Abel to Yzerman
Next entry: GDT - Game #67: Red Wings host Wild (7:30)
Previous entry: It’s A Live Blog, Almost KK Style
Naming Names
by VooX on 03/10/10 at 03:00 PM ET
Comments (75)
This year’s Red Wings team seems content to wallow in mediocrity. They are afraid to get the job done. Like a horny teenager afraid to escalate with a girl he likes in fear of rejection or poor performance, our team seems content to let whiskey dick prevail. The team knows they are not good enough to win the Cup this season, and have resigned themselves to putting in minimal effort to avoid the disappointment of a playoff defeat. They have given up before the season-within-a-season even begins.
Someone needs to bitch-slap the entire squad to remind them that giving up is not an option. The good people of Michigan have not given up despite the well-publicized troubles of the state. Every morning they get up and fight on, knowing they must make the most of even the toughest situation.
It is time for the Red Wings to look around them and draw inspiration from the real people who fill the seats of the Joe Louis Arena. The team needs to pack their lunch boxes and put their nose to the grindstone to eke out a living. Their only job is to win.
Fresh off our loss last night, Gramps does what he’s been doing best all season, rubbing our noses in it. And I got pissed off. Not that this is a first, as I’ve been pissed off at his smugness all season. I respect him for his long-standing support of hockey and the Wings, but I’ve had enough and I fought back. In order to avoid the questions some of the 19 and I raised, Gramps decided to remind us that he doesn’t choose coaches. No fauxing shit, Gramps. None of us do but at least we try and add something to the conversation instead of whining like a broken record.
Gramps asked me if I had a list of players who are on my shit-list. While I didn’t answer him directly, I will now. Here is my assessment of the entire roster and their recent play. You may not agree with me, but I welcome your comments. Even though we have no say as far as the roster, coaches, or prospects are concerned, this is the place where the 19 can discuss the team as a form of group therapy.
Grab a drink and settle in, this is a long read and may get nasty.
First line: Mule - Dangle - Homer
I love these bitches. Every shift they are making things happen and playing with heart/hart. Datsyuk is showing more shoot with his dangle, and Franzen is an absolute beast when he decides enough is enough. Homer is doing what he does best and is excelling just outside the blue paint. Were it not for the officials calling him on reputation calls every game, Homer would be leading our top line with amazing numbers.
Do not break up this line, Uncle Mike, they are the only line that are regularly a scoring threat.
Second Line: Buckets - Zetterman - Williams
The invisible line. I got serious love for Hank and Cleary, but they seriously need to stop dragging their asses around the ice all night. It is hard for me to criticize Zetterman as he is usually so good for the team, but recently he is only effective in the defensive zone. He is a non-threat in the offensive zone. Hank should be a points machine, and his lack of production worries me that he is hurt and playing through the pain. In the offseason the truth may come out, unfortunately that offseason may come too soon for the 19.
Charlie Buckets is schizophrenic. He can play with tenacity and grit, a legitimate scoring threat. He also can play outside the blue paint quite effectively, when he wants to. I don’t know why, but he hasn’t chosen to live up to his potential this season. He has to play like he did before he signed his big contract/his jaw got broken, with desperation and intensity. You want to be a second line player, Danny boy? Start manning up and playing like you are. Get some starch in your spine and start making the smart plays around the net. Enough is enough.
When I think about Williams, I think “he still plays for the Wings?”. Perhaps the disappearance of the second line is due to Williams being mostly ineffective. I doubt it, but the fact remains that Williams is completely lost when we need him to be a threat on the wing. Start playing like you have some talent, J-Will, or I will be forced to start kidnapping your family pets and mailing you their body parts.
Third Line: Draper - Helm - Eaves
Also known as “The Red Corvettes”. They have been our second-best line consistently all season, just behind Danglium’s line. While Draper is getting up in the years, he is still playing very smart hockey and getting to open areas of the ice effectively. He compliments the raging bull that is Helm very well. Speaking of Helm, he regularly makes my pants tight during games. An absolutely tenacious player with speed that is blowing D-men out of the play. He needs to learn to finish a lot better, as he is only capitalizing (scoring) on a small percentage of the plays he creates for himself. If/when he learns to deke at high speeds, he will be a thirty goal scorer. For me, that can’t come soon enough.
Eaves compliments the Red Corvettes well. Despite being the slowest guy on the line, he keeps up well and is playing his role effectively. I’d like to see him mop up some of the rebounds Helm creates for some scoring chances. Overall, for the salary he earns, I couldn’t ask for much more out of him.
Fourth Line: Unabomber - Filppula - Miller
In the times of the Roman Army, decimation was used to punish mutinous or cowardly soldiers. One tenth of the offending unit was selected by lots and the soldiers on whom the lot fell were executed by their fellow soldiers either by stoning or clubbing. In today’s salary cap world, in lieu of lots, I’d like to nominate this entire line for immediate execution.
Let’s start with the hairdresser, Filppula. Far too concerned with colouring the tips of his streaks, Filppula has completely fallen off the map. Let’s not forget he makes $3,000,000 a season and is essentially less useful than your appendix. He has lost all desire to create scoring chances or to play smart hockey. His punishment should be to have his face smashed in on the urinal troughs at the Joe. Grab his pretty hair and bash him until he either bleeds to death, shrapnel enters his brain, or he becomes so ugly he stops worrying about his looks and plays hockey like he is supposed to.
There are many adjectives/euphemisms for Bertuzzi: Unabomber, Serial Killer, Stillwoozi, etc., but they all mean the same thing. “A completely talentless hack who has no business on the ice with the greatest sports team in the world.” The Unabomber experiment, version 2, is a complete failure. My grandmother could push Bert off the puck and she is 81. She could also take a broom and show him how to cause damage with a stick.
Tick-Tock signed the Unabomber to be tough and to create scoring chances through shooting. So far he has done neither at the expense of terrible turnovers and a complete lack of brains on the ice. As he loves to take bad penalties which cost the team dearly, his punishment should be to have his head caved in by putting it in the penalty box doorway and slamming the door repeatedly until his brains ooze out and are used to re-paint the red line.
Drew Miller also falls into the category of “he still plays for the Wings?”. When you make me miss Maltby who was having a decent season, and Abdelkader who was horrible this year, you know you are not performing well. Miller is completely invisible on the ice, and I can go an entire game without realizing he has played a shift. Were it not for the dismal and overpriced play of his linemates, Miller would likely stand out more for being a waste of space. His punishment should be to be decapitated and have his head put on a stake just outside the Wings dressing room so no one forgets the price to pay for being invisible on the ice.
1st Pair: Lidstrom - Rafalski
Nick is the Lizard King. Absolutely timeless and mystical, he is the best player on our team nightly. Whether shutting down Rosby, Nash, and Iginla, making them cry, or spearheading our PP, TPH is just that… Perfect. Since the Olympic break, Raffi has tightened up his defensive play and is getting the puck on net effectively. Combined with his lethal breakout passes, Raffi is doing exactly what we need him to do. And I dig both these bitches.
2nd Pair: Stuart - Kronwall
Stuart has looked a lot better since taking the Olympic break. While starting the season as our best defenceman, he faltered with fatigue in January and late December. I’d like to see more offensive output from him and Kronwall, but not at the expense of being defensively responsible. I think Stuart is joining the rush a bit too eagerly and not generating the offense required for such a risky move. As well, when Stuart is in deep along the boards and Datsyuk or Mule has to cover his position, you know that is a problem. Kronwall has been decent all season. I’d like to see him be more effective especially in his own zone. He is not taking his man quick enough and that is leading to goals against. I’d also appreciate if he started stepping up and Kron-walling more players like we know he can do. If the other teams starts worrying about if they will run into the Kron-wall, that will create chances for our forwards to steal the puck and generate scoring opportunities.
3rd Pair: Lilja - Ericsson/Lebda/Meech
Lilja has looked great since his return. Making smart plays and rarely getting caught out of position. This makes me happy. The play of the Trio of Turd, Ericsson/Lebda/Meech, has made me angry. I said it before and will repeat it now, I am giving Ericsson some rope as he is a young player who only started playing defence once the Wings drafted him. It is a cerebral position and the skill and pace of the NHL game is exposing his weaknesses. If his on-ice brain catches up with his 6-5 frame, he will be a beast. And I am willing to wait for him to develop, for a while.
Lebda/Meech are absolutely infuriating and completely useless. While Lebda has looked decent since Lilja’s return, he has been dog vomit the rest of the season. Slow, out of position, and making bad turnovers is a sure-fire way to cause ulcers among the team, its coaches, and its fans. When announcing Lebda is playing, the press releases should come with a coupon for Pepto-Bismol. Same goes for Meech. I can’t describe how infuriating it is to watch him screw up every shift. But I probably don’t need to explain to you bitches, you are probably throwing things at your TV just as I am becauseof Meech’s sub-sub-par play. The faster we get some of the talent in the AHL up to the Red Wings to replace these two, the better off my sanity and the team will be.
Goalies: Howard - Osgood
We don’t have the luxury of letting Osgood crap the bed until he finds his groove. If he wanted to be the all-time leader in wins for a Wings goaltender, he has to remove his head from his ass and wake up. He has cost us far too many games with completely abysmal play, and now his just reward is riding the pine watching his future usefulness wash out with the tide.
Jimmah has been great. Some were ready to ship him off to Siberia in the beginning of the season, but he has completely turned his game around and is rightfully being discussed as a Calder candidate. Just a little thought exercise for you: Imagine if Jimmah played like a rookie usually does, and was struggling in his first NHL season, where do you think we’d be in the standings? That’s right… Jimma H. Howard saves and he is saving our season. It is time that the rest of the time gave him some support and started winning games with scoring and sound defensive play for 60 minutes.
Uncle Mike
Babcock has not been perfect, but he has been great and the best choice among all coaches to lead this squad. He has been juggling lines with the acumen of a court jester due to injuries, and is getting AHL talent to perform at an NHL level. Yet the players may be tuning him out. He cannot play on the ice, or make players do the right thing, but he is supposed to drive the players to perform to the level the team expects of them. And he has to do something about our break-out plays. The forwards are too far away from the D-men leading to continual stretch passes. When the passes don’t work, we usually have an odd-man rush coming into our zone. Even when they do work, the D-men are too far behind the play to provide secondary support to the rush, typically resulting in the play stalling as our forwards are stifled by the opposing defenders and backcheckers.
Tick-Tock
Still the greatest GM in hockey, along with Lou in NJ, what he has managed to do with our team is quite amazing. Yet even Tick-Tock cannot replace the scoring we lost in the offseason with the players he brought in and the salary cap hanging over his head. I am scratching my head about his signing the Unabomber. Whether or not I get furious at Tick Tock will depend on if he signs the Unabomber following this season. If he does, Tick Tock will have made my shit-list. Until then, I still love him and think he is the greatest GM in hockey.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
I love reading this, all you smug dumbf*ck Dead Things fans crying in your shitty Michigan beer, talking like the stupid, ignorant morons that you are. HA! And here I thought with C3PO out there patrolling the bathtub, the level of analysis here would be elevated. Guess not, VOUSTPD is just as bad. HA!
Posted by Hector on 03/10/10 at 03:12 PM ET
i wish my NHL team had a blog that said things like “whiskey dick.” maybe i should start a blog. thanks for making me smile through an otherwise dull work day
Posted by amos from atlanta on 03/10/10 at 03:30 PM ET
Well, you named the names VooX, Thanks
interesting that most of these guys were heroes Sunday afternoon…
a re-comment from earlier…..
That game was just frustrating as hell for all of us…
I should have shut down the computer, several stiff drinks and a cold shower.
I lashed out at Babbles and VooX lashed out at me. Everybody wants to blame somebody, and I think we all needed a cooling off period.
Here is the game that I saw:
Lils and Big Rig started the game, Ericsson looked good from the start.
In his first 2 shifts, he started a shoving match after a whistle in Howie’s crease, delivered a crushing check at the blue line, recovering the puck and was instrumental in ending a large scrum behind our net. Then it all changed for him.
He still put in a good game, but all of a sudden he took a low profile. It was like after the first 2 shifts, on the bench someone put their hand on his shoulder and said ‘Don’t do that’.
The Wings started out forechecking, outshot the Flames, and after it was 2-1 the forecheck disappeared. The end result was Calgary outshooting the Wings in spite of Detroit having 5 PP’s, and the Flames 1.
Typical for the last 2 seasons, I saw our forwards crossing the deep slot and instead of shooting they were passing to the half boards or making short passes to the point men who had checkers right on top of them.
I watched our D deep in our end with forecheckers on them and nobody to pass to because all the forwards were at the bench on a player change….WTF….?...with the puck in our end..!And the turnovers…I watched long cross ice passes at center ice through 2 opposing players skates…saw it work one time…how many times did it not..?
Something has got to change, and it is too late in the season to blame the players for all that incompetence.
Ever wonder how good Howard would look if he played for a better team?
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from the “NOT QUITE DEAD PIRATE” on 03/10/10 at 12:37 PM ET
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 03/10/10 at 03:34 PM ET
I agree with almost all of your assessments.
First disagreement is on Drew Miller. Look at the shitty play of Bertuzzi and Filppula—if anything, their lackadaisical efforts are making it look like Miller doesn’t care. Miller’s the only guy on that line laying it out every shift. Which is too bad since he’s the least talented of the three. Miller needs them to play good for him to be noticeably effective. The opposite isn’t true.
Second kind of disagreement is on Howard. Yes, he’s kept this team in it. He’s made lots of spectacular saves, had the 40 save games, done lots of great things to make the future of this team look brighter than I would’ve thought it prior to this year (and let’s be honest—this team still has a good future with the core of talent they have locked up long-term).
But why is nobody talking about his inability to control rebounds the last dozen or so games? On your typical 40 foot wrist shot from [insert average NHL forward here], he looks handcuffed and is regularly unable to soak pucks up into his chest protector. Howard is making more work for himself, and A LOT more work for his defensemen. The defense is actually playing quite well, but when you’re overworked because your goalie gives up juicy rebounds in the slot on EVERY shot, you’re going to get tired and make mistakes (see multiple goals in the Chicago game this past weekend).
It might sound asinine, but it’d be better for the defense if they had Ozzie in there, giving up 3 goals on 20 shots and controlling rebounds than having Howard in there, giving up 3 goals on 30+ shots, kicking out way more rebounds and wearing down the skaters for having to chase the puck in their own zone as a result.
So, I agree about all the positives that Howard has brought, but if he doesn’t get the rebounds under control, this team isn’t going anywhere.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 03/10/10 at 03:51 PM ET
Great to see loser Red Wings fans have given up on there team. Nothing makes me happier than seeing Detroit not make the top 8 and the DEFENDING STANLEY CUP champions starting to roll at just the right time. It’s a shame Sid and Malkin won’t be able to skate the cup around again at the Joe but oh well.
Posted by Tim from Johnstown on 03/10/10 at 03:53 PM ET
Players. Coaches. Management. Who is to blame? Does it really matter? At this point in the season you pretty much dance with the team that brung ya. All the finger-pointing, gnashing of teeth and rending of garments can wait until the season is over. I am only intrerested in the NOW. Minnesota is my immediate concern. I’ll worry about Buffalo and then Cal-gary. One game at a time, one shift at a time. I’m aboard the Hasek and I ain’t leavin’ motherfauxers until it runs off the track. Hop on board, sit down, strap in and STFU.
Voox, I need a double…stat.
Posted by calquake on 03/10/10 at 03:54 PM ET
Please don’t say “Spearhead” and “Lidstrom” together. Just… ouch.
That said, I don’t get how people keep forgetting about Jason Williams. He’s been good since he returned from injury, he’s just really easy to forget about I guess. Does that make him this year’s Dan Cleary?
Speaking of Dan Cleary, I think he’s still hurt too. He loses far too many battles on the boards these days to be feeling well.
Filppula has been quietly producing points too.
Draper has been basically invisible.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/10/10 at 03:55 PM ET
His punishment should be to have his face smashed in on the urinal troughs at the Joe. Grab his pretty hair and bash him until he either bleeds to death, shrapnel enters his brain, or he becomes so ugly he stops worrying about his looks and plays hockey like he is supposed to.
HERESY! I sincerely hope for your sake that Osrt is either a) not reading this or 2) not offering you a place to stay during H2H.
I can live with Kronwall not flattening people during the regular season, as long as his play on the puck is tight and mostly mistake-free. So far, I think he’s done that. As for the rest of the D, agree—except for Mebda/Lebeech. If we’re going to combine names, we might as well go the whole way and toss them together in a giant Cuisinart and sew the resultant body parts together in an unholy abomination of a gigantic meatheaded defenseman that will scare the crap out of opposing forwards. And if we could somehow transplant Fisch’s brain into it…
And yeah, for all the greatness I think that is Uncle Mike, I’m severely worried that the players have tuned him out since last season. Roster turnover may be needed. But then, if the players who have been playing with him for a long time have tuned him out, how do you account for the way the Unabomber, a newcomer to the Babcock Way, is playing like a slug?
Frigate. I’m going to have a double Black Bush, and by that I mean both the fine Irish spirit and Cal’s um…tipple. If they can get paid to have whiskey dick, at least I can have it in my unpaid time.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 03/10/10 at 03:56 PM ET
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson’s ice cream truck on 03/10/10 at 03:51 PM ET
Valid point about Miller.
About Howard’s rebound control, I am chalking that up to inexperience. Goalies, particularly inexperienced ones, are primarily concerned with stopping the initial shot. Learning to “control” rebounds is a bit of a black art. And it takes time to master.
For now, I will accept the rebounds Howard gives up as a byproduct of him stopping the initial shot, which itself is good. And something that Osgood has not done well this season.
While Osgood does have better rebound “control”, he is much worse at stopping the initial shots. I think back to screen grabs from earlier this year that showed Osgood leaning/falling over before the shot even came, and conceding a goal to a wide-open net.
What use is rebound “control” if the initial shot goes in?
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 03/10/10 at 04:00 PM ET
It might sound asinine, but it’d be better for the defense if they had Ozzie in there, giving up 3 goals on 20 shots and controlling rebounds than having Howard in there, giving up 3 goals on 30+ shots, kicking out way more rebounds and wearing down the skaters for having to chase the puck in their own zone as a result
Interesting, I hadn’t thought about this.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 03/10/10 at 04:00 PM ET
Nathan, regarding Jimmy, I think he needs to work with another Jim…Bedard. If they don’t have a full-time goaltending coach for the Griffs, he should take advantage of the fact that the Wings do. He performed miracles for Ozzie’s game. I’m sure he can work on getting Jimmah to be spongier.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 03/10/10 at 04:02 PM ET
Excellent post Voox - I admire your putting your money where your mouth is. Although I do not agree with all of your analysis, at the same time I could not argue with the majority of them.
Here is my sayonara list G A PTS +/- (09-10 salary)
J-Will 6 5 11 -9 (1.5)
Lebda 1-6-7 -3 (850)
Meech 2-4-6 -11 (500)
Maltby 4 2 6 1 (750)
Ozzie (1.45, then 1.10) - good luck finding a taker
Stuck in the middle, see some good and some bad:
Bert 15 22 37 -8 (1.5) Cheap money for points. At times a force, at times invisible.
Wally 7 18 25 -6 (2.5 now, then 3.5 for 3 more) TRADE please - where u been?
Buckets 13 16 29 -6 (2.5 now, then 3.0 for 3 more) Here and then not.
Miller 7 9 16 (525) Cheap, and played every game - - trending keep
E-52 3 8 11 -17 (.900, then 1.250 next) Potential yes, potentially lethal, yes.
I just disagree on Unabomber - I don’t think he has been that bad, especially for the money. Compare his numbers (37 points) to Wally and Buckets (41 combined), and their respective salary - - it is hard to argue he shouldn’t be on the 3 line or 4.
Uncle Mike - - Stanley Cup Champion, Finals last season. Olympic Gold Medal, 1997 World Junior Champion, 2004 IIHF World Hockey Champion. He is a winner.
BUT - - something is wrong. IMO the Wings have enough talent to at least make the playoffs this season - yet they have failed to compete twice now in the span of 6 days - - with so much riding on the games. Inexcusable.
Babs:
“Just got to get more working,’’ Babcock said. “No matter what profession you’re in (what) you have to be proud of every day is a good effort, walking out of the rink feeling good about yourself. I don’t think you could do that as a team against Calgary (4-2 loss Tuesday) or Vancouver (6-3 loss on March 3). That’s too often in a short period of time, so obviously the coach isn’t doing a good enough job and neither are the players, so we just give them different looks and see if we can’t make something else go.
It is his job to get the most out of his players. If they don’t want to compete, fire their asses. I’d rather see them ice the Grif’s roster, and have them out there trying and perhaps losing, than to see a bunch of high-priced talent “mail it in.” That is just bullshit.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 03/10/10 at 04:04 PM ET
Wally 7 18 25 -6 (2.5 now, then 3.5 for 3 more) TRADE please - where u been?
If we didn’t trade him to get Hossa, what makes you think we would do it now? He worked his ass off last night.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 03/10/10 at 04:07 PM ET
I think Boss Mike (as in Ilitch) needs to get involved.
He needs to have a press conference and issue the Owner’s Standard Kiss of Death: tell all the reporters that you have full faith in Coach Babcock and that you are not contemplating a coaching change even if this team misses the playoffs for the first time in 18 seasons.
Everyone in sports knows what that statement really means. If the players pick up the game and start winning, then Mr. I knows they have not tuned out Uncle Mike. If the incosistency continues, then Mr. I knows that he has to fire Uncle Mike.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 03/10/10 at 04:15 PM ET
AD - - I realized, late, that he had missed most of the season. That is why I have him in my stuck in the middle department. He did work hard last night, other nights he has been invisible. But you could say that about the majority of the Wings all season. Which, apparently, is precisely the problem.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 03/10/10 at 04:18 PM ET
Wally 7 18 25 -6 (2.5 now, then 3.5 for 3 more) TRADE please - where u been?
This season? Injured, mostly.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 03/10/10 at 04:19 PM ET
Nice one Voox, I’ll have a double, ASAP. I also agree that Mr. I needs to say something (he seems to do it with the Tigers, but thats because DD is kind of inept at times)
Also, I hate feeding the Pen(i)s trolls, but the irony of someone from Johnstown, PA calling us losers makes my head explode. After spending a few hours waiting for a bus in that town over the last few summers, the irony is just palpable, town looks like a white trash neutron bomb went off.
Posted by FranzensMouthguard from Chicago, IL on 03/10/10 at 04:25 PM ET
town looks like a white trash neutron bomb went off.
Didn’t we use to call that Roseville and/or Warren? 
Posted by calquake on 03/10/10 at 04:30 PM ET
thats because DD is kind of inept at times
The man traded away possibly the most heart-and-soul Tiger of the past two decades. If he’s ‘kind of inept at times,’ then Napalm Death ‘sometimes play their songs with a little bit of a hissy fit.’
Is a white-trash neutron bomb designed to kill anyone wearing spandex or undershirts, but keep the trailer parks and check-cashing places intact?
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 03/10/10 at 04:41 PM ET
then Napalm Death ‘sometimes play their songs with a little bit of a hissy fit.’
That just really made me laugh….thanks.
Posted by bobby lang from Columbus, OH-IO on 03/10/10 at 04:47 PM ET
I was just looking at the ‘07-‘08 Cup winning roster.
On D, Chelios is the only one not with the club.
Centers, they’re all still here
Forwards, Drake, McCarty, Hudler, Sammi, and Kopecky are gone
Unibomber, Eaves, J-will, and Miller have been added.
That team finished with 115 points, winning the division and the conference. There is very little turnover from that cup winning roster.
Injuries have made an impact on this season, but even when healthy this team disinterested, inconsistent hockey.
I have yet to hear of coaches or management calling a closed door meeting. I have yet to hear of any of the players calling a closed door players only meeting. The one thing I never thought this team had to worry about is leadership. But none of this team’s leaders are stepping up and doing something, anything. The comments from coaches and players in the last month could have been made in November. This indicates to me that NOBODY GIVES A DAMN!
After what happened in the SCF last season, after losing Hossa, Sammi, et al over the summer, after the horrendous start to the season I thought they should have brought in Shanny. True, his 40 goal seasons are long behind him, but no team with Shanny on it would be playing listless and giving up third period leads.
Even if it’s Helm. Somebody needs to dress these guys down and read them the riot act. I feel embarassed for them with their inconsistent play. I’m embarassed as a fan. From 1983 on, hard work has always been a Red Wing trademark. Now these guys are mailing it in and it makes me sick.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 03/10/10 at 04:48 PM ET
whatever, I know who sucks,it is Stuart,Cleary and Fil, Mebda offcourse,drop em,trade em,whatever a GM can do,and if we have luck and 5 and Homer take a paycut, we can get much needed new blood in the house,or else we can look forward to 2 more crappy seasons, not without playoffs maybe,but no cup chances
Posted by edillac from isolation on 03/10/10 at 04:49 PM ET
What’s the last words a stupid redneck says before dying?
“Hey y’all… Watch this!”
Posted by calquake on 03/10/10 at 04:51 PM ET
Funny. No one ever tuned Scotty out. Wanna know why? Because he would sit your ass on the bench and let it moulder there. I think Uncle Mike might need to be a little harder on the low performing/high money guys.
Fil? Take a seat for a few nights.
Buckets? Just untie your skates and take it easy for a while.
Williams? First you’ll drop one line, and then you’ll sit.
Don’t sit them all at once, but sit them all. It may be too late now, but something seriously needs to be done soon.
Posted by wingsfanindenver on 03/10/10 at 04:55 PM ET
Good posts, all. It’s sad we are having this discussion now, but how could we not?
Filppula: I used to call him “the poor man’s Zetterberg”. Now that Zetterberg is “The poor man’s Zetterberg”, I guess Fil is “The poor man’s poor man’s Zetterberg”. I think he has shown flashes of excellence, but only flashes. And he really needs to become consistent in his goal scoring. No reason he should not be a twenty-five goal scorer. Right now he is trying to do too much- too much of something I cannot put a finger on as of now.
Hank: Injured. No ‘if’, ‘and’, or ‘buts’. He has not been the same player since right after his contract signing.
Jimmah: Possibly the brightest part of this season, next to TPH. He has kept this team in too many games this year. Love the confidence he has now, compared to when he would play just two short years ago.
Bert: Wildly inconsistent. If he would just simplify his game, and quit trying to become Sudbury’s version of Pavel Datsyuk, then he will be a much better player.
Pav: Needs to be better, but that is relative. He is the best forward most nights. His defensive play is spectacular more often than not. Just need more shoot.
Ericsson: The word patience comes to mind. But some of his mistakes are breathtaking.
Babs: Still one of the best in the biz. no question. But it is becoming clear the players are tuning him out. Remember, he has been in Detroit twice as long as he was in Anaheim, his only other NHL coaching job. At this point of his career he is simply an unknown entity, as far as his shelf-life as a coach, and how long it takes players to find his shtick old. We may be finding out as I type.
Overall: We are too tentative…d-zone breakouts, o-zone entrance, you name it, we’re tentative more than forceful. Red Wing hockey is in-your-face hockey, not so much in a physical sense, but in an execution sense; stifling “D” and a constant wave of offense executed by talented players who became very pissed whenever they did not have the puck.
The very essence of Red Wings defense in the past was that they got pissed when they didn’t have the puck. They looked offended when the other team had it. They were getting it back, and quick. Now, they look like they feel more comfortable asking the opposition team for the puck back. And when the opposition fails to do so (which is in every instance they are playing any team but Columbus), the Wings don’t get mad, they get exasperated…“Oh, Come on! Give me the puck! Uncle Mike is bitching on the bench!!”
And that is a result, in my whiskey-soaked opinion, of mental exhaustion. The drive, the desire, has been extinguished by long playoff runs. And I’ll say it again: this all became evident in game six of last year’s Finals. The players could not muster the emotional and psychological wherewithal to win one more game. They knew then, even if subconsciously, they had hit an emotional brick wall.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 03/10/10 at 05:04 PM ET
What’s the last words a stupid redneck says before dying?
“Hey y’all… Watch this!”
Posted by calquake
A red neck Zamboni driver perhaps?
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_14644822
take note of the sign in the foreground of the pic
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 03/10/10 at 05:09 PM ET
Wait, Val Filppula, who has the third-highest points per game for forwards on the Wings behind Datsyuk and Zetterberg, who had shit for points before his injury and has been on a quiet tear since his return needs to step it up?
You guys are crazy.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/10/10 at 05:12 PM ET
Is a white-trash neutron bomb designed to kill anyone wearing spandex or undershirts, but keep the trailer parks and check-cashing places intact?
HA, I wish I had gotten the picture of the old lady with what seemed to be 3 smokes hanging from her lip, wearing spandex shorts that physics said probably could never fit, wearing her dual pens/steelers “ice or grass, we’ll kick your ass” tshirt, but I was too busy going to the Johnstown Coney Island, which is the only redeeming quality of that hole, I do enjoy it hasn’t been updated since 1950.
http://www.coneyislandjohnstownpa.com/menu.html
Posted by FranzensMouthguard from Chicago, IL on 03/10/10 at 05:14 PM ET
and yes, I had to try the “sundowner”
Posted by FranzensMouthguard from Chicago, IL on 03/10/10 at 05:18 PM ET
Speaking of Helm, he regularly makes my pants tight during games. An absolutely tenacious player with speed that is blowing D-men out of the play.
he should be given Williams’ spot on the second line. yeah, I know Helm is a center. I don’t really care. we’ve got enough centers for two teams so no matter what, some centers are playing wing.
why Babcock won’t reward Helm’s energy, work ethic, and sound defensive play with more minutes and a bigger role is beyond me.
Nathan:
But why is nobody talking about his inability to control rebounds the last dozen or so games? On your typical 40 foot wrist shot from [insert average NHL forward here], he looks handcuffed and is regularly unable to soak pucks up into his chest protector
I explained this in the last thread. it is not always the goal of a goaltender to hold the puck. they are trained to redirect the puck to safe areas where their teammates can take control. that is what Howard does, and now that the defense is in sync with him, it is working well. early in the season the skaters didn’t really know where to be for him, so it resulted in turnovers and secondary scoring opportunities.
Forwards, Drake, McCarty, Hudler, Sammi, and Kopecky are gone
Unibomber, Eaves, J-will, and Miller have been added.
the name that stands out in that list to me is Drake. remember what we were clamoring for a couple years ago? that kind of “win one for the gipper” player who himself went out there and killed himself every night trying to get it done. an inspiration on and off the ice.
I think the consensus here is that this team’s current woes are about heart and determination. we need that player who sparks everyone to work harder, to leave it all on the ice every shift.
we used to have a guy named Yzerman who would do that. first on the cycle, last out of the gym after a game. left it on the ice every shift, sometimes playing for long stretches through excruciating pain that would leave most of us sobbing in a corner.
think of a hockey team like the human body. you need a bunch of parts that all work together to successfully complete tasks. but without a heart, it just lies there. the Wings need a heart. too bad it’s too late to get one this season.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/10/10 at 05:26 PM ET
You guys are crazy.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/10/10 at 05:12 PM ET
We’re mad. We’re desperate. We’d throw anybody under the bus.
Where’s the razor blades?
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 03/10/10 at 05:27 PM ET
we used to have a guy named Yzerman who would do that. first on the cycle, last out of the gym after a game. left it on the ice every shift, sometimes playing for long stretches through excruciating pain that would leave most of us sobbing in a corner.
Here’s a thought-
Do you think Z is attempting to do just that?
Of course, Z might not be as offensively gifted as Yzerman was at the time, so while Z is pouring his heart out…he just doesn’t have the ability whilst hurt. Z is still great in his own zone…he just can’t seem to get anything done points-wise.
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 03/10/10 at 05:29 PM ET
Wait, Val Filppula, who has the third-highest points per game for forwards on the Wings behind Datsyuk and Zetterberg, who had shit for points before his injury and has been on a quiet tear since his return needs to step it up?
You guys are crazy.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/10/10 at 05:12 PM ET
Stats do bite me in the ass, but the hairdresser has looked invisible to me lately. It’s time for Flip to step up.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 03/10/10 at 05:34 PM ET
You guys are crazy.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/10/10 at 05:12 PM ET
I haven’t been certified yet, so that statement may or may not be true.
One thing is certain, I am pissed.
You make a good point about pts/game. Over on the main page Paul links Scott Cullen, who somehow has figured points/minutes. And Wally has been on fire lately since returning from injury, that is true - - but it is also true that he was pretty invisible before he got hurt.
Over at hockeynumbers.com, they give the Wings a 1 in 4 chance of making the playoffs, determined by strength of remaining schedule, B2B, etc.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 03/10/10 at 05:39 PM ET
Stats do bite me in the ass, but the hairdresser has looked invisible to me lately. It’s time for Flip to step up.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 03/10/10 at 05:34 PM ET
Datsyuk didn’t look good with Bertuzzi on his wing for a while either. I hate to break up the first line because they’ve been humming, but maybe it’s time to play around a bit with the combos.
Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Franzen
Holmstrom-Filppula-Williams
Eaves-Helm-Bertuzzi
Cleary-Miller-Draper
I’d almost move Franzen to the 2nd line, but I’m actually worried about Zetterberg here. Let Datsyuk and Franzen worry about keeping the puck away from the opposition, Zetterberg’s job is to find the quiet spots in the offensive zone and get ready to fire one-timers.
Homer-Flip-Williams would be the quietest line of performers I’ve seen in a while, but I think Homer and Williams would work well on the cycle.
Draper’s invisible on the third line. Tell Bert to play like he did coming out of the box last night. Hopefully Helm can draw as many penalties for that line as Bert gets called on them.
Cleary is not a fourth-liner, but the guy is hurt. He can move up when he starts playing better.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 03/10/10 at 05:44 PM ET
Fuching job that keeps me off those discussions…
Summing up what I have to say, “our best players need to be our best players”.
Datsyuk is filling his role, and we can win a game anytime a Franzén, a Filppula or a Helm steps up offensively.
Lidstrom is doing his job, and we can win a game anytime another line plays solid 20 minutes.
And Howard is doing what he’s supposed to do, he’s shown he can steal a game when everything else fails. He gives lots of rebounds, but he stops most of them, so I don’t have a huge problem with that.
About Zetterberg, well, I don’t know if he’s injured or not, but I continue to say his game is very below-Zetta the past month or so, and I’m not affraid to say I question his “future captain” status. Captains need to step up in low times, and he is not doing it this season.
And Helm is God.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 03/10/10 at 05:51 PM ET
By Khahn:
Here are the lines they skated with Wednesday:
Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom
Filppula-Zetterberg-Cleary
Bertuzzi-Miller-Williams
Draper-Helm-Eaves
Is it just me or Williams is more of a center than Miller? And JJ kept Draper on the wing, so I’m a little confused (and yes, I do know that a center is not only supposed to take faceoffs).
That can be a good second line if the players want it to be. (oh, shit)
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 03/10/10 at 05:56 PM ET
I don’t think we can underestimate mental fatigue.
What was the stat about Lidstrom? He’s played more than a full extra season of hockey than the average NHL player since 2005-2006. For good measure, throw in those Olympic games he played in 2006 and 2010. And in the last three seasons, many other players on this team have been at the grind for so long.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s not an excuse. They are professionals, and as such, this season has been a real shame and a disappointment. But maybe we’re over-analyzing things. Maybe you’ve just got a team full of guys that have played so much hockey the last three seasons that they’re just sick of it.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 03/10/10 at 06:08 PM ET
One thing that has always bugged me about Fil is instead of shooting, he does that “one too many” pass that always screws up a scoring chance.
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 03/10/10 at 06:19 PM ET
What was the stat about Lidstrom? He’s played more than a full extra season of hockey than the average NHL player since 2005-2006.
2005-06: 92 games
2006-07: 98 games
2007-08: 98 games
2008-09: 99 games
2009-10: 70 games so far
And anybody seen the robbery of the Jackets’ logo? (
)
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 03/10/10 at 06:22 PM ET
And anybody seen the robbery of the Jackets’ logo? ()
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 03/10/10 at 06:22 PM ET
Holy crap. He sure wasn’t too suttle about it.
Posted by Bill from GR on 03/10/10 at 06:42 PM ET
Sorry Voox… this lost all credibility on this when you singled out Miller.
WTF is he supposed to do, score 50 goals?
The reason he’s “invisible” to you is he’s not f***ing up like some of the rest are. He’s not SUPPOSED to stick out like a sore thumb. He does a lot of the dirty work, and is one of the Wings’ smartest players. If you REALLY watch him sometime, he does little things to wreck opponents’ rush in the neutral zone and not even let it reach the Wings’ own end.
The reason you hear Bertuzzi’s name constantly is because it’s almost always suffixed with “lost the puck” or “turned it over”.
Posted by Primis on 03/10/10 at 06:52 PM ET
I absolutely agree that Zata hasn’t been himself for awhile, but for some perspective, he still has only 3 less points than Pavel, and in 6 less games. I think his and Pavel’s numbers are down this year because for so much of this season they’ve had to really focus on playing defensively, way more so than normal, because of injuries and a rookie goalie. Now that the team is back to healthy and Jimmah has found his groove (although he hasn’t looked nearly as good after the Olympic break), they have both stepped up their production. Pasha has 17 points in his last 14 games and Z has 14 in his last 14.
However, last night crushed me. I had a sincere shift of mentality and I honestly don’t believe we are going to make the playoffs. I would love to be proven wrong, but until they do, I’m not getting excited about a win anymore. Sure, I’ll be happy at the time, but I’m done with the “they’re back!” business. Until there are at LEAST three straight wins, I’m unfortunately of the opinion that they simply don’t want it.
Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 03/10/10 at 07:08 PM ET
The reason he’s “invisible” to you is he’s not f***ing up like some of the rest are.
I said this about Williams. not every player is out there to show up on the score sheet. if they do, it’s great…but some are just out there to play solid, responsible hockey, and not f up so it ends up in our net. scoring is a bonus.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/10/10 at 07:09 PM ET
Paul, but there is a difference between J-Will and Miller.
J-Will makes 1.5
Miller 0.50
J-Will 28 g/p, 6 5 11 -9 = 0.39 pts/game
Miller 64 g/p 7 9 16 1 = 0.25 pts/game
Miller not as prolific at scoring, but more responsible at 1/3 the price. I like Miller’s game. Never seem to notice him making a bone-head play - - to the contrary, he seems to be very solid. And he hasn’t missed a game all season. IF Tick Tock could get him another season at 0.500, do it in a minute.
J-Will - - C’ya. I’d rather see Gator play next season. The man is a wrecking crew with nothing but heart.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 03/10/10 at 07:50 PM ET
Maybe you’ve just got a team full of guys that have played so much hockey the last three seasons that they’re just sick of it.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson’s ice cream truck on 03/10/10 at 06:08 PM ET
I’ve thought they looked mentally burned-out nearly from the start of the season. The want is there, but their reserves are too low and they are running on fumes.
I know how they feel - not hockey-wise, but burned-out-wise. And it’s horrible.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/10/10 at 07:58 PM ET
I have to disagree in Miller and Williams. I honestly don’t understand why everyone hates this guy. Seriously I don’t. I really like him on the second PP. He sometimes has that Raffi like ability to keep the puck in the zone when you think it’s a goner. Teams like Edmonton are paying 5 million plus for a Souray d-man who is basically a power play specialist. JWill is only making 1.5. And the guy has been hurt for a big chunk of the year. I liked the signing then and still like it now.
And I’m jumping on Primis’ bandwagon regarding Miller. I’ve liked him all year. Smart, smart hockey player. I’m hoping he gets re-signed. I’d love to see him really mature as a Wing.
The level of talent and lack of care does a frustrating hockey game make.
Posted by ITDeuce from The Land of Ice and Snow on 03/10/10 at 08:02 PM ET
Before someone slams me for it I’m not saying that Jwill is as good as Souray on the PP. Just saying he does pretty damn good, (better than Sammy) and he’s cheap.
Posted by ITDeuce from The Land of Ice and Snow on 03/10/10 at 08:07 PM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
GDT - Game #56: Red Wings host Ducks (7:30)
GDT - Game #55: Red Wings host Oilers (7:30)
The F Stands For Finger And The Finger Could Really ______ Us All
GDT - Game #54: Red Wings at Coyotes (8:00)
So Far 4 In 2, Why Not 6 in 3?
About Abel to Yzerman
Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
When learning from experts it’s best to learn personally from them, or from their blog. We can provide that with poker lessons blog, your home to learn poker personally.
Do you get shocked from the luck in the game of poker? Stop getting shocked and start being a Poker Shoker
Get the top online sports betting bonuses available to sports betters!
//sigh//
never
never
never
give
up
L.G.R.W.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 03/10/10 at 03:10 PM ET