Finally!!

Posted by Lucce from Kingdom of Zweden on 08/23/10 at 11:36 AM ET

http://redwings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=536265

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 08/23/10 at 11:42 AM ET

In the immortal words of Herm:

AASDKLKDSALDKSGODGODGOD!!!

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 08/23/10 at 11:44 AM ET

I guess that means the Wings’ lineup is pretty much set, now, huh?

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 08/23/10 at 12:57 PM ET

Flashtastic56

Hey man, the picture you have as your profile avatar or whatever really pisses me off. Have you ever meat anyone who just looks stupid and you would love to punch. Well,thats how I feel about your picture. I would love to punch the smiling face so hard that I would break his nose and orbital bone in one shot. You cool, but that smilling player in your picture, not cool.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 01:05 PM ET

When is school back in session?

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 08/23/10 at 01:10 PM ET

My advice would be tolerance and anger management. And how do you “meat” someone with underlying violent intentions, slap him/her with beef?

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 08/23/10 at 01:11 PM ET

I guess that means the Wings’ lineup is pretty much set, now, huh?

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 08/23/10 at 01:57 PM ET

Yeah, they’ve got 15 forwards competing for 14 roster spots (realistically five forwards competing for two starting spots and two backup spots) and 9 defensemen competing for 7 spots (realistically five d-men competing for two starting spots and the backup role).  They could sign up to another $5M in talent or so before the season to let more people fight it out in camp, but with all of those players they’re right now about $900K over the cap already and there’s no real point in playing with the 10% training camp cushion with what they have.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/23/10 at 01:11 PM ET

My advice would be tolerance and anger management. And how do you “meat” someone with underlying violent intentions, slap him/her with beef?

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 08/23/10 at 02:11 PM ET

LOL… I was thinking the same thing.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 08/23/10 at 01:24 PM ET

Sweetness.

AJBSKDLJFEBRKBAKDSR

!!!

Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 08/23/10 at 01:26 PM ET

And with it looking like Kronwall still needs to go under the knife you’ve got your 2nd and 3rd defensive pairings up in the air.

Let Ericsson and Kindl pair up with Stuart and Salei, figure out what works best, and that’ll give the two kids a chance to prove who deserves to remain in the lineup when Kronwall comes back.

DROP THE PUCK !!!

Posted by some kid on 08/23/10 at 01:31 PM ET

Bad ass. Soooo….when does hockey start again?

August friggin blows.

slap him/her with beef?

Paging RWBill…

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 08/23/10 at 01:44 PM ET

* iphone grammar check it’s not my fault.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 02:32 PM ET

You guys must really hate my post judging by the eagerness to jump on a opportunity to belittle me. I always thought I was bringing some excitement and controversy to the blogging world. I’ll try to have someone proof read my post before sending them, it’s like dropping bait into a barrel filled with fish. Using some frozen meat to beat someone’s face in could be somewhat innovative.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 02:48 PM ET

I always thought I was bringing some excitement and controversy to the blogging world.

Seems here you were just trying to pick a fight for the sake of picking a fight.  Red Wings fans and Penguins fans have fought on this site long before you got here and some of us have come to something of an understanding as far as board etiquette.  Nobody cares if you want to punch Bill Guerin in the face, especially if you can’t say so in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

Trolling doesn’t bring controversy and whatever excitement it may bring, it brings double that in annoyance.  Nobody wants to debate the concept of pro-Bill-Guerin-punching versus anti-Bill-Guerin-punching.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/23/10 at 02:54 PM ET

And NOW I am officially ok with the signing of Modano.  Didn’t want to risk losing Helm or Abby for Modano.

Posted by scotts0 from New York on 08/23/10 at 02:56 PM ET

For the sake of completeness, here are the CapGeek.com salary and cap space figures. The Wings currently have 25 guys on the NHL roster and are $441k over the cap. But when they move Ritola and Meech, they’ll end up with a modest $575k in available space…just enough to call up MacDonald if Ozzie or Howie have a minor injury in the first week or so.

FORWARDS: 15
Pavel Datsyuk: 6,700,000
Henrik Zetterberg: 6,083,333
Johan Franzen: 3,954,545
Valtteri Filppula: 3,000,000
Jiri Hudler: 2,875,000
Daniel Cleary: 2,800,000
Todd Bertuzzi: 1,937,500
Tomas Holmstrom: 1,875,000
Kris Draper: 1,583,333
Mike Modano: 1,250,000
Darren Helm: 912,500
Justin Abdelkader: 787,000
Patrick Eaves: 750,000
Drew Miller: 650,000
Mattias Ritola: 516,667

DEFENSEMEN: 8
Nicklas Lidstrom: 6,200,000
Brian Rafalski: 6,000,000
Brad Stuart: 3,750,000
Niklas Kronwall: 3,000,000
Jonathan Ericsson: 900,000
Jakub Kindl: 883,333
RuslanSalei: 750,000
Derek Meech: 500,000

GOALTENDERS
Chris Osgood: 1,416,666
Jimmy Howard: 716,666

CARRYOVER BONUS PENALTY: $50,000

ROSTER SIZE: 25
SALARY CAP: $59,400,000
PAYROLL: $59,841,545
CAP SPACE: –$441,545

Posted by OlderThanChelios on 08/23/10 at 03:13 PM ET

$787,000 is alot of money to pay for a handful of goals, lots of penalty minutes and one young enforcer. Im glad we signed him, glad he is from MSU and Muskegan or however its spelled.

Everyone thinks that we needed to get some enforcers this off season. If you have a team full of enforcers, than all those checks could change the pace of the game. A team like the Red Wings in not going to change that much from having one tough kid who can check. Same for getting one defender that can check good. Two players is not going to scare teams away from hitting our old guys. If you have a team filled with those type of players well more power to you, but to go out of your way to take power over skill is stupid. If you have it great, if not oh well .

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 03:46 PM ET

So sad to see us finally in a post-Maltby era.  Thanks for all the good times Malts.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 08/23/10 at 03:53 PM ET

$787,000 is alot of money to pay

No.  It isn’t.

Posted by Garth on 08/23/10 at 04:00 PM ET

So sad to see us finally in a post-Maltby era.  Thanks for all the good times Malts.

If he can’t sign a contract elsewhere, and who know if he wants to in the first place, I see him signing a two-way deal with Grand Rapids.  He can come up and play in the playoffs if we need him, or simply be a really gritty black ace.

If we sign him to a two-way deal, and waive him down to GR, likely no team will pick him up.  Likely they will know he would retire before playing with another team, especially as a waiver acquisition.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 08/23/10 at 04:14 PM ET

Yabadabadu.

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 08/23/10 at 04:22 PM ET

It is a cold and gloomy day this Monday afternoon in Michigan. You can’t help but notice that the hockey season and the football season is right around the corner. Most of you are hockey fans and you know all about how the state of Michigan loves our Detroit Red Wings.

If you don’t live here you might not know anything about the other team that Michiganders hold close to their heart. Similar to the Red Wings this team has a long tradition of success and pride. Unlike to the Red Wings, this team has not achieved its usual greatness that we have all have come to expect.

Now we know that this team is going through some rebuilding and changes. We don’t have any false hopes or expectations that this team will win all or even most of their games.  If we should only win one game please, for the love of god, please be the last game of the year. If it happens that we loose every game except for one, and that one victory is the last scheduled game of the year, we would be more than happy to label this entire year as a monumental success.

Please, send out your prayers to the Victors valiant, the Conquering Heroes and to the Leaders and Best. Just beat those stupid, ugly, incest breading, poor excuse for a student body, red neck hill-billies who are just a little south of our great state!

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 04:44 PM ET

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 05:44 PM ET

What on EARTH are you going on about?

Posted by Garth on 08/23/10 at 05:16 PM ET

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 05:44 PM ET

Huh?

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 08/23/10 at 05:25 PM ET

He obviously wants some attention and he doesn’t seem to care much about Ohio (not that I do either…but home is where you make it I suppose). 

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 08/23/10 at 05:25 PM ET

Well, that pretty much puts a lid on all the doomsday scenarios concerning what the signing of Modano will mean for players such as Abby.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 08/23/10 at 05:59 PM ET

Well, that pretty much puts a lid on all the doomsday scenarios concerning what the signing of Modano will mean for players such as Abby.

No one said that, with Modano, Abdelkader wouldn’t be signed. The talk was that he won’t play in his natural position and/or get the ice time needed to develop.

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 08/23/10 at 06:03 PM ET

No one said that, with Modano, Abdelkader wouldn’t be signed. The talk was that he won’t play in his natural position and/or get the ice time needed to develop.

I’m sure if he’s playing well enough to warrant taking the third line role over from Modano then it’s all his.

Until then best to keep him on the fourth and let him soak it in.

Posted by some kid on 08/23/10 at 06:29 PM ET

Well, that pretty much puts a lid on all the doomsday scenarios concerning what the signing of Modano will mean for players such as Abby.

As Herm said, it was never a question of whether or not he’d be signed.  Without being eligible for arbitration, it was either sign with the Wings or don’t play hockey in North America.

The concern was (and still is) what kind of role he’s going to have.

And I don’t know how set in stone it is, but according to what Nill said, Draper will be on the fourth line and I don’t think anyone expects Helm to not be the starting fourth line centre, so that leaves Abby, Eaves and Miller to fight for that last spot.

Even if Miller is dealt, how many expect that Abdelkader will/should get much playing time over Patrick Eaves?

Posted by Garth on 08/23/10 at 07:46 PM ET

IF the wings didn’t have enough money or were unable to Abdelkator, the people who opposed signing Modano would have used that as to fuel their side of the story. Some say that we shouldn’t sign Mike Mo because were already to old or we need to start building our future or he takes up salary space. It seemed like, and still seems like some opposed the Modano signing.

Really he didn’t deter any signings or roster space. Whether you like it or not, we got Modano for cheap price, he didn’t force anybody off the team and he’s a nice addition. If signing Mike meant that we had to give up Justin than thats another thing. Obviously that didnt happen. If you think he hindered Maltby from remaining on the team, well I just dont think that was gonna happen either way.

We still retained all four of the restricted free agents that everybody was worried about. We also got our the defender we were in the market for. Some think Ruslan was a mistake, but really I think we got lucky and bought him for a low price due to his unfortunate injuries. Modano did not hinder the signing of anyone. He was simply a great addition. He will be used on the PP and were gonna have three prominent lines pending on his natural chemistry with either franzen/Bert or Hudler/Cleary.

Personally I feel, well I hope he gets paired with Hudler and Cleary. I think Val has earned his spot as the second center. I also think that Franzen and Bertuzzi are going to be great next year. Bertuzzi loves to pass when he has a scorer like Zetterburg or Franzen. Todd seldom takes his own shots with Z, I saw that alot last year. I think Franzen and Bertuzzi can play like they did in that game 4 of the Sharks series. When Franzen gets hot, he is the best offensive players in the league coupled with Bertuzzi who likes dishing it out. 

Oh and how in the world did no-one get that football post. Hail to the victors valiant is the wolverine fight song. There is a rivalry that you might have heard about called Michigan v. Ohio State. The greatest rivalry in college football??? UofM and OSU always play each other as their last game of the year. Where is George Malik? Im sure he has wrote some article on the rivalry that all you could praise religoulsy like normal and suck his D like you normally do. Thats a compliment George! Your Welcome.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 07:46 PM ET

all you could praise religoulsy like normal and suck his D like you normally do.

Religious dick-sucking, huh?  You must have been an altar boy.

It’s a hockey site, cochise… in a post about a winger re-signing.  I’m not sure I can adequately explain the concept of what exactly on-topic means around here, but I think most have a pretty good grasp.  Might I suggest utilizing the KK Members’ Blog for future random rants?

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/23/10 at 08:00 PM ET

pjwalny, I am asking you to not use that type of language here.

People come to KK to talk hockey and the childish banter is not appreciated nor will it be put up with.

I know you are new to KK, but that is the way it is.

Thanks.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 08/23/10 at 08:06 PM ET

Might I suggest utilizing the KK Members’ Blog for future random rants?

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/23/10 at 09:00 PM ET

Okay thanks.I would have, I always skipped catechism though, That was all on topic. Abby linked to Modano> Modano> linked to the line pairings>linked to Bert/Franzen. Oh, the football thing, okay. Gotcha. He probably has wrote about it though, you know?? I wont mention it again.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 08:08 PM ET

Thanks pjwalny.  You can stray off topic and at times people do, just keep it civilized.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 08/23/10 at 08:11 PM ET

Posted by Garth on 08/23/10 at 08:46 PM ET

If anything, I’d assume Helmer and Eaves will get the most minutes on the 4th line, with Drapes, Abby, and Miller fighting for the last spot.

Then there are injur…um…nevermind.

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 08/23/10 at 08:31 PM ET

No problem, I didn’t even mean it to be read like that. It was supposed to stand for Demographic because he writes about a Detroit, Michigan sports team.I figured he might have covered some other sports in the metro detroit area. Totally bad call on my part. I sent it out before I was ready to, sincerely sorry.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 08:33 PM ET

pjwalny, thanks for the explanation, carry on…

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 08/23/10 at 08:35 PM ET

Then there are injur…um…nevermind.

Posted by mrfluffy from Cincy on 08/23/10 at 09:31 PM ET

Whoremouth.  Shut it.

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 08/23/10 at 08:36 PM ET

If anything, I’d assume Helmer and Eaves will get the most minutes on the 4th line, with Drapes, Abby, and Miller fighting for the last spot.

That would be my assumption, but I read the piece on Nill (good work, VooX) and he mentioned that Draper would be on the fourth line, so I don’t know what to think.

I would hope that Helm and Eaves are mainstays with Miller and Abdelkader sharing time…

Posted by Garth on 08/23/10 at 09:03 PM ET

If anything, I’d assume Helmer and Eaves will get the most minutes on the 4th line, with Drapes, Abby, and Miller fighting for the last spot.

Posted by mrfluffy from Cincy on 08/23/10 at 09:31 PM ET

Mrfluffy, Eaves will not win a spot on the fourth line unless he has a ridiculous training camp and really shows that he has made improvements during the offseason. You have to realize that Abby and Helm, well particularly Abby thought he was going to have a solid role on this team as the third line center. Im assuming Helm also had similar ambitions.The additions of Mike and Jiri thwarted those promotions.

That said, you have to envision it through the eyes of a coach. You know the top three lines are hammered out. So when thinking about the fourth line, it’s Draper Helm and Justin. Miller and Eaves most certainly have to beat out or show something special at camp. It’s Helm and Abby’s job to loose.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 09:09 PM ET

Ok…enough with the nice “PJ” talk…

Dude, did you even watch hockey last year?

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 08/23/10 at 09:17 PM ET

Posted by Garth on 08/23/10 at 10:03 PM ET

Yeah, people keep forgetting about Kris. I think it would be wrong to consider Draper having anything less than a slot on the line. Everyone knows his age. This is his last year. He is a hockey player, and I guarantee he will be fighting for time. This may be his last year. They are not going to sit him the whole year.

Besides, there is something special about a guy who is knowingly playing in his last season. If I recall, I just saw a article discussing how age doesnt hurt some players. Some players have had their best career year in the latter part of their career. Some have record breaking years. It may have been on this blog im not sure. If you doubt that, I will try to find it.

Draper, Helm and Abby have the job to loose. Of course there can be variations and different pairings but expect those three guys to not be on that line. Don’t expect the coaches not to put those three mainly on that line either.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 09:19 PM ET

Dude, did you even watch hockey last year?

No why?

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 09:21 PM ET

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 10:09 PM ET

I can’t see Draper as a regular on the 4th line, except for loyalty. Even by loyalty, Chelios played only 28 games in his last Wings’ season, McCarty had only 13.

Besides, neither Draper or Yaba ever played right wing. Both can play left or center, so does Helm, but the RW for this line will always come out of Eaves/Miller/Ritola.

But where did you get te impression that Hudler’s return crushed Yaba or Helm’s hopes? He was due to come back, that was a given.

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 08/23/10 at 09:22 PM ET

If Modano had not decided to play, Abdelkator would have centered that third line.That is a fact.  I will get you the article if you want. Helm had a good year last year. Why wouldn’t he have any desire to move up? Helm could turn into a 30 goal scorer if he can just hone his skills with that amazing speed.
So that leaves Draper, just kick him to the curb right? He can be a 1.6 million dollar bench warmer. Draper will have a good last year. Despite what anyone thinks. This franchise and this coaching staff will honor him with adequate playing time. Even if you don’t agree with Draper’s skill in comparison to either Eaves or Tampa bay waiver Drew Miller, the coaches will give him playing time. He is gonna get playing time. He deserves playing time.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 09:29 PM ET

If Modano had not decided to play, Abdelkator would have centered that third line.That is a fact.  I will get you the article if you want.

I’ve read the article, I know this. I never mentioned M&M in my comment, I mentioned Hudler. Hudler is a right wing only and does not affect Abdelkader or Helm.

Helm had a good year last year. Why wouldn’t he have any desire to move up? Helm could turn into a 30 goal scorer if he can just hone his skills with that amazing speed.

You have Yaba on the 3rd line because of “the article”, but the same article has Helm on the 4th and you don’t mention it. He’s the 4th center today and probably will stay there for the next 15 years.

Look all you want, you won’t find a bigger fan of Darren Helm than me, and I don’t believe Helm will score 30 goals (at least in the foreseeable future). He has good hands but those are better for passing.

So that leaves Draper, just kick him to the curb right? He can be a 1.6 million dollar bench warmer. Draper will have a good last year. Despite what anyone thinks.

Who said he had a bad year? He was very important, both for his mentoring of Helm and leadership (he was the loud voice in the locker room). But right now Helm is the Draper on the team. The speed, the defense, the hustle (and the crest shots). But Helm is the future, that can’t be dismissed.

Even if you don’t agree with Draper’s skill in comparison to either Eaves or Tampa bay waiver Drew Miller, the coaches will give him playing time. He is gonna get playing time. He deserves playing time.

He’ll get the playing time necessary to mentor Abdelkader and, to a lesser level (because of last year), Helm. But this is a job he can do in practices and talks, not always on the ice. He’ll be respected, just as Maltby (even if in Grand Rapids).

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 08/23/10 at 09:38 PM ET

I dont know the Yaba reference?

Mike Babcock has stated in multiple interviews this offseason that Mike Modano was brought in to center the third line between Cleary/Hudler. That was part of the reason Modano even signed with us. Having that talented third line was enticing! Of course there are going to be line variations sometimes. You can’t expect to have a certain player play on the same line every shift. Im sure Justin will get to center that third line when Mike mixes it up. In fact its important that he gets to center that line on occasion. Modano will need rest, I think.

I just don’t like assuming that Draper will never play. He has helped this franchise. Sure he’s old and he will sit. But to assume he will never get alot of ice time??

If Modano does not develop chemistry with Hudler/Cleary he will switch to Franzen/Bert. Then Val would drop to the third line. Barring injury the top nine are set. That third line is what will win the cup.

Mrfluffy, Hurry up and tell me why you like Eaves so much, I have a exam tomorrow and I need to learn every single importance of the periplasmic space on a gram negative bacteria. Times a tickin.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 09:42 PM ET

I dont know the Yaba reference?

Sorry. Abdelkader has 1254 nicknames, on of them is Yabadabadoo. Yaba is the short version.

Of course there are going to be line variations sometimes. You can’t expect to have a certain player play on the same line every shift.

Sure, kinda obvious. We’re just fans having fun during the offseason. But Babcock also said he wants to keep the lineup steadier this season in order to develop better chemistry.

I just don’t like assuming that Draper will never play. He has helped this franchise. Sure he’s old and he will sit. But to assume he will never get alot of ice time??

Never said that. I used examples of Chelios and McCarty, two veterans that got the ice time that was more convenient both for them and for the team.

If Modano does not develop chemistry with Hudler/Cleary he will switch to Franzen/Bert. Then Val would drop to the third line. Barring injury the top nine are set. That third line is what will win the cup.

Filppula was drafted by Detroit and has a whole future unfolding. Modano is a new old guy playing his probable last season. If Modano fails, he’s be bumped down, the Wings are countingof Filppula to be a productive 3rd line center and wouldn’t send him down again.

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 08/23/10 at 09:50 PM ET

Yaba M&m i dont know those things.

okay you saw it, yeah you know that article. He says “hudler, modano, cleary”  you have to ask him why. im just the messenger. Those three are paired somehow.

15 years. That sucks for helm. I dont know man, I think he could develop into a scorer. Thats just an opinion, I like him. Like any young athlete, Im sure he wants bigger and better roles.

But Helm is the future, that can’t be dismissed. He’s the 4th center today and probably will stay there for the next 15 years.

He’ll be on the third line for 15 years but he’s the future? Im confused. The thing about helm is that you could find a good skater and teach him finesse and skill, you cant teach someone speed. You know what Im saying.

I hope that Draper goes out with his chin held high and that goes for Maltby too. I wish Draper contract was

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/23/10 at 09:53 PM ET

He’ll be on the third line for 15 years but he’s the future? Im confused.

What confused you? I said he’s our current 4th line center and is our future 4th line center. Stating a player is “the future” doesn’t mean he’ll be a star, just that, well, he’ll be there in the future…

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 08/23/10 at 09:57 PM ET

If Modano does not develop chemistry with Hudler/Cleary he will switch to Franzen/Bert. Then Val would drop to the third line. Barring injury the top nine are set. That third line is what will win the cup.

Why would Filppula get demoted because Modano can’t work well with two proven Red Wings?  I mean, unless you’re assuming Filppula isn’t playing well.  Even then, I think I’d rather just move Z to the 2nd-line center with Filppula on the wing instead of Bertuzzi, who would move up to play with Datsyuk and Holmstrom.

Draper should get decent time, but I don’t see him playing the majority of games.  Eaves & Draper both scored 22 points last year, but Eaves did it in 16 fewer games.  He’s a better producer with Draper who has decently comparable speed (now that Draper has lost that extra gear that made him so fast), a much better and heavier wrist shot, a more accurate slap shot, is a bit grittier, and is hilarious in the shootout.  Draper will get time because he’s not much of a step down from Eaves right now skill-wise and the leadership dimension he brings is incalculable; I just think Eaves will end up with more time than Drapes.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/24/10 at 07:14 AM ET

Why would Filppula get demoted because Modano can’t work well with two proven Red Wings?

J.J. kansas.

Filppula would be getting demoted because of Modanos inability to develop chemistry is not phrased correctly. Demoted is not the word that should be used because he is not getting demoted. Modano is the new kid. He has been on another team for the last 20 years. It is important that Modano develops and adapts with his new players.

He has never played with most or all of these guys. Filppula has been on this team for a few years. Filppula is a great player, he is very versatile. Filppula knows that the coaches look at him as one of the most important players on this team. He has played with Bert/franzen/Hudler/cleary. He knows hes has an important role, so moving down a line is just a move not a demotion. Val knows its good for the team.

If Modano doesnt sync with Hudler/Clear it will hurt the team. If they dont develop chemistry they probably wont produce much. So if they struggle, Modano will move up and possible have better luck with bert and franz. Filppula will do good on any line. Its important to get mike comfortable and excited. Most likely things would even out and Filppula will get his spot back on the second line. Even if Val played on the fourth line, he knows his importance to this team.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/24/10 at 04:55 PM ET

I forgot to comment about your idea to move Z. I think babs really likes paring the twins together. I believe he was excited about Modano because he can afford to put them on the same line. They are great friends. They both have terrific work ethic. Most important of all. They have fun when they are with each other!! Its fun for us also to watch them play.

It seems like more often than not, Z and Pavel are talking to each other when on the bench. When either of them score a goal they usually look to each other to celebrate. If you see them in practice they often go opposite of each other, and after practice they mess around.

Having there skills together is hard for any team to control when they are on the same line. What makes them really hard to handle is that understanding of one another. Together they have that unity and thats what sets them aside. Its similar to the Canucks with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, two brothers playing together.

Posted by pjwalny from Not Detroit, evidently?? on 08/24/10 at 05:05 PM ET

I don’t want Z and Pavel split up either, but I also don’t want Filppula to get demoted (and yes, that’s exactly what it is because the 3rd line doesn’t get as many minutes as the 2nd line) if MIke Modano can’t find chemistry with two guys I like more than him.  Call it whatever you like, but moving down a line is a demotion.  Filppula would accept it because he’s a team guy, I just wouldn’t like it.

If Modano screws up chemistry on the third line (which I don’t think he will), I’d rather he get moved down to the fourth line instead of up to the second.  Filppula has a proven place on the Red Wings, Mike Modano doesn’t.  I’d be pissed at Babcock if he robbed the proven guy of minutes he deserves for the one-year signing.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/24/10 at 05:23 PM ET