kill us again. And he did. And Lilja did. And Hudler did. And this injury thing does. It’s beyond repair now, this whole idea of playing without the top four defensemen. It’s not even damage control. It’s simply sitting back, taking it, and hoping it’s over soon.
The Red Wings are not a good team without Rafalski, Kronwall, Chelios and Lidstrom. They’re worse without Cleary. And they’re barely competitive with the lack of scoring from Hudler, Franzen, Holmstrom and anyone other than Datsyuk, Zetterberg and--occasionally--Filppula. The silver lining, of course, is that as bad as they are now...they were so overwhelmingly dominant when everyone was healthy. Which leads us to yesterday.
Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press, because he knows the Wings so well, tippity tapped a story out soon after the deadline had passed yesterday. He said Ken Holland is gun shy, that he was afraid to pull the trigger yesterday. First things first. Sharp has no business discussing what Ken Holland should or shouldn’t have done. He’s an idiot, in general, but even moreso when he tries to analyze the Wings; a team he’s ignored for years.
The NHL’s trading deadline was once an occasion this city selfishly cherished, a day when the Wings had free reign to ransack other teams, poaching the talent those organizations could no longer afford at relatively minimal cost to general manager Ken Holland.
You’re talking about 1999 Drew. And where did Samuelsson (Ulf) and Clark (Wendell) and Ranford and Chelios get us that year? Bounced that’s where. The Wings’ best deals have been Macoun and Murphy in 98 and 97. Defensemen who rounded out the team.
There’s no reason to think Brad Stuart doesn’t fit that description this year. This streak, this frigging disaster of a month of February, has us all beyond concerned. I’m not downplaying your stress, believe me. I’m feeling it too. But you have to respect the fact that Ken Holland can keep a cool head when so many around him are flipping out. Is it your impression that he’s a little wary based on the Matthias/Bertuzzi deal? Sure. He could be. But you better believe that if a deal was there to be made, he would have done it.
Bottom line: he didn’t want to give up the picks or the players for assets he may already be budgeting to sign over the summer. And more importantly, this team has proven it’s the best in the league over a five month period. Nothing can turn things around quicker than getting the Defensemen back. The scoring will improve because the outlets will be there. The goals against will decrease. The calm will return. The abrasiveness with Kronwall. The power play will get better because no one puts the puck on the net better than Rafalski and Lidstrom.
I like to pick on Kenny ("Tick Tock Kenny"), but that doesn’t mean I’m not positive he’s the best GM in the league. He is. And, more importantly, he’s surrounded by hockey genius. If Jim Nill, Steve Yzerman and Mike Babcock had pressed him hard to give up quality assets for Hossa, or for Richards, we may be seeing them Friday against San Jose. And if Mike Babcock had told Ken Holland that Sergei Fedorov would improve the team, and not damage the chemistry, he’d be back. But, I have a pretty good idea the exact opposite occured on that one.
We’ll have all summer to nitpick yesterday. And I’ll lead the charge if it turns out this team, if healthy, doesn’t achieve what they’re capable of. But today? I’m ok with waiting this thing out. Waiting for the healthy to return. Waiting to see what kind of impact Darren McCarty can have in the absence of Dan Cleary. And, frankly, waiting to see what kind of heart this team has to get out of this tailspin. Because if they can’t do it now, the playoffs are going to be quick and painful.
Dallas got better: but they still have holes. Notably on the blue line and in the head of their goalie.
San Jose got better on the blue line and I would have loved to have seen a surprise deal for Campbell to Detroit. But until they prove that Joe Thornton and Ron Socrates Wilson can lead that team in the playoffs, I’m not all that concerned with them.
Denver brought back Foote and Forsberg plus added Salei. But they still have to get to the 8 spot with two goalies who have proven they can’t be depended on. A note on the Dive: get that 8 spot. Please. Open up the bandwagon. Watch the idiots stream back to the Ass Can and get yourself that last playoff spot. Nothing would be a better way to start the playoffs than demoralizing that fan base again.
If yesterday left you sour it’s because you watched the West improve. But we knew it would. There was never any doubt. Now it’s a matter of Detroit getting healthy and getting back to form. Hopefully there’s time for both.
------
Forgot to mention this earlier: Impressive doesn’t describe the way Derek Meech played last night. He was fantastic.
Yes, I believe he’s a more viable option than Lilja. Yes, I believe he’s vaulted past Brett Lebda. 8 shots on goal? Nearly 30 minutes of ice time? He was all over the place. Offensively, he’s gifted and he showed us what he’s capable of last night. The only issue is his size and perhaps a need for some more seasoning defensively. But you know who he reminded me of more than once last night? Yep. Lidstrom.
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Comments
Is it going to be Lilja, or Lebda?
Both. Meech gets the final open spot based on his play in the last few games.
Posted by Clark on 02/27/08 at 08:24 AM ET
And they’re barely competitive with the lack of scoring from Hudler, Franzen, Holmstrom and anyone other than Datsyuk, Zetterberg and--occasionally--Filppula.
Chief,
“Occasionally” is an overstatement.
Respectfully submitted,
cementslinger
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 02/27/08 at 08:30 AM ET
I was thinking actually about how the injury situation has affected Detroit with respect to Ottawa, since I mentioned to Andrew (in the other thread) that the Senators were shut out again, this time by Boston.
Ottawa and Detroit both got off to similarly hot starts. Detroit lost 2/3 of its top line to injury and kept winning (I think 4-1 with Zetterberg out?), while Ottawa lost 2/3 of their top line and went 0-something. Injured players came back, both teams resumed (or kept) winning.
Fast forward to February.
Detroit decimated and then some on the blueline, and goes into a hideous losing streak. Ottawa largely healthy, but playing like disinterested crap. Paddock, touted as a Jack Adams candidate in the beginning of the year, now no better a coach than a pyschotic spider monkey, has lost the team, and must be fired immediately, or else publicly disemboweled in the parking lot to exorcise the evil spirits that have inhabited the skates of a formerly competent team.
(As an aside, is it possible to “lose a team” so quickly? I’m not an athlete, so I don’t know.)
I think it points out how much the Senators’ offense is forward-driven and evaporates completely without the skill of Alfredsson, Heatley, and Spezza in the lineup, and how much Detroit has a defense-driven offense because it evaporates with the loss of talent on the blueline.
Conclusion 1: Lidstrom is TOTALLY the MVP. Most important player on the most crucial component of the team with the best record in the league (whatever the empty-headed talking heads might say).
Conclusion 2: A healthy defense is the most important thing to Detroit right now, and they just have to ride this out since they couldn’t (even without a salary cap) trade for enough defense to make up for everyone injured.
Conclusion 3: The Ottawa Senators need to join the Sharks in therapy. Both teams are as confusing as hell. At least the Red Wings have a reason for their recent crappiness - Ottawa is just playing like poop for no apparent reason.
Or, I could be totally wrong. I’m running on about three hours of sleep right now and have no idea how much sense any of this makes.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/27/08 at 08:36 AM ET
Looks like Lilja is playing his way out of his own contract negotiations. And I’m all for that. Ericsson could take his place next year. He’s bigger, can block shots and makes just about as many mistakes as Lils does. ‘Cept he’s learning and can be molded into a Babcockian-Cleary-Like Stud.
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 02/27/08 at 08:38 AM ET
I heart Derek Meech. 
He reminded me of Lidstrom the most in the game when Nick was hurt, and he filled in along the blue line firing pucks at the net like rockets.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/27/08 at 08:40 AM ET
Or, I could be totally wrong. I’m running on about three hours of sleep right now and have no idea how much sense any of this makes.
That became obvious when you said, “poop”. 
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 02/27/08 at 08:42 AM ET
Gee Whiz Chief—are you a clairvoyant, or are you inside Holland’s head?
Bottom line: he didn’t want to give up the picks or the players for assets he may already be budgeting to sign over the summer. And more importantly, this team has proven it’s the best in the league over a five month period. Nothing can turn things around quicker than getting the Defensemen back. The scoring will improve because the outlets will be there. The goals against will decrease. The calm will return. The abrasiveness with Kronwall. The power play will get better because no one puts the puck on the net better than Rafalski and Lidstrom.
Holland’s comments to Dave Waddell at the Windsor Star, courtesy of George at SNAPSHOTS:
Holland said he was close to making one or two other deals, but was only interested in dealing draft picks from No. 2 down. The Wings kicked some tires on acquiring a forward, but found the prices unappealing for Marian Hossa and Sergei Fedorov.
“I don’t know about disappointing, there just wasn’t a fit,” said Holland of adding a forward. “We tried to get into some things, it just didn’t happen. We came into this trade deadline and we didn’t want to trade any of our kids...”“Our team is built to generate from the back end,” Holland said. “Until we get our back end back and running, it’s going to be tough to score goals.”
Spot-on Chief. I think, and I said so yesterday, that once the “D” get healthy the Wings’ “puck possession” game improves dramatically. As demonstrated on this road-trip, and through most of last nights game, opponents are “fore-checking” aggressively because the Wings cannot get the puck moving out of the zone.
Get the “D” healthy and get the rust out, and the Wings’ possess the puck more = more frequent scoring chances, less SA/G (and by definition less opponent scoring chances), more PP, less PK.
Healthy, puck moving “D” just may be the Wings’ magic elixir. Stuie is supposed to fit that role as well. Time will tell. Kenny may just have made a terrific move at little cost. Pair him with Kronwall, and get freaking Sammy (of the teflon stick syndrome) off the #2 PP—he scares me on the blueline with his freaking turnovers and no-one aside from the goalie to bail him out!!
Wings’ SHOULD round into form before the playoffs with all of the “D” back in time to play about ten games.
Before the injury bug, they were the best team in the league—far and away. Stuie may make them even better—being healthy will make a ton of difference.
I hope! Sacrifice more chickens anyway!!!
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 02/27/08 at 08:49 AM ET
So yesterday I make a comment about how Meech has earned the right to at least play himself out of the top six, and you go and steal it?
It’s the A2Y way.
Posted by Nathan on 02/27/08 at 08:50 AM ET
Agree 100% on Meech Chief. I’ve raved about his play over on the Red Wings Central boards, just mentioning how impressed I’ve been with him in the lineup. And now that he’s basically getting top-pairing minutes he’s showing that he’s a legit offensive defenseman. 3 assists in 4 games, would have had a goal last night if not for some thievery by Garon. 8 shots on goal is just ridiculous. Has Hudler put 8 shots on goal this month? I had to check - Huds has 12 shots on goal in February.
I’d really like to see Meech nail down that #6 d-man spot but my guess is Babcock goes with Lilja. Really wouldn’t mind being wrong on that though. Not one bit.
Posted by Dave on 02/27/08 at 08:55 AM ET
Nathan: at least I don’t try and hide it. I’ve been stealing brilliance from readers and claiming it as my own for two years. The only thing vaguely original in that post is the email from Liberia.
Okie: Getting in Tick Tock’s head isn’t hard. It’s Uncle Mike’s I have problems with.
Slinger: Agreed. Filppula has a long way to go to get back to where he was (and should be).
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 02/27/08 at 08:57 AM ET
I can’t and won’t read Sharp’s whole article, but to prove his absolute cluelessness…
His stating Richards was at the top of his personal wish list proves he has no idea what goes on with the Wings. Even if Richards were an elite player (sorry, he’s not), there is no way his ridiculous salary ($7.8M) fits for the Wings. Knowing the Wings already have Datsyuk, Rafalski and Lidstrom at $6M+ each, and must resign Zetterberg to a similar number, there is no way Richards fits in. Beyond that, there is no way he replaces any of those players either.
Drew Sharp needs to stop writing and start a comedy act with Andy Rooney of 60 minutes. Neither one of them ever utters/writes anything but nonsensical gibberish.
Posted by arcane_caf from NoVa - Outside D.C. on 02/27/08 at 09:01 AM ET
Lilja sucks. Meech is the man.
Holland did very well. IMHO, he got the best player for the best price of any GM at the deadline. There were simply no quality forwards available at a reasonable price.
The hardest thing to do is to NOT make a deal. Kenny did well.
Nobody has mentioned this:
Dallas traded away their best goalie! Mike Smith was a Wing killer.
With Turco in goal, we own these guys.
Hudler has had more than enough time over the last 2 years to show that he is an NHL caliber player. He is not. He is slow, he spends a lot of time sliding on his ass, & he is easy to take off the puck.
The trouble is, nobody will give you a draft pick for him.
Big problem: The Wings have no forwards in Grand Rapids who are ready to move up.
When can we get that free agent from Sweden?
Posted by w2j2 on 02/27/08 at 09:01 AM ET
When can we get that free agent from Sweden?
What is it… July 1st or 7th or something like that. 
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 02/27/08 at 11:02 AM ET
I’d really like to see Meech nail down that #6 d-man spot but my guess is Babcock goes with Lilja.
I’m afraid you’re right, Dave. Babs loves the big guy because he blocks shots. It’s his one true asset to the team.
I have to admit that after the second Oiler goal last night I did something I haven’t done in at least two years. I turned the TV off and went to bed. I just couldn’t take it any more. This morning I’m ashamed of myself. Wimp! Disloyal piece of, well, poop. I promise not to do that again...no matter how much it hurts to sit there and watch the Wings suck.
I sure would’ve liked to have seen The Big Unit’s first goal. He’s clearly shown there’s no need to resign Lilja.
And Meech? Geez Louise, ain’t he somethin’? The comparison to Nick is strongest when you consider the accuracy of his shots. Frickin’ Sammy has a hard shot but they’re rarely on the net. Too bad Meech will sit once everyone gets healthy.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 02/27/08 at 11:12 AM ET
Meech has been great, that’s for sure. Still, I have a hard time seeing Lilja get pushed out of the lineup. Lilja’s size, strength, and edge provide something no other Red Wing defenseman offers and that may be enough to keep him in the top six.
His mistakes stand out and are incredibly frustrating, but he’s an important penalty killer and the team could use a stay-at-home defenseman. As many times as he pinches, Chelios hardly counts as one.
I liked Babcock’s characterization of Lilja from last month. Basically, he said that he’s not a puck-carrying defenseman and can’t live up to the expectations of the other guys on the blueline that are. He’s on the wrong end of a lot of plays because of his stay-at-home style in contrast to the rest of the team’s open style. You could view that as a shortcoming, but I think it’s necessary to have a guy thinking “defensive security” more than “offensive opportunity.” That doesn’t mean he’s not without his shortcomings, but it explains some of his problems.
I’d love to see Meech remain in the lineup. He looks like a veteran and provides a nice offensive dimension. You have to question the Wings’ reasoning in keeping him in the role of practice drone for so long. Surely they could have rotated him in more often?
If Meech is in a battle with anyone, it’s Lebda, not Lilja. Brett has not really handled increased ice time very well so his job may be in jeopardy.
As for the penalty leading to the game-tying goal, I did not see the play so I will assume it was just a dumb mistake by Lilja. However, let me take this opportunity to say how stupid that rule is. It’s just idiotic. That should be worth a defensive zone faceoff with the same conditions of an icing: the defending team cannot change. If they want, they can hurry the face-off up. But it should not be a penalty.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 02/27/08 at 11:18 AM ET
Three penalties in one game, including the one that leads to the game-tying goal. Countless boneheaded plays to leave his goalie high and dry. An absence of major positives. Coupled with the amazing play of Meech, the ascendancy of Ericsson, the Stuart trade, and his idiotic salary demands, I think Lilja’s (thankfully) stamped his ticket out of town.
Now if we could just do something about Streaky Samuelsson (why hasn’t my William Tell moniker caught on?). Thankfully, we’ve got a point replacement for him on the second PP unit-- Meech or Stuart, take your pick. When Cleary gets healthy, Sammy will be pretty much redundant as there’s really nothing that he can bring over Cleary.
Filppula and Hudler will get back to where they were. Consistency is a major issue with youngsters when there’s no mentor on their line, and they’re still on a learning season.
Provided that Stuart rounds into form and the injuries heal with no lasting effects on play, I like our chances for the playoffs. With good youngsters ready to step up from GR, if Stuart does well and is re-signed, I like our chances for next year even better.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the rose-colored windowpane factory on 02/27/08 at 11:18 AM ET
When can we get that free agent from Sweden?
What is it… July 1st or 7th or something like that.
My understanding is he can be signed as soon as his season ends in Sweeden. But he can’t play in the NHL until next season. 
Hopefully one of the reasons Kenny didn’t spend any picks or assets acquiring a forward is because he’s confident Brunstrom will sign with the Wings.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 02/27/08 at 11:21 AM ET
Drew Sharp wrote a Wings column? DREW M.F. SHARP!
I can’t wait for Albom’s playoff column in April.
Posted by Matt from Chicago on 02/27/08 at 11:46 AM ET
I think Meech’s spot should be automatic! And it should be between Lils and Lebda to fight it out for number 6.
Dan
Posted by ITDeuce from Michigan on 02/27/08 at 12:32 PM ET
Chief—Went out and had a few for Johnny Cash’s birthday last night and I started thinking about a comment you made yesterday, that the only way you would be concerned with the Dive is if they picked up Luongo.
It made me think—what would WE give up for Luongo? Are hank and pavel still untouchable?
Sorry if this is a dumb/misplaced discussion...wicked hungover. Blame the man in black. Wanted to get the A2Y thoughts on it though.
Posted by disch from austin on 02/27/08 at 12:37 PM ET
Disch: good call on celebrating JC’s birthday. Clearly a night requiring max intake.
For Luongo? I’d give up anyone but Hank, Datsyuk and Lidstrom. Nearly any combination of roster player, prospect and pick would work for me.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 02/27/08 at 12:41 PM ET
I hear that.
I caught a comment in the rumor mill on TSN yesterday that the Wings might be holding out on any big FA signings so that we can make a bid for MI native Ryan Miller when he comes off contract in The Buff.
On a big goal tending kick today. Interesting stuff…
Posted by disch from austin on 02/27/08 at 12:47 PM ET
I didn’t see the Calgary or Edmonton games, but last night Meech was one of the best, if not the best, on the ice. I’d love to see him stay — I think he’s earned the opportunity.
So what to do with Lilja/Lebda? The Wings’ brain trust seem to really like Lilja for his shot-blocking and grit. Iwo had the perfect solution: move Lebda up to forward and see what he can do. What can it hurt?
Posted by BobTheZee on 02/27/08 at 02:41 PM ET
Now that you mention it Bob, I’m not opposed to seeing Meech given a shot on the third line as a winger.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 02/27/08 at 02:52 PM ET
Hmmm, there’s an interesting thought, too.
(Hey, why not move them both up? Put them on the same line… with Pavel in the center.)
Posted by BobTheZee on 02/27/08 at 03:05 PM ET
...move Lebda up to forward and see what he can do. What can it hurt?
Worked well enough with Dandenault (who is back at forward for Montreal now).
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/27/08 at 03:16 PM ET
If Meech is in a battle with anyone, it’s Lebda, not Lilja. Brett has not really handled increased ice time very well so his job may be in jeopardy.
Clarification: That battle is in effect only as long as Nick is out. Once he returns, the six are set, assuming Chelios and Lilja make up the third pairing.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 02/27/08 at 09:54 PM ET
Lebda, and perhaps Meech, have possibilities as forwards, especially of the grinding, defensively-aware variety. Even if not, Meech has shown himself to be a capable replacement for Lebda. But Lilja doesn’t even have forward potential. If Stuart does well and Ericsson makes it tough to send him back down to GR, then there really is no reason to hang on to Lilja, especially with the blueline talent coming up through the organization.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the cold hard light of day on 02/28/08 at 04:03 AM ET
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I have to admit, I was kind of hoping that Samuelsson would have gotten traded for a bag of pucks, or some other teams equipment manager. But other than that I like the what the Wings did yesterday. So how about some speculation as to which dman they are going to sit to fit Stuart into the lineup. Is it going to be Lilja, or Lebda? Lilja, fills a vital role at times. He hits, blocks shots, occasionally drops the gloves. But the turnovers are a freaking killer. But Lebda, has been pretty darn sloppy as of late.
What say you?
Dan
Posted by ITDeuce from Michigan on 02/27/08 at 08:20 AM ET