I don’t want the Wings to be picked as a favorite. Too much pressure.

Posted by The Freak on 09/26/07 at 08:39 PM ET

I think any pressure is something they are familiar enough with to handle.  But don’t worry, every prediction will be couched with the “but” of playing in a weak division, so a lot of people still won’t take them seriously.  No pressure. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 09/26/07 at 08:44 PM ET

Splitting Datsyuk and Zetterberg solves the 2nd-line-center problem, true. But if you split them, you have Datsyuk-and-two-pluggers and Zetterberg-and-two-pluggers.

By playoff time, Babcock will have both of them on the same line again out of necessity, just like he always does.

Posted by Thomas on 09/26/07 at 08:57 PM ET

Maybe we should draft some players, eh Thomas?

So Chief, you neglected to quote this little diddy from Babblecoach: “Maltby in the last little while has been as good as I’ve seen him here.” Perhaps the old horse is feeling the pressure and stepping up. There is a lot of sentimental attachment that’s keeping him around but, to ride my hobby horse, I think he has too much experience with this system not to be a valuable model for the younger guys.

As far as Grigs is concerned, I’m inclined toward your perspective only because our division is so weak that we can afford to have an extended test run with him. I would rather see him in GR for a while, if only for assurance that he is committed to making the NHL specifically and not just playing hockey generally; I want him to prove that, which I realize is partly absurd after his near death experiences. Also, I don’t think he will be sent down because being around Dats will help with the cultural transition.

Let the puck drop and heads roll…I mean, not in that public drunken exhibitionist kind of way…except its during a Cup parade, then you’ll see me next to Nick on the float biting the head off one for every mile we ride down Woodward!

Posted by srt on 09/26/07 at 09:30 PM ET

I swear I’m not trying to bait but George posted bit of NHl.com’s preview on Snapshots; check it.

On Hudler:

“This is why there is always playoff hockey in Motown—because the Wings always draft well”

Posted by srt on 09/26/07 at 09:47 PM ET

...if you split them, you have Datsyuk-and-two-pluggers and Zetterberg-and-two-pluggers.

Well, Tommy Boy, apparently our “pluggers” are better than your stars because the Wings went to the Western Conference Finals last season while your boys went golfing.

It never ceases to amaze me how you find so much to criticize about the Wings and so little to praise about your own team..or any team for that matter. Could it be you’re only “happy” when you’re putting someone else down?

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/26/07 at 10:25 PM ET

whats sad is that the #1 offense in the west last season outscored the #2 seed in the east(njd) by nearly 60 goals, and didnt even make the playoffs.  So they made their #1 priority signing a 6+ mil forward.  Who needs goaltending and defense anyways?

As for those “pluggers”, as early as it may be, they are all tearing it up. Instead of having 1 dominant line, it now appears we have 2 dominant lines. Z has 7 points in 3 games ffs.  Homer has 6 points in 3 games, sammy has 6 points in 3 games, franzen 4 goals in 4 games.  It may be preseason, but apart from the rags game, the wings have only been dressing 1 offensive line, and the teams they have been playing have been attempting to match decent defensive players with no luck.  When they finally did dress the full roster, against the majority of the rangers full lineup, the wings scored 6 goals and hit 5 posts.  Not bad for a bunch of pluggers, and a bunch of pluggers who know how to play defense.

Posted by aTTicA on 09/26/07 at 11:51 PM ET

SRT, is this “blame the other blogger syndrome?” 

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 09/27/07 at 03:07 AM ET