Abel to Yzerman
Next entry: Detroit News: Lebda Will Save Us All
Previous entry: Hide The Kids...It's The Unibomber and Satan's Daughter At The Door
Time To Put The Kingdom Up For Sale?
by IwoCPO on 10/15/09 at 06:16 AM ET
Comments (75)
That seems to be the consensus around hockey these days...that the 19 should come to grips with a stark reality. The MSM, bloggers, fans of “championship” teams who didn’t follow hockey until 2006 and would have let their team move to KC without a second thought prior to that?
They would like each of you to just go ahead and admit that the Detroit Red Wings are no longer Hockey’s Greatest Team. No longer Cup contenders, much less favorites. Four points after five games? Pitchforks please. Grain alcohol. Big women laughing at you at 12:58 am in a dive bar. It’s all over. Pipers are lined up, hands out, feet tapping. Pay them for your success.
And look...look at recent evidence. Just yesterday…
Khan(!)’s playground there kids. The MLive Wing page and for the love of the adorable one, it’s all bad news. The Wings are slow. Franzen under the knife. Datsyuk’s hurt.
It’s all going to crash around us. The only male hockey fans on the planet to use the term “whatev”, the same ones who predicted the Wings wouldn’t even make the playoffs? Certainly they’re right.
Not so fast little bitches. Not so fast. Bleak? Yes. Discouraging? Yep. Did Tuesday expose some potentially horrific flaws? Maybe. Let’s take an objective look...because that’s how we roll here.
Here’s what Uncle Mike, Head Coach for the Canadien(an) Olympic team, had to say yesterday…
“To be successful in this league, you’ve got to compete for 60 minutes and not give up chances,’’ Babcock said. “Our careless play with the puck is hurting us (NHL-high 73 giveaways). Our faceoff circle is hurting us (50.3 percent, 13th in league). Buffalo played well as a five-man unit. We had too much space and separation and weren’t quick enough.’’
Forget the cliche at the beginning of that and move to the stats. A league-high in giveaways. Interesting, but not exactly revealing. Detroit led the playoffs last year in giveaways. Pittsburgh was second. Amount of games played is obviously a factor but style of play also affects that. One more bit...the Wings, during the playoffs, had 166 giveaways at home. 59 on the road.
Anyway, if the Wings are playing well, moving the puck...that’s gonna happen. 73 after five games? Yes, too much. But that will get better.
Faceoffs? Wings led the league at 55 percent last year. They’re at 50.3. Too many quality F/O guys to think that won’t improve. But the concern, and I can’t find a stat to support this, is where the faceoffs are lost. Buffalo’s first PP goal Tuesday? Stafford at the goal mouth? Cleary had lost the faceoff. Not so dangerous in itself. The real problem occured immediately after when a Sabre was allowed to bee-bop in, pick up the puck and send it to the blue line. No Wing anywhere near him or the puck. No legs. No hustle. No energy.
Which leads us to the volcanic disaster of a penalty kill. Detroit’s given up at least one in all five games and it affects everything. It symbolizes all our ills. It is The Issue That Must Be Fu**ing Dealt With. I offer no insight. None. I have no idea how a problem this significant can last this long and plague a team so talented and cohesive. This is not a Ranger team, thrown together without considering where the pieces fit. Ken Holland doesn’t operate that way. Every piece has a purpose and for many, a primary task is the PK.
It sucks now, and it has for more than a year. But, mothefu**, at some point we have to have faith in the smart people within that organ-I-zation. I have to believe that if it has this effect on me, then it’s got to be keeping people awake at night. Head coaches have got to be pacing. And assistants had better be looking over their shoulders. Oh, and Captains...yeah, I’m thinking Captains may want to consider reminding some players that success does not start with laziness.
That was a bad loss. One of the worst we’ve seen. Buffalo was fast where the Wings were lethargic. They crashed the net while we had serial killers tap dancing twenty feet away from the crease. They controlled the puck while the Wings scrambled.
But here’s the thing. Skill is still in their favor. Experience is still there. Humiliation at losing the Cup to a whining, diving, classless piece of shit “captain” and a team inferior in skill but a favorite in the eyes of a hapless commissioner...yep, that should be there too.
2-3 after five games, after a trip to Stockholm and back, is not the end. It could very well be an indication that there are some serious problems. But none of them are unsolvable because all of them have to do with energy and will.
Ability is one thing, and the Wings are stocked. Pride is a whole other matter. Swagger can be fleeting and it’s probably hard to find in Hockeytown right now. LA’s got it. Jesus, even Denver does. And they’re both coming to town this week. Young, dumb and full of...themselves. The Wings of old, just last year against Chicago in December and January, took care of teams like that. Little brother deserved a beating and that’s what he got. Repeatedly.
It’s a tough stretch, an angry stretch. But there is no logical way to believe it won’t be righted. And it will. The most talented team in hockey still resides in Detroit. Now it’s just a matter of remembering that talent alone doesn’t win games in October, much less the real important ones in May and June.
Oh, and I’ll say this again...those of you idiotic enough to keep claiming Detroit won’t make the playoffs? Put it on the line. Make me a wager or STFU.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
Thank God I’ve been busy enough the last few days to not see this, if this included some of the 19.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 10/15/09 at 06:41 AM ET
It’s not been any of us Mark. Pensblog guys made that claim on Twitter before the season started then mentioned it again yesterday. Naturally, when I ask them about it they go silent.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 10/15/09 at 05:43 AM ET
The most talented team in hockey still resides in Detroit. Now it’s just a matter of remembering that talent alone doesn’t win games in October, much less the real important ones in May and June.
Oh, and I’ll say this again...those of you idiotic enough to keep claiming Detroit won’t make the playoffs? Put it on the line. Make me a wager or STFU.
It was just a matter of time before all the wagging tongues started their what’s wrong with the Red Wings blather. It’s October and they are off to a slow start. Big effin deal.
Yea we’ve seen some awful hockey, and I’m being nice about that, but it’s October. I love how quickly everybody jumps off the wagon on the least little bit of rough road.
Like you said Chief, STFU.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 10/15/09 at 06:08 AM ET
I just may take you up on the betting idea - just because if I bet on something happening, it is as close to a kiss of death that it will not happen that exists in this or any other universe. 
(If I have won as much as one bet in my life, it was so long ago that I can’t even remember it.)
But not making the playoffs? Detroit would have to not only be worse than Chicago, but also Columbus, St. Louis, and possibly Nashville - or at least worse enough than the top three that they would be on par with Nashville in the basement. I would be far from shocked if Chicago wins the division, but the question is what they do with that afterwards in the playoffs. Will they be able to take advantage of a high seed and (seemingly) more favorable matchups, because goodness knows other teams such as Detroit, San Jose, etc. etc. etc. have at times certainly not been able to do so.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/15/09 at 06:30 AM ET
Dynamite post Chief...and a stat driven first section? I’m speechless.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/15/09 at 06:52 AM ET
Remember back when every season didn’t start with the presumption that Detroit was not only the favorite to win the Cup, but that if they didn’t at least get to the Conference Finals the season was a disappointment?
When was that, 1994?
Honestly, truthfully, hockey’s a lot more fun to watch when the outcome has some potential to positively surprise. For pretty much the last 15 years if the Wings win it was because they were supposed to and when they lost it was complete devastation.
I don’t want the Wings to miss the playoffs, I don’t think the Wings will miss the playoffs… but man, it sure would be nice to not have to go into every stinking year having every fan, for or against Detroit, cranking expectations for the club all the way to 11.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 10/15/09 at 07:09 AM ET
Maybe we need that little kid to come in and do the Herb Brooks speech before every game.
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Earth. on 10/15/09 at 07:11 AM ET
Our faceoff circle is hurting us (50.3 percent, 13th in league).
Really Coach? Then tell me, why the F! was Abdelkader taking the faceoffs in S’holm while Draper is on the same line!!!!!!!!!!
Then tell me Coach, why the F! was Stuart going back after giving up a goal. You never, NEVER send in the same line after a goal - pee-wee hockey 101.
Get your ass in gear Coach, S’holm might put a little scare in you, eh?
Posted by MacPhisto on 10/15/09 at 07:40 AM ET
For as much as I enjoy reading the banter back and forth, and yes, seeing the Wings lose is great TV, but realistically, news of the impending demise of the Wings is just laughable....
Posted by Tony from Virginia Beach, VA on 10/15/09 at 07:40 AM ET
Honestly, truthfully, hockey’s a lot more fun to watch when the outcome has some potential to positively surprise.
I totally disagree,HD. Every Wings game I watch, I sit down expecting a win, but understanding that we will not always get one. Potential positive surprises are limited to individual player performances. It’s not in my DNA to watch and hope for “an outcome(that) has some potential to positively surprise”. I want a WIN,dammit. Turn in your man card.
but man, it sure would be nice to not have to go into every stinking year having every fan, for or against Detroit, cranking expectations for the club all the way to 11.
Ok, everybody, help me out.."We’re number 6 or7! We’re number 6 or7! We’re number 6 or 7!” Ooooohhhh ,yeah, that’s going to make for a MUCH better season at my house. Sheesh.
Posted by dougie on 10/15/09 at 07:43 AM ET
They’ve had their heads up their asses in 3 out of 5 games so far this season. Every team is going to have bad games, but Dod damn it, if you’re running at a 60% chance of a diarrhea fest on any given night you’re probably not going to be winning any awards.
Last year, their defense was spotty and their goaltending blew chunks, so their offense bailed them out. The offense doesn’t have the firepower to pull that off anymore. They can either fix the defense and the goaltending or they can sink.
Personally, I don’t get it. I don’t think the roster is that much different than the one that won the Cup. Hasek, Drake, Kopecky, Lilja, Sammy, Hudler, Chelios?
The early season games set a tone. So far the tone is suck, but they’ve shown they can get it up when they want to. I don’t know what would be worse: a Red Wings team that sucks because it sucks, or a Red Wings team that sucks because they just don’t give a shit.
They’ve won no less than 48 games every season since 2000. At least 50 every year under Babcock.
I don’t know what to expect. I know what I want; so far I haven’t really gotten it.
Posted by monkey from Waiting for the lambs to stop screaming on 10/15/09 at 07:49 AM ET
-Who, outside of the Pensblog, says the Wings aren’t going to make the playoffs? Nobody is dumb enough to think that the Wings won’t make the playoffs, and if they do think that, they are probably just trying to ruffle Wings fans’ feathers (just like the Pensblog).
-Wings fans have the only fanbase that always has to have the “us versus the world” mentality. I’m not sure why. It’s not necissarily a knock, especially if it has helped enable the franchise to be so successful over the past 12 years, but I just don’t understand it. The whole “everyone against us” mentality makes you guys sound like Flyers fans.
-You talk about Pens fans trolling this site, and yet you bring the Penguins or their fans up in 90 percent of your posts. If it is just a clever way to get more site hits, then it’s working.
-How are the Red Wings the greatest organ-I-zation in all of pro sports, let alone a dynasty? I guess with the parity that exists in 3 out of the 4 major sports, the standards for a dynasty have been relaxed. 4 Cups in 12 years is an amazing run, but a dynasty? Maybe I’m being too strict on the dynasty standards.
Most of those were serious questions, and I’m sure I will get several responses...probably a good mix of classy and not-so-classy replies.
Here is another thought that will probably also ruffle some feathers. If you watch the Penguins and Crosby play....actually watch them instead of making blind remarks and clever variations of Thid Rosby....then you will notice that Crosby is slowly turning into Steve Yzerman. He is becoming a beast in the faceoff circle, his defensive play is getting better and better, and he still scores. Ouch. I just compared Thid Rosby to Yzerman.
Posted by Link_Gaetz on 10/15/09 at 07:50 AM ET
Wow Chief a post that has balance, you feeling alright?!?!
Having watched the Sabres game last night I offer a couple silver linings to the otherwise very dark cloud.
1. Ozzie and Jimmy looked better, not world beaters but better - I don’t care how good you are if the team in front aren’t clearing the lines you will concede and concede BIG.
2. We can’t be that bad again, I’m not saying we won’t get beaten again just that we won’t be THAT bad.
3. Those that are writing off the Wings, we have your names and addresses when the cup returns to it’s rightful place we will come knocking....We are not Toronto who wallow in self pity, nor are we the Dive who simply suck, this is Oct bitches remeber that!
Posted by Better_Than_Life from UK on 10/15/09 at 08:02 AM ET
Hey Chief, another quality blog from you.
BTW Ned Harkness called. He wants to know when you’re free for lunch.
Posted by davetherave from Ottawa, Canada on 10/15/09 at 08:05 AM ET
Epic post, Chief. Your Nobel Prize awaits you in the land of leggy blondes.
I just compared Thid Rosby to Yzerman.
I’ll try and stay classy for my response…
Shut your whore mouth.
...that’s my Sunday best.
The Captain never punched someone in the head from behind. Or the nuts. And he was never voted the whiniest player by more than 50% of his collegues. Don’t let the stats fool you, it takes more than stats to surpass The Captain.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 10/15/09 at 08:06 AM ET
Here is another thought that will probably also ruffle some feathers. If you watch the Penguins and Crosby play....actually watch them instead of making blind remarks and clever variations of Thid Rosby....then you will notice that Crosby is slowly turning into Steve Yzerman. He is becoming a beast in the faceoff circle, his defensive play is getting better and better, and he still scores. Ouch. I just compared Thid Rosby to Yzerman.
I have actually been watching the Penguins play and I say that comparisons to Yzerman are extremely premature at this point. He’s stayed on the right path to this point in his career, but he has a long way to go before his captaincy deserves to be compared to Steve in Detroit or even Sakic in Colorado (and only Colorado, since we all know he never played in Quebec, right Denver?) He’s slowly turning into Steve Yzerman the same way Ville Leino is slowly turning into Jaromir Jagr.
I think watching this team must be what it felt like for a certain physics teacher at my high school to see my sister and I only two years apart come through his classroom and content themselves with a C in a class he knew we could have aced. He actually pulled me aside and yelled at me saying he knew I had the potential, he just wanted to see the effort. Man, I was a stupid kid who fortunately got his head straightened out before going off to college.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/15/09 at 08:15 AM ET
Wings fans have the only fanbase that always has to have the “us versus the world” mentality. (...) The whole “everyone against us” mentality makes you guys sound like Flyers fans.
Would you please make up your mind then?
I just compared Thid Rosby to Yzerman.
You’ll rot in hell for this. 
Posted by MacPhisto on 10/15/09 at 08:17 AM ET
I think yzerman is on the hockey news’ top 10 whiniest players of all time. Not to be a dick, but I really think he was on there. But Gretzky was number 1 so…
Posted by drw on 10/15/09 at 08:17 AM ET
This whole thing is silly. It’s stupid that people are writing the “The Wings are Done” article, and it’s just as absurd that people are writing the “The Wings are Still the Best” article.
We’re FIVE games into the season.
What exactly do we know about this team right now? And don’t talk to me about what we know based on the previous two years with many of the same players. This season, after FIVE games, what do we really know?
2-3 through FIVE games—if the Wings go 2-3 through a FIVE game stretch in the middle of February, but their overall record is still 10 games above 0.500, what’s everyone going to say? “Oh, they’re having a bad stretch, it happens, the season is long.” But somehow, since it happens at the start of the year, it means that this is exactly what this team will be? We can therefore expect them to go 33-49? 0-6 against the Blues? And I suppose at the same time, it’s fair to say the Avs and Rangers are going to lose less than 10 games this season and win the West and East, respectively…
There are things to be concerned about after FIVE games—mainly injuries—but this is a point where good clubs with good management and coaching and talent find a way to address those concerns, improve through the first quarter of the year, and then push forward in the second quarter.
If Mike Babcock, and Jason Williams, and Todd Bertuzzi, and Kris Draper, and Tomas Holmstrom are still capable of what they have been capable of in the past, and they work hard, there’s no reason to believe—barring further significant injuries—that this team can’t find themselves around 12-8 come the quarter pole, and continue to build from there.
For those non-Wings fans reading this, please, save your breath, don’t call me delusional. Read my words carefully. I’m not saying they WILL turn this around. I’m saying that we have just as many reasons to believe they’ll turn things around as we do to believe they are in too deep with injuries, off-season losses, etc. And as such, it’s foolish for people to either declare the “end” of the Wings or declare that they’ll be fine.
For the quality this organization has shown since the early ‘90’s, if nothing else, they deserve 20 games, judgment free. And frankly, even if this were the Leafs or any other club, it’s pretty absurd to start making judgments two weeks into the season.
I firmly believe that despite injuries, the fate of this team, this season, rests on Mike Babcock. I don’t think he’s in a fire-able position. He’s done too much for this team since coming here, and just like almost every player, almost every coach is due to have a bad season or two in their career, no matter how illustrious otherwise. But this team still has the type of talent that, based on past performances, should be a playoff team, should be no worse than a 5 or 6 seed, and should at least have what it takes to be competitive in a playoff series against any opposition. So, this is on Babcock. Babcock deserved tons of praise in ‘07 for really turning this team from a perimeter club to a hard club to play against in all areas. He deserved tons of credit in ‘08 for closing the deal and tying a bow on his hard work making this club over from the previous season. So it’s only fair that he should be judged harshly if the team fails to meet reasonable expectations this season.
And for the record, I think anyone that had their expectations at the Stanley Cup (ahem… Chief) had unreasonable expectations. Given what we knew going into the season, we should certainly expect a team that can be at the top of the West all year long, but we also know how damn hard it is to repeat as a champ, how hard it is just to get back to the finals, and how hard it is to do all that in the face of losing half your forward corps. So let’s be realistic, drop the sense of entitlement, and realize that this is a light “rebuilding” year (in terms of the Wings, anyhow).
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 10/15/09 at 08:19 AM ET
Detroit fans are awesome. You guys have created an alternate reality for yourselves and come up with the most insane thoughts.
“Humiliation at losing the Cup to a whining, diving, classless piece of shit “captain” and a team inferior in skill but a favorite in the eyes of a hapless commissioner...yep, that should be there too. “
This is priceless. An inferior team came into your building for a game 7 of the stanley cup finals and won. Plan and simple. The great Detroit Red Wings couldn’t stop a better, more talented team for lifting lord stanley’s cup in your own arena.
Have fun fighting for that 8th playoff spot this year.
Posted by Tim B from Johnstown on 10/15/09 at 08:19 AM ET
Wings fans have the only fanbase that always has to have the “us versus the world” mentality. (...) The whole “everyone against us” mentality makes you guys sound like Flyers fans.
No shit… it’s because the Wings have been so successful that either you’re a Wings fan, or you hate them. How many people do you know that are in the middle? “Oh, the Wings, yeah they’re okay.”
Never happens in circles of die-hard hockey fans.
Just like nobody thinks the Yankees are “okay” or the Lakers are “okay” or the Patriots are “okay...” need I go on?
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 10/15/09 at 08:23 AM ET
You talk about Pens fans trolling this site, and yet you bring the Penguins or their fans up in 90 percent of your posts. If it is just a clever way to get more site hits, then it’s working.
I write for 19 people and I don’t care about site hits. I bring up Penguin fans because the majority of them who have been here are scum. There are exceptions, but not many. I like to make fun of scumbags. It makes me feel warm.
4 Cups in 12 years is an amazing run, but a dynasty?
Yes, and when you factor in all the division titles, conference titles, etc...it’s a dynasty. If you disagree, you’re stupid. You can stay if you want, but you’re just not that smart.
Evidence? This.
I just compared Thid Rosby to Yzerman.
It doesn’t make me mad, it’s just dumb. Yzerman was widely respected around the league. Crosby is laughed at and even hated by his fellow players. Do you honestly think Steve Yzerman would have ever made the comments that Rosby did about Zetterman during the SCF in ‘08?
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 10/15/09 at 08:25 AM ET
For the record, I’m still not worried that we need to make some drastic changes, but I’m still allowed to be angry at the way the Wings have looked so far in five games. I don’t have a reason to believe they’re going to play like this all year, but I have a reason to be pissed by the fact that they got outhustled and outcoached by the Sabres. I don’t particularly care who’s playing on our fourth line right now because our fourth line isn’t the problem. I do particularly care about who’s playing the sixth defenseman spot because no matter who’s back there, there’s a maddening two steps forward, one step back routine that I’m tired of.
I’m actually starting to think that a problem on the sixth d-spot is that there is too much competition for it. I say move Lebda out of town right now. There you go, Meech; now you don’t have to play so tight as to think a bad shift is going to mean you’re sitting the next game. Loosen up a bit and play solid defense out there. I’m still going to gnash my teeth and call you bad names whenever you do have a bad shift, but you don’t have to worry about that. You get fifteen games to show us that you’re capable of not losing us fifteen games. If you’re still not good after that stretch, sayonara Swiss-Army Meech, hello Andy Delmore.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/15/09 at 08:30 AM ET
Good post Nathan.
But as for this…
So let’s be realistic, drop the sense of entitlement
I’ll keep mine, thanks.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 10/15/09 at 08:31 AM ET
We can therefore expect them to go 33-49? 0-6 against the Blues?
Yes. That is mathematically correct.
And I suppose at the same time, it’s fair to say the Avs and Rangers are going to lose less than 10 games this season and win the West and East, respectively…
Those lucky bastards. Of all the teams....
Posted by monkey from Waiting for the lambs to stop screaming on 10/15/09 at 08:39 AM ET
So let’s be realistic, drop the sense of entitlement
I’ll keep mine, thanks.
+1
Posted by dougie on 10/15/09 at 08:41 AM ET
I don’t want the Wings to miss the playoffs, I don’t think the Wings will miss the playoffs… but man, it sure would be nice to not have to go into every stinking year having every fan, for or against Detroit, cranking expectations for the club all the way to 11.
My expectation is cranked to 12 until we win that 12th cup, and after that it goes to 13 and so on.
Posted by YYZerman on 10/15/09 at 08:57 AM ET
hello Andy Delmore.
JJ, you just made me throw up a little bit.
Posted by monkey from Watching the Wings gangbang a doorknob on 10/15/09 at 09:39 AM ET
Haha, seems about right.
I’ll keep mine, thanks.
And I won’t judge you for it. If there’s one team in the league that deserves even the slightest sense of entitlement, it’s the Red Wings. They’ve earned it via 4 Cups, a couple more Cup Final appearances, a couple more Western Conf. Final appearances, infinity division titles, and near infinity President’s Trophy’s. Oh, and success both with “bought” teams and cap teams.
That’s half my point—to the detractors, give this team at least 20 games. They’ve earned that, and frankly, a lot more. As good as they’ve been for as long as they’ve been, you can’t call them “done” until they’re actually, truly, literally, mathematically done.
The other half of my point is let’s not be arrogant and ignore the obvious concerns that exist for this club right now.
That is all.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 10/15/09 at 09:02 AM ET
The boss gave me his two seats to the HAwks-Oilers last night, being six rows up from the ice, I wasn’t turning them down, plus I wanted to see the bandwagon up close. My observations
1. 70 percent of that arena I think was more there for the 12 dollar tequila shots and to dance at that damn Henikien song everytime they scored
2. I saw a disturbing amount of Belfour and Amonte jerseys, pretty easy to tell they were the true fans who had been their through the lean years
3. Chicago is fast as hell, like that entire team is Darren Helm fast, this frightened me
4. Their defense blows, their goalie (the backup played last night) couldn’t freeze the puck at all, this relaxed me
5. Edmonton had like 11 shots through two periods, this wasn’t really due to the hawks D, just the fact that Edmonton has zero breakout and could not get it out of the zone
6. There was a metric TON of Mediterranean dudes there, I thought it was Chelios-fest or something, lots of cougars, lots of too much perfume
It took every ounce of my self control not to continuously “BITCH” at Kopecky, how the hell is that dude on a first line PP? Overall, not a very exciting game, made me miss the Joe
Posted by FranzensMouthguard on 10/15/09 at 09:03 AM ET
JJ, you just made me throw up a little bit.
I’m still working off the assumption that eventually Andreas Lilja will be back. I’d prefer if that were to happen sometime this year. At that point, whomever is holding down the sixth defensive spot is out. I know your memory is longer than mine, but it seems to me that at worst, Delmore is just the Curley to Lebda’s Moe and Meech’s Larry that make up the three stooges we have at defense right now.
If we’re going to have a guy who’s not very good at playing defense in the NHL on our blue line, I’d prefer it to be a guy who knows how to battle in the corners and has a slap shot more powerful than a Glade puff.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/15/09 at 09:16 AM ET
*sigh*
No panic here, Chief. I’m usually the negative sort, but again… not panicking. No reason to yet still. I know that’s hard for some to stomach, but it’s the truth.
There are serious chemistry issues on the team at the moment. I don’t even mean necessarily from a “lockerroom problems” standpoint, but just from a lines-together-on-the-ice aspect. You can watch and see that linemates are not clicking together. Pav and Z are about the only two players that have done any clicking at all, and even they’ve been very hit-and-miss. Teams aren’t shutting them down, they’re just not capitalizing on the chances they have, or are waiting that extra tenth of a second that they shouldn’t, or… you name it.
They don’t look tired. They don’t look overwhelmed. They just look like a team does in training camp, only now it’s during games that count already and they’re still not clicking. Patience, give it time, 19…
Oh and to Timmy from Johnstown who wants to start stuff… have fun losing those Chiefs after this season! You know… the affiliate-less Chiefs that are so sorry their NHL affiliates dumped them… that are the absolute bottom of league attendance (despite pumping themselves as the oldest remaining franchise) and its only going to get worse… yup, have fun with that!!
Posted by Primis on 10/15/09 at 09:17 AM ET
Last year, their defense was spotty and their goaltending blew chunks, so their offense bailed them out. The offense doesn’t have the firepower to pull that off anymore. They can either fix the defense and the goaltending or they can sink.
Monkey is spot-on.
I seem to recall during the summer and preseason, that the Organ-I-Zation also cited the same logic. I also recall the Organ-I-Zation focusing on tightening the “D” and working on the P/K which was an achilles heel for them last year too.
How’s that working out so far?
Chief’s spot-on too:
Skill is still in their favor. Experience is still there. . .
But none of them are unsolvable because all of them have to do with energy and will.
It is time for a character test.
It will be most interesting to see who “mans-up”.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 10/15/09 at 09:19 AM ET
Hell with it. I’ll take a piece of the wager action. I did last year when people thought I was crazy. But it paid off, and what I said last year still f*cking stands: I followed this team when it was a hopeless cause, watched the losses in the Eighties, looked into the playoffs from the outside, and saw the empty seats at the Joe when we stank to high heaven. Not for one second did I stop being a fan, not for a moment did I hesitate when someone asked me what team I supported, never did I tear the Winged Wheel off my chest. And going through all that made the Cup wins all that much sweeter. But if we fall off that high perch? I’ll still be here in the gutter, motherf*ckers, looking at the stars. Because THAT’S what being a fan means. And that’s where that wager goes-- not on a certainty, or on some idiotic us-against-them thing. That wager goes on hope. Because if you don’t have any hope for the team you live and die with, you might as well give up and watch it move to Kansas City.
And yes, I’m still a Lions fan too.
a Red Wings team that sucks because it sucks, or a Red Wings team that sucks because they just don’t give a shit.
The latter is worse, Monkey. I’ve known Wings teams that suck, and it’s far more frustrating when you know they can do so much better.
But hell. Anybody want some action? Let’s do it. And why don’t you ask Lurker how his wager turned out?
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/15/09 at 09:22 AM ET
“Let’s take an objective look...because that’s how we roll here.”
Speak for yourself, Chief.
I’d rather rant & rave when my team, the organ-I-zation, doesn’t play up to it’s potential, and my - our - expectations.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 10/15/09 at 09:22 AM ET
1. 70 percent of that arena I think was more there for the 12 dollar tequila shots and to dance at that damn Henikien song everytime they scored
Posted by FranzensMouthguard on 10/15/09 at 10:03 AM ET
You know it’s funny.. I was watching the CHI CSN broacast of the game and I noticed that, much like Boston and NESN, the only things that ever seem to advertise on CSN Chicago for hockey games are liquor stores and pizza joints. I’m pretty sure I once saw a segment on NESN last season that was sponsored by not one, but TWO liquor stores at the same time…
Really, how many liquor stores can a city have? Even of Chicago’s size?
That right there sums it all up to me about Chicago and Boston.
Posted by Primis on 10/15/09 at 09:22 AM ET
I stopped in Johnstown this summer for an hour, I walked through the entire town, it was like God himself had taken a dump and made a city and its people from it, its that bad.
Posted by FranzensMouthguard on 10/15/09 at 09:23 AM ET
“To be successful in this league, you’ve got to compete for 60 minutes and not give up chances,’’ Babcock said.
Again, I wish I had a nickel for every time that has been said here.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 10/15/09 at 09:24 AM ET
I followed this team when it was a hopeless cause, watched the losses in the Eighties, looked into the playoffs from the outside, and saw the empty seats at the Joe when we stank to high heaven. Not for one second did I stop being a fan, not for a moment did I hesitate when someone asked me what team I supported, never did I tear the Winged Wheel off my chest. And going through all that made the Cup wins all that much sweeter. But if we fall off that high perch? I’ll still be here in the gutter, motherf*ckers, looking at the stars. Because THAT’S what being a fan means.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe
Hear, hear. Same applies for me.
And yes, I’m still a Lions fan too.
To quote Get Fuzzy: “OK, now you’ve just gone fringe...”
Posted by Primis on 10/15/09 at 09:26 AM ET
made the comments that Rosby did about Zetterman during the SCF in ‘08?
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 10/15/09 at 09:25 AM ET
He spells his name is Zetterman?
Posted by mrfluffy from Cincy on 10/15/09 at 09:27 AM ET
“No legs. No hustle. No energy.”
Sounds like the 19 after a long night watching the Wings from the Hasek.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 10/15/09 at 09:27 AM ET
made the comments that Rosby did about Zetterman during the SCF in ‘08?
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 10/15/09 at 09:25 AM ET
He spells his name is Zetterman?
Posted by mrfluffy from Cincy on 10/15/09 at 10:27 AM ET
I really did that. Interesting.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 10/15/09 at 09:28 AM ET
“ ... the volcanic disaster of a penalty kill.”
Fix this and no team will be able to touch them. Period.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 10/15/09 at 09:33 AM ET
People, people, people...we are ONE game removed from beating the ordained 2009 Leastern Conference Champions and TWO games removed from beating the ordained 2009 Stanley Cup Champions. Now I admit, I go caught up in the sh!tstorm of a game that was Tuesday, but let’s wait to see how they react after playing a game like that…
Chemistry issues? Babcock’s to blame for that, fiddling with a winning lineup and taking the heart (Draper/Matlby) out of the team. They may not seem to do much on the ice, but their worth is intangible on the stat sheet. Lesson learned.
Everyone take a deep breath.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/15/09 at 09:41 AM ET
Switch the 2009’s for 2010’s in that last one...I’ve been taking my stupid pills today apparently.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/15/09 at 09:42 AM ET
The start is awful, obviously.
But hey, the 96-97 Cup started with a 2-4 record through 6 games. The 05-06 fiasco started with a 12-1 run. Cups aren’t won in October.
That said, Uncle Mike gotta wake this team up, do some Bowman.
Scratch Zetterberg, bring up Larsson, put Datsyuk on defense, give Filppula, Helm and Williams 1st line minutes. Do something.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazil on 10/15/09 at 09:52 AM ET
The Wings’ PK needs more shot blocking.
The league’s best PKs block a lot more shots than the Wings.
The boys need to sacrifice their bodies for the PK.
That is what Andreas Lilja did.
Posted by w2j2 on 10/15/09 at 09:55 AM ET
Best post in months. And you used stats? And a graphic? And a Zetterman?
After seeing a few Kings games, I’m a tad concerned. Not so much their 4-2 record as their relentless energy and puck pursuit (Wing Kryptonite at the moment). They outplayed the Rags last night despite losing.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 10/15/09 at 10:03 AM ET
And yeah, I’m worried about the Kings at Joe Louis when they’re on the end of a back-to-back.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 10/15/09 at 10:09 AM 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.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Mellow Is The Man Who Hosts About 120 Live Blogs Per Year
“Faux”…Interesting. Do You Use “Faux”?
Detroit Media: Zero Outrage. Fedorov? Plenty
Well Gary? Your League Is A Joke
Gambling In Havana? Hiding In Honduras? Dad? Get Me To A Live Blog…STAT
Dammit…No Turco In Hockeytown Tonite
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:
A2Y Stuff
-----------------------------
Wanna Feel Smart?
Does confusion make you sad? When you read words like "enigma" and phrases like "Thanks Gary. Ass", do you wonder why mean people speak in languages you don't understand? Fret no longer friend! The A2Y Glossary will bring you great joy and enlightenment.
-----------------------------
How Others View The A2Y 19
"Hell, I guarantee the content co-opters at Abel to Yzerman were about to link this article under the heading “Bitter Blues Fans” again right up until they just read that last half-sentance. Thanks but no thanks, you Kukla hangers-on."
--St. Louis Game Time
"I realize it’s the slow summer season, but can this guy tone down the tough-guy histrionics? His posts are fatiguing on an otherwise excellent site."
--A2Y Fan, Eternal_Fields
"I constantly marvel at how Bill (IwoCPO) and his disciples at Abel To Yzerman can be so pompous and full of themselves throughout every regular season, but come playoff time they collapse into wavering puddles of stress and nervousness as they anxiously await the impending and unavoidable collapse of the Red Wings in the post-season."
--Mile High Hockey
"I hate them because they are better than us. Of all the frigging teams…"
--In The Cheap Seats
"It's just a shame that the most classless, uneducated, lowbrow fanbase in the league gets this sweep. Red Wing fans don't deserve their team."
--Thhom
"I really don’t care what fans or bloggers think."
--Drew Sharp
"Why is it you Detroit fans are still so classless when you have such a classy hockey team, with such a professional GM and gentlemen players? I understand that the author of this blog is a manner-less cad, but the rest of you should be better."
--A2Y Fan, Jeff Beaumont
"Have you ever *read* A2Y? Its the most opinionated, juvenile stuff i've read."
--Paul Nicholson
"I actually like the Detroit team and have a sh&% load of respect for them, but their fans are the biggest douches next to Canadians."
--KStewy, PensBlog Commenter
"Just when it looks like we have bottomed out, the 19 hit a new low."
-A2Y legend, Hockeytown Todd
"And for the record, I don't hate the Red Wings, I hate their fans."
--Douche Bag at Puck Daddy who isn't Wyshynski
"You’re nothing but a douchebag ****, c3po. Go f**k yourself, and learn something about hockey in the process. Nothing ruins my day more than seeing your byline on the kk page."
--Hector, A2Y fan, statesman, Pittsburgh Chapter of Jonas Brothers Fan Club President
"I can just imagine the kindergarten teacher’s reaction when the tyke blurts out 'Mommy says Gary Bettman is a f*cking f*ckface! He wants to give ‘Rosby the bad touch.' ”
--Bella, of the 19
"A2Y is what other blog sites aspire to be when they fail to grow up: intelligent immaturity for the juvenile genius set”
--Captain Dennis Polonich, of the 19
Head to Hockeytown
Blogs the Chief Likes
those of you idiotic enough to keep claiming Detroit won’t make the playoffs?
Thank God I’ve been busy enough the last few days to not see this, if this included some of the 19.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 10/15/09 at 05:41 AM ET