Forward Patrick Eaves, out for more than a year recovering from a concussion, took part in practice, including contact. That's a huge step forward from last season, when he never really even skated with the guys except at the end of practices.
"I'm cleared to go out there and practice," Eaves said. "I can do whatever we do out here. It's more than I was able to do a little while ago. I felt good today. We'll see how tomorrow goes."
Eaves still is not cleared for games, but as he said, "I just have to keep making progress."
That's good news I think. I'd be careful with him this season because we have him next year too and would love for him to be our 4th line winger/13th forward. I think this team has so much potential in the next couple years if Holland makes a couple moves to open up salary and roster space for a couple young guys. That means, Bertuzzi, Samuelsson, Cleary, Emmerton, Mursak, Miller, would be their last year in Detroit. I'd love to throw Tatar and Jarnkrok with Helm on the 3rd line next year and Nyquist up in the top 6. Maybe throw Sheahan in the 4th line center.
One of Detroit's best pker's, is on the trash heap?
No, but it necessarily means one of the forwards we have in his spot is going to be put there. If Eaves is back, and he takes someone's spot, where's that other guy go? To the trash heap.
One of Detroit's best pker's, is on the trash heap?
Who isn't one of Detroit's best PKers?
Eaves is a decent player who is paid what he deserves -- if he's healthy.
Otherwise, he's a roadblock to the future.
I really think he's the 2nd most valuable player on the bottom 6 when healthy. Great shot, fast, right handed, pk ability. I hope he comes back strong.
Cleary and Samuelsson are taking roster spots, Eaves is not (if he returns to form)
What was interesting studying those corsi-statistics. Eaves was our only forward that didn't draw a single penalty at last season. That imo tells about how he avoids contact. Penalties come from contact. He passes the puck away immediately when somebody is near, so those penalties can't happen. Only other player who had zero drawed penalties was Lidström.
I'm also quite sure, that Eaves is done as a penalty killer. Just too big risk there to go block shots and get another hit on the head. So where do we use him? If he doesn't PP or PK, I'd rather use Tootoo always before him, who dosn't PP or PK either, but is that opposite cannonball, gritty, nasty and fights some day.
So let's go forward and start using other guys. LTIR or compliance buyout, either one doesn't affect our cap, I'm fine with those. Too bad it went this way. **** happens. Healthy life after hockey is most important for Eaves.
I think its a good things hes getting healthy to get one more proven NHL caliber guy competeing for a job on the red wings. Position compition is healthy for any team.
Eaves was our only forward that didn't draw a single penalty at last season. That imo tells about how he avoids contact.
He played 10 games. Sample size plays a role. He drew 1.0 per 60 minutes last year. Near identical to Miller, Datsyuk, and Zetterberg. 0.7 the year before. In line with Kronwall, Stuart, Bertuzzi.
Eaves has made a career playing a physical game. He wouldn't last this long in the NHL with scoring alone.
What was interesting studying those corsi-statistics. Eaves was our only forward that didn't draw a single penalty at last season. That imo tells about how he avoids contact. Penalties come from contact. He passes the puck away immediately when somebody is near, so those penalties can't happen. Only other player who had zero drawed penalties was Lidström.
I'm also quite sure, that Eaves is done as a penalty killer. Just too big risk there to go block shots and get another hit on the head. So where do we use him? If he doesn't PP or PK, I'd rather use Tootoo always before him, who dosn't PP or PK either, but is that opposite cannonball, gritty, nasty and fights some day.
So let's go forward and start using other guys. LTIR or compliance buyout, either one doesn't affect our cap, I'm fine with those. Too bad it went this way. **** happens. Healthy life after hockey is most important for Eaves.
If Eaves is done as a penaltykiller(I don't think so though), he's done with the team and maybe even league. Babcock always relied heavily on him, generally as the second guy behind Helm.
The problem is he's been out for so long. Could he regain his status from before the injury, I'd be pleased of having him around as an extra forward for the remainder of the deal.
Glad to hear Eaves is getting better. Just a couple weeks back Ansar Kahn typed up how Eaves was still having headaches. Now my favorite bottom sixer on the Wings is back to being able to at least skate with the team.
He could be a useful guy to have around if he's completely healthy, but I don't think the Wings are going to rush him back into games as they have 37 other forwards on the depth chart already. Always liked him as a player and hope for his sake that he comes back a) completely 100% healthy and b) can resume a productive NHL career somewhere.
All the information coming out on concussions and head injuries in sports is pretty scary stuff, and Eaves' concussion will be in the back of my mind every time I see him take a hit up high. I hope he's smart enough to tell Babcock to not put him on the ice with Sammy at any point during practice or games.
This is great news for Eaves; I'm happy he's been cleared to play. It does however create even more of a logjam at forward. Helm has been placed on injured reserve, however, once he returns the Wings will likely have to let go of Mursak or Emmerton via waiver or trade.
This is great news for Eaves; I'm happy he's been cleared to play. It does however create even more of a logjam at forward. Helm has been placed on injured reserve, however, once he returns the Wings will likely have to let go of Mursak or Emmerton via waiver or trade.
Thoughts?
I think we're going to see a trade soon, within the first couple weeks of the season.
By reading alot of people's posts on here about Nyquist and Tatar and Mursak and Emmerton
I have to imagine Emmerton will be waived or traded.
In either case we have ALOT of forwards that I honestly do not care if they play that well.
Lets pretend Bertuzzi has a 50 pts season
So does Sammy.
Cleary has a 40 pts season
Eaves has a 30 pt season
Are we now top contenders to win a stanley cup?
I think more importantly is how well Franzen/Flip play
How well does Brunner play? Can Nyquist make the team in convincing fashion (i.e. he gets 30-40 pts and begins to look like our old buddy flip or god forbid dats first year)
It is these second options which make us a stanley cup contender.
Also the way we are signing old men, and screwing the young kids HURTS our trading possibilities.
Instead of having kids that underperformed at the NHL level, we have kids that have NO NHL experience making it seem as though they do not belong in the NHL. Thus their trade value is roughly zero.
If we trade emmerton, what do you expect back???. I expect NOTHING, we will just waive him, so he can play for the islanders
Might as well sign Knuble too.
