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Abel to Yzerman

Will Mac Get His Shot?

by IwoCPO on 01/31/08 at 04:44 AM ET
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Updated at 0809 EST with more hard-hitting analysis below.

Look. I’m completely objective.  I think you all realize that by now.  It’s who I am.  Neutral. Geneva-like.  So, I post this picture with no agenda.  Like Gene Hackman said in “Hoosiers” while Jimmy Chitwood was draining jumpers pretending not to listen, “Because it’s what I believe, I don’t care if you play for the team or not.”

I have no opinion on this matter. None.

But man, it would be great to see McCarty in Detroit for a playoff run.

So, yeah…I do have an opinion.  And I’ve been thinking about this for a while.  If Darren McCarty is healthy and fit enough to give the Wings five or six minutes per night, what does Dallas Drake bring to the table that Mac wouldn’t?  It’s a good question (especially since I’m the one who asked it).  Here’s a few answers:  Drake is more responsible defensively. He’s, if only a little, quicker.  He can win a faceoff and he can kill penalties.  McCarty?  He may be able to pop one or two.  He’ll kick a little ass and he’ll fire up his teammates.  Advantage?  Most likely to Drake because of the PK.

When we talk about a McCarty comeback all too often it’s Drake’s name brought up as the guy to go.  But that doesn’t have to be, nor should it be, the case.  You like Aaron Downey. I like him too.  But there’s nothing he does for this team that Mac, theoretically, couldn’t.  He’s “good in the room”, but McCarty’s return would fire up the team as well as the fan base—which we’ll get to in a minute.  And Matt Ellis? Can he even be sent down? I believe he can without waiver concerns.

Do the Wings need McCarty?  I guess that’s what this boils down to.  Do we need Mac on the ice? Does he make us a tougher team to play against? More specifically, and this is really the issue, does he give us a greater chance to wring some Poultry neck in June?  No, we don’t need him.  Yes, he makes the Wings better…but not remarkably so.  And, yes, Mac instead of Downey—and definitely instead of Ellis—gives Detroit a better shot against Anaheim.

But talent may not be the only issue.  Butts in seats is being discussed in hushed tones in high places and how to get them there is a priority concern.  Eleven consecutive games against Gary’s Central to close the regular season.  Oh, what a thrill-fest to get the locals pumped for the postseason.  The playoff slogan will end up being, “Just show up…please.”  With McCarty?  It won’t make a difference if the Wings are playing the Nancys from Nouvel Central, they’ll sell out the Joe.

If McCarty’s in shape, if McCarty plays well in Grand Rapids, if he shows us the Old Mac…bring him back.

Bring him back February 18th.

In Denver.

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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)

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