If so, why did not Holland do anything to improve the team? He had the cap space.
And why did Holland trade his 1st RP for Quincey?
I'm not a mind reader, I don't know what drives Holland.
A part of me suspects that they had already given up on this year. When we had the winning streak and were in President's Trophy position, Holland said something about how surprised he was to be there and how it was lucky to stay healthy. That implies that where we are now is more in line with what was expected for this year.
Another possibility is that this management and coaching staff are too used to success with this group. Holland is one of the most highly-reputed GMs in hockey and he's been very conservative for years, always valuing what he had over what he didn't have. Even the Quincey trade, as a former Wings player, fits in with that idea. I think it's probably difficult as a GM to switch into bold/daring mode when you've played it safe for so long and it seemed to work and there still is a chance it works again. Being a bit too much in love with your roster actually seems to be one of the natural consequences of success to me.
Maybe there is a bit of a mix, maybe Holland knows the limitations of this team but prefers to keep the playoff streak going with a decent team and then hope for some playoff magic rather than to fully commit to a year to "go for it" and pay a price later on for it.
I actually agree with Babcock that the team played far better last night.
Problem however is that so did Nashville.
Face it, not a contender. There is nothing wrong or un-fanlike to say the obvious out loud. Some here seem to think being a fan, a true fan, means you believe in your team no matter what.
I don't agree with that. Objectivity reigns, I assume most here watch a lot of other NHL hockey besides the Wings. If you do then you know this team isn't in the same tier as the true contenders. They're in the same tier as Nashville, Philly and Chicago. Good teams that will require a lot of luck in the playoffs (or an extremely hot goalie) to actually advance very far in the playoffs. Philly has the advantage of playing in the East so their first round matchup won't be nearly as hard if they can avoid Pittsburgh. Detroit doeant have that luxury outside the 6th seed and even then with their terrible road record, nothing is certain.
Just because some here don't have blind faith in the Wings doesn't mean we're less of fans. It just sucks knowing they have almost no chance at the Cup this year. That's all...it sucks to say it out loud and know it to be true. Oh well, next year.
I actually agree with Babcock that the team played far better last night.
Problem however is that so did Nashville.
Face it, not a contender. There is nothing wrong or un-fanlike to say the obvious out loud. Some here seem to think being a fan, a true fan, means you believe in your team no matter what.
I don't agree with that. Objectivity reigns, I assume most here watch a lot of other NHL hockey besides the Wings. If you do then you know this team isn't in the same tier as the true contenders. They're in the same tier as Nashville, Philly and Chicago. Good teams that will require a lot of luck in the playoffs (or an extremely hot goalie) to actually advance very far in the playoffs. Philly has the advantage of playing in the East so their first round matchup won't be nearly as hard if they can avoid Pittsburgh. Detroit doeant have that luxury outside the 6th seed and even then with their terrible road record, nothing is certain.
Just because some here don't have blind faith in the Wings doesn't mean we're less of fans. It just sucks knowing they have almost no chance at the Cup this year. That's all...it sucks to say it out loud and know it to be true. Oh well, next year.
I agree we are for sure not a true contender this season, and it would have been nice if we made the necessary moves at the deadline to address our weaknesses, but maybe the right moves just weren't there for Holland. Though we are not a top contender, certain things just need to go right once the playoffs start for things to swing in our favour. Most importantly, if Datsyuk can get super hot once playoffs start (similar to his play last year, but this time being healthy hopefully), and as long as Z and Flip can maintain their recent play, if Howard is playing good, I think this team has a chance, especially if there is no match up against San Jose, I think the wings can make it.
I think this is the first playoffs though where in my mind, I feel losing the first 2 games might be a blessing in disguise for this team (similar to the 2 losses to Vancouver in the 01-02 cup) to start the playoffs.
My assumption if Helm comes back in time, the playoff lines will be
Bert - Dats - Franzen
Flip - Z- Huds
Cleary - Helm - Miller
Homer - Gator - Nyquist
Lids - White
Kronner - Stuart
Quincey - Ericsson
If we lose the first 2 games, I think Babcock will be forced to tinker the line up and use the lineup I'd prefer to see in the playoffs which would mainly see
1) Smith in the lineup
2) Hudler out of the top 6
3) Homer/Hudler/or Cleary being one of the healthy scratches
This would result in a line up of
Bert - Datsyuk - Nyquist
Flip - Z - Franzen
Cleary/Hudler - Helm - Miller
Homer/Mursak - Abdelkader - Cleary/Hudler
(hopefully homer is the scratch, which will also signify to Holland that he cannot resign him next year and encourage him to retire)
Lids - White
Kronner - Stuart
Smith - Quincey/Ericsson
It kind of sucks that Franzen had to come back right at this moment, cause I think leaving Nyquist in the top 6 for the remaining 6 games along Datsyuk would have been huge going forward for him before the playoffs started, as he seems to be learning the NHL game at a very fast pace and adapting very well for a rookie, but he really seems like a sink or swim type guy who is just going to swim if thrown into it, so I'm not too worried if Babcock just throws him on the top line with Datsyuk in the playoffs if we lose the first 2 games. I think that line up can make it all the way, as long as no match up with San Jose.
We're not a big dog anymore who just happens to have bad playoffs sometimes, we're a middle of the road team that happens to run into better teams.
It really is sad that Wings fans are the group who most frequently sell short the Wings. I could get into my hypotheses as to why this is the case, buy why bother? If you want to be all doom and gloom, then be all doom and gloom. Sucks for you.
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Originally Posted by 14ari13
If so, why did not Holland do anything to improve the team? He had the cap space.
Because the asking prices were exorbitant, even for third- and fourth-liners.
Quote:
And why did Holland trade his 1st RP for Quincey?
As a replacement for Stuart. Everyone analyst out there thought that it was a good trade.
Quote:
I think I'm just getting burnt out from the radical Wings fans that lurk on some message boards...
Likewise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeighDx13
Same here, and many in my life too lol
There has been alot of overreacting from everyone about this losing stretch. We can't be great all the time, we just hit a bad stretch where people are playing well, which part of that is injuries as well. I'm not overreacting, I'm just dissapointed, I'm confident the team will turn it around when the Playoff's start.
Anything can happen in the playoffs. But there are those here who, when things don't go swimmingly in the regular season, will throw up their hands, declare that all is lost, and start pointing fingers. I'm not sure how they can call themselves genuine supporters of the team when they give up so easily.
and what's not to say we are being fooled right now and that they are *GASP* actually better than they are showing us right now. shocking i know
With the players that are or have been out we are a much better team than what has shown the last couple of games . I just think we may be at a cross roads where things will have to change in a big way . that is all I am saying . Of the players we have some need to go ! It is just that simple . Our core is just as good as it ever was but our roll players just don't seem to fit the bill like they have in the past . I like miller , and abbie , love helm . But we seem to lack the depth we used to have . We don't seem to have guys picking it up when z and datts and the rest don't play well .
As far as last nights game maybe the better team just won the game ? There goalie stood on his head ! but we also took crap shots from the out side . Lost a lot of battles on the boards . The team did not start really playing half way okay till the game was almost over . They played with no drive or heart it was clear to see what team wanted it more .
As a replacement for Stuart. Everyone analyst out there thought that it was a good trade.
At the time it wasn't too bad, unfortunately our draft position just keeps getting better every day since the trade. Could have used a gritty winger like Downie, the trade is all kinds of frustrating.
i totally agree. once i started a discussion here about other team playing exciting hockey and i got flamed there because we have datsyuk and this means wings are more entertaining then every other team.
I think the last night game was scary boring because it is the way the Preds are playing. I am not saying the Wings are much more exciting, but I actuallly think the Wings are one of the more exciting teams in the West.
The last night game showed how badly we need hits/fights to spice up the game.
I've said it now several times, but I think it has to be pointed out that that hockey was scary boring. That is Hitchcock/Trots (little bit Babcock) hockey.
I actually agree with Babcock that the team played far better last night.
Problem however is that so did Nashville.
Face it, not a contender. There is nothing wrong or un-fanlike to say the obvious out loud. Some here seem to think being a fan, a true fan, means you believe in your team no matter what.
I don't agree with that. Objectivity reigns, I assume most here watch a lot of other NHL hockey besides the Wings. If you do then you know this team isn't in the same tier as the true contenders. They're in the same tier as Nashville, Philly and Chicago. Good teams that will require a lot of luck in the playoffs (or an extremely hot goalie) to actually advance very far in the playoffs. Philly has the advantage of playing in the East so their first round matchup won't be nearly as hard if they can avoid Pittsburgh. Detroit doeant have that luxury outside the 6th seed and even then with their terrible road record, nothing is certain.
Just because some here don't have blind faith in the Wings doesn't mean we're less of fans. It just sucks knowing they have almost no chance at the Cup this year. That's all...it sucks to say it out loud and know it to be true. Oh well, next year.
and some there think that if you have faith in your team even when your team is struggling, you're a blind homer. it goes both ways. there's no middle ground on this site it seems
“I didn't like the (Datsyuk) line last night, I didn't think it generated anything at all, so when I go through my options there, I haven't decided 100 percent,'' Babcock said after practice Saturday. “The same with my third line (Abdelkader centering Cleary and Drew Miller), it didn't generate a scoring chance.
He added: “The only line that generated anything even-strength was Zetterberg's line (with Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler). We got two chances out of (Corey) Emmerton's line, but we didn't get much out of the other groups. If we want to do that, we got to get through the middle of the rink better.''
Emmerton's line? The same line that played 6 minutes and were -2?
So I guess Mursak still sits, all while this awesome 4th line is praised for generating two chances, conveniently overlooking the two goals they were on for...
Emmerton's line? The same line that played 6 minutes and were -2?
So I guess Mursak still sits, all while this awesome 4th line is praised for generating two chances, conveniently overlooking the two goals they were on for...
who says he's overlooking the goals they were out there for? all he said is that the 4th line generated a couple scoring chances. that's it.
you read way too much into what babcock tells the media
who says he's overlooking the goals they were out there for? all he said is that the 4th line generated a couple scoring chances. that's it.
you read way too much into what babcock tells the media
You could be right, but I'm willing to think his love affair with Cory's ability to be so good defensively and "cover his wingers" will ensure they stay in tact.
Just because some here don't have blind faith in the Wings doesn't mean we're less of fans. It just sucks knowing they have almost no chance at the Cup this year. That's all...it sucks to say it out loud and know it to be true. Oh well, next year.
At least watch the playoffs first. I'll let you be doom and gloom if they bomb out early, okay? But the important second season hasn't even started yet.
