i know this is a little off topic, but i’m sitting here in my cubicle at work listening to XMRadio being streamed online on my computer and “What Hurts the Most” by Rascall Flats came on the station I was listening to...for whatever reason it made me think of the Pittsburgh fans singing the song to Marian Hossa after he signed with the Wings.  As the song kept going, it got funnier and funnier.  Random, I know...beating a dead horse, I know.  But try it out next time you hear the song and see if makes you smile as much as I just did.

To get back on topic, I’m going to be sorry to see Quincey go, and even more sorry to see a character guy like Downey leave if it comes to that.  I can only hope that if Leino is sent to the Griffins, that he has a good attitude about it, not like that Gregorinko kid or whatever his name was....

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/07/08 at 11:23 AM ET

Aaron Downey: “I feel like I’m a top-five enforcer in the game.”

I love the guy but he is seriously delusional if he really believes that. Personally, I don’t think he’s in the top 20. Turning his back on two legitimate opportunities to stick up for his team and teammates on Sunday did not help his cause. When healthy, D-Mac can fill his role just fine plus add more on the defensive and offensive end.

But a hat tip to the guy on his way out. He definitely was an asset to the team last year. I hope he lands an NHL job at some point this year.

As for Quincey, he’s just the victim of a hugely talented Wings pool of defensemen. If no one offers a pick or a mid-talent prospect for him, he’ll never clear waivers. Tampa Bay must be at the top of Kenny’s speed-dial list.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 10/07/08 at 11:33 AM ET

I would bet Downey will be back.

Does this mean that Leino has pretty much made the team if they decide to keep 13 forwards?

Posted by moore00 from the Ohio State University on 10/07/08 at 11:55 AM ET

Not exactly.  They have him skating in Holmstrom’s spot on the first line, the other lines seem to be set like that.  If anything that stands out to me that he’ll be headed to GR.

Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 10/07/08 at 12:17 PM ET

Does this mean that Leino has pretty much made the team if they decide to keep 13 forwards?

I agree with HockeyJoe, at this point, Leino is there to fill in for Homer as they get ready for opening night. Besides, he’s not gonna play on one of the top two lines even if he makes the team. My personal opinion is he stays and plays on the third line if the Wings move Sammy. If they don’t move Sammy, the Wings will want Leino in GR playing 20 minutes a night rather than in Detroit getting seven a night on the fourth line.

When you think about it, it’s kinda crazy to have two guys like Leino and Helm who could play on almost any team’s third line and they can’t even crack the lineup. Same situation for Ericsson. Tampa Bay probably could use him in their second pairing and he’s going to spend the majority of the year in GR.

With this amount of talent, it’s almost embarassing to be a Wings fan right now. Almost.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 10/07/08 at 01:02 PM ET

They’ve gotta send Leino down to make room for Meech under the 23-man roster limit. 

Z-Franzen-Happy
Hoss-Dats-Homer
Flip-Cleary-Samuelsson
Draper-Malts-Kopecky

Lids-Raffi
Kronner-Stuart
Lilja-Lebda
Chelios-Meech

Ozzie-Conklin

Howard, Mac- both are on IR, which I believe counts against the 23-man limit.  So even after they send Leino down, they’re still one man over the limit… Not sure what’s going to happen there; Cheli might be on long-term IR, i.e., might not count against the roster limit?

The point is, Leino has to go down to meet the 23-man limit, and even then we’ve got some issues.  That, and Kyle Quincey is a goner- probably get waived and picked up by somebody else…

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 10/07/08 at 01:16 PM ET

I hate to see the kids not get a spot they deserve and have worked for as well. Matty Ellis is a prime example, he did EVERYTHING he possobly could for a good while and never really found a spot.
Quincey is another in the same spot as Ellis. Fine with me as I’ve been preferential to Meech over Quincey anyway.
Downey, great guy to have on the team. but yes a wee on the delusional side.
Hemler deserves a spot. He picked up right where he left off last SCPO run. Leino has been all we’ve expected and then some (making up for the long wait on Grigorenko after the car crash and the big flop when he got here). We’ll see some of these 2 this year as well as the Big Rig Ericsson… ‘tis a long season.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 10/07/08 at 01:19 PM ET

Leino is indeed impressive, but don’t look for him to spend much time
with the Wings this year.  He has a great future.  He also has to lose
a lot of rookie moves before he can survive in the big show.  In pre-season
those rookie habits were there, just not as obvious because in pre-season he was playing against a lot of other rookie moves.  When the opposition is made up strictly with NHL experience, I don’t believe he will excel without more N American experience.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 10/07/08 at 02:31 PM ET

Per George Malik, Leino and Ericsson have also been assigned to GR, along with Helm…

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 10/07/08 at 02:38 PM ET

This is a tough one because I really do like Downey especially his standing up for Lidstrom after the Laperriere hit.  He truly got under skins as one of our own.  Sad to see him on waivers.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 10/07/08 at 02:50 PM ET

A Free Press quote from George’s blog…

“This is the best player I’ve been involved in sending to the minors, I can tell you that,” Babcock said. “He’s got a nose for the net, goes to the net, dominant on the cycle, makes great passes. He’s a Red Wings type player. Leino, I think he’s going to be a scoring machine.”

That’s pretty significant praise from Babs. I think one reason he’s singling the kid out is because of the way he almost instantly adapted to the Babcockian style of play. It seems like he went from Euro skater to Wings net crasher in about one day during training camp.

HTT may be right about Ville shining in part because he was playing against some who also were AHL-bound. So it’ll be interesting to see how long it takes him to make it back to Detroit. Same for Helm.

Those two getting some “seasoning” here in GR is great news for Griffins fans. Hopefully Downey clears waivers and is around to help protect the Wings’ investment.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 10/07/08 at 03:15 PM ET