Injury Report: Official Injury Thread

[Henkka]

With Smith and Kindl out, White and Lashoff in, I really like those D pairings : (http://redwings.nhl.com/club/depthchart.htm?dcid=540)

Kronwall - Ericsson
Quincey - Lashoff
Huskins - White

That Quincey-Lashoff works much better (on paper), because now there's a guy who plays safe and defends Quincey's pinching. With Quincey-Smith both were pinching and those guys with same mentality just don't work together unless other one will turn to defensive d-man.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

That Quincey-Lashoff works much better (on paper), because now there's a guy who plays safe and defends Quincey's pinching. With Quincey-Smith both were pinching and those guys with same mentality just don't work together unless other one will turn to defensive d-man.

LOL.
Lashoff might play simple...but he's not very good, positionally.
He has no idea how to handle the speed and skill of NHLers/.

Quincey and Lashoff is like the blind leading the blind across the freeway.

 

[Probert]

I think Smith has been improving and he's doing just fine in terms of development. What he needs the most right now is ice time at the NHL level.

Kindl has played his best hockey in a Wings uniform this season, whether it's good enough to earn him a full time roster spot remains to be seen. I liked him on the PP; he showed some creativity and moved the puck well. I think we'd see continued improvement if he were to play full time in the NHL (night in and night out), but he may not get that opportunity with the Wings at this point.

Quincey has been better in recent games, though up was about the only direction to go given his atrocious start. I think he'd do a lot better if he were to play the body instead of the puck. It almost looks as though he's playing scared and/or hurt. He needs to get his confidence back and get going. We know the kid can play, we know he did very well for himself in Colorado, so why the hell is he stinking the place up in Detroit? His issues right now seem to be mental, so it's up to the coaching staff to help him figure it out. If his previous back injury limits his ability to be physical then we may need to cut our losses and let him go.

Lashoff has been a welcome feel-good story when it comes to the Wings' young defense. This kid comes into the lineup and plays incredibly well as a defensive D-man. He has maturity, poise, and good size. My hope is that the Wings' brass is smart and courageous enough to let him keep playing in the NHL full time. The back-and-forth shuffle for young D-men in our system has yielded mixed results, and Lashoff is responding well to playing in the NHL. I hope Kenny and Babs realize this and keep him in the lineup; the fact that he's paired with KFQ tonight to help stabilize KFQ could be taken as a good sign for Lash.

 

[Bench]

Except that he seems to be on a tighter reign this season (thus far) than when he came up last year. It's almost like two different mindsets.

And, no, Babs has always been about systems and everyone knowing where they're supposed to go. Franzen is slowly becoming Homer.

I still find him to be one of the most predictable coaches in the NHL.

Eh, I think Smith has 22 NHL games, ever, and he just hasn't been all that great. You think Babcock is holding him back.

When Smith gets traded for JBo and tears it up with Hudler, then I guess I'll see your point.

 

[Fugu]

Eh, I think Smith has 22 NHL games, ever, and he just hasn't been all that great. You think Babcock is holding him back.

When Smith gets traded for JBo and tears it up with Hudler, then I guess I'll see your point.

He's good enough to hold down a top four spot as an abject rookie. Were you this critical of Fisher or Kronner after their first 20-ish or so games? Really?


He'll be fine. He's the first guy since Kronwall the Wings have brought up where I felt he belonged in the top four, and that there would be more upside to boot.

 

[Heaton]

He's good enough to hold down a top four spot as an abject rookie. Were you this critical of Fisher or Kronner after their first 20-ish or so games? Really?


He'll be fine. He's the first guy since Kronwall the Wings have brought up where I felt he belonged in the top four, and that there would be more upside to boot.

With all due respect to Smith (and I think he's going to be pretty good) - this year isn't exactly the best time to consider cracking the top 4 as a major accomplishment. Especially when you lose two top 4 guys and don't even attempt to replace them with established players.

Smith has been fine this year and I think he'll be even better next year. Babcock obviously wanted him in the lineup last season but didn't get his wish. So, I don't fear any type of leash with him.

 

[Bench]

He's good enough to hold down a top four spot as an abject rookie. Were you this critical of Fisher or Kronner after their first 20-ish or so games? Really?

He'll be fine. He's the first guy since Kronwall the Wings have brought up where I felt he belonged in the top four, and that there would be more upside to boot.

What? No! Geez, that's not what I'm driving at. Do you want to pick a fight, Fugu? DO YOU? Let's go cupcake!

But seriously, I also think he'll be fine. I said he's only been in 22 NHL games. That's not my way of nailing him to the wall.

I just didn't buy the idea that it's Babcock keeping Smith from achieving more offense. I think Smith is just having a harder time finding his spots, because the competition ramped up considerably on him.

You said you were guessing that Babcock was molding him into a defensive player first before giving him offensive leash. It is my view that Smith is having a hard time figuring out when to push the play and with the increased load is trying to play a more balanced game, because he's not Erik Karlsson. And that's okay.

On the flip side, I thought I had the reputation as a super homer. It's kinda nice to be called negative this once.

 

[Bench]

Smith has been fine this year and I think he'll be even better next year. Babcock obviously wanted him in the lineup last season but didn't get his wish. So, I don't fear any type of leash with him.

Yeah, there we go. He's giving him all kinds of minutes. The powerplay will come soon. Well, soon as he's healed.

If I had to guess, and I hate guessing, but I'd just assume in a shortened season the coaching staff put more money into guys like CC and White being able to immediately produce on the powerplay, as opposed to Smith, who naturally could have some growing pains.

 

[Heaton]

Yeah, there we go. He's giving him all kinds of minutes. The powerplay will come soon. Well, soon as he's healed.

If I had to guess, and I hate guessing, but I'd just assume in a shortened season the coaching staff put more money into guys like CC and White being able to immediately produce on the powerplay, as opposed to Smith, who naturally could have some growing pains.

Well, it's tough to make those decisions. Quincey has produced on the PP elsewhere and White produced last year. Colaiacovo is a guy who has played on the PP as well. So we're trying to find a way to get the 2nd unit working and nothing has happened so far.

Smith hasn't shown enough that he gets immunity from change.

 

[detredWINgs]

The "leash" is a leash on offense - it has nothing to do with ice time or powerplay time, but everything to do with what happens between Smith and Babcock outside of games. Right now, I'd wager a guess that Smith is sitting in the same shoes as Hudler was as a rookie. In other words, forget about offense until youve developed your defensive game. Thankfully for Smith, we have such ****** alternatives that he won't suffer lost minutes. Also, Smith's physicality will keep his minutes up. But you've got to be kidding yourself if you don't think Smith's lack of offense thus far has nothing to do with Babcock reigning in Smith's natural offensive instincts. It's no wonder he looks so uncomfortable out there.

 

[Heaton]

But you've got to be kidding yourself if you don't think Smith's lack of offense thus far has nothing to do with Babcock reigning in Smith's natural offensive instincts. It's no wonder he looks so uncomfortable out there.

Then I guess I'm kidding myself. Kronwall wasn't reeled in during his first full season under Babcock (he had only played about 40 games previously). Babcock is a good enough coach to let the players play - any coach would stress that a rookie defensemen needs to be defensively responsible but the biggest issue is if Smith isn't out there with the top 2 lines at all times, where do we expect this offense to come from? Same goes with the 2nd PP unit, is anyone making plays?

 

[Laser Rayzor]

The "leash" is a leash on offense - it has nothing to do with ice time or powerplay time, but everything to do with what happens between Smith and Babcock outside of games. Right now, I'd wager a guess that Smith is sitting in the same shoes as Hudler was as a rookie. In other words, forget about offense until youve developed your defensive game. Thankfully for Smith, we have such ****** alternatives that he won't suffer lost minutes. Also, Smith's physicality will keep his minutes up. But you've got to be kidding yourself if you don't think Smith's lack of offense thus far has nothing to do with Babcock reigning in Smith's natural offensive instincts. It's no wonder he looks so uncomfortable out there.

Brendan Smith told me the #RedWings want him to come in and be his aggressive self. "They don't want me to take a back seat."

https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=BradGalli&tw_i=291189633100947457&tw_p=tweetembed

My guess is that he is just trying to be perfect out there, he knows the implications this year and IMO he doesn't want to make mistakes that can cost the team games.

 

[Fugu]

With all due respect to Smith (and I think he's going to be pretty good) - this year isn't exactly the best time to consider cracking the top 4 as a major accomplishment. Especially when you lose two top 4 guys and don't even attempt to replace them with established players.

Smith has been fine this year and I think he'll be even better next year. Babcock obviously wanted him in the lineup last season but didn't get his wish. So, I don't fear any type of leash with him.

He should have been up last year, and part-time the year before that. The Wings are probably the ONLY team in the NHL that would have handled him the way they did. I can overlook the parttime stuff two years ago, but last year was unforgivable.

 

[Bench]

https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=BradGalli&tw_i=291189633100947457&tw_p=tweetembed

My guess is that he is just trying to be perfect out there, he knows the implications this year and IMO he doesn't want to make mistakes that can cost the team games.

So with evidence that Babcock is IN FACT telling Smith to be aggressive...

The topic will change to when he should have been called up.

 

[Fugu]

So with evidence that Babcock is IN FACT telling Smith to be aggressive...

The topic will change to when he should have been called up.

No, I just don't believe he's telling him to be aggressive offensively. I know Babs likes his physicality. I think he said something about that after the suspension last year.


Let me ask you something, Bench. Does he look like he has the mindset he did last year? The first thing I noticed about him this year is how much more he holds back, to the point of not even taking shots during his first few games. Compare that to how he game out of the gate last year, and it's like it's not even the same guy.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

I don't think we make the playoffs without Helm coming back reasonably soon and staying reasonably healthy.

 

[Heaton]

No, I just don't believe he's telling him to be aggressive offensively. I know Babs likes his physicality. I think he said something about that after the suspension last year.


Let me ask you something, Bench. Does he look like he has the mindset he did last year? The first thing I noticed about him this year is how much more he holds back, to the point of not even taking shots during his first few games. Compare that to how he game out of the gate last year, and it's like it's not even the same guy.

Since every thread seems to degrade to this on these topics I'll just get this out of the way. Why does it have to be that Babcock is actively telling Smith not to do something? Why can't it ever be the player who is responsible for their own actions?

I mean, when Hudler was here, Babcock didn't tell him not to be offensive, he was just told to be responsible defensively. I think Smith is expected to be good at both ends of the ice and if Smith is being tentative during the beginning part of his first 'full season' when the entire defense has been basically terrible for the first 8 games, I kinda get that. I just think it's a major cop out to say, Smith isn't playing that well offensively, has to be Babcock telling him to not try to generate offense.

If the Wings still had Stuart and Lidstrom? I think it would be MUCH easier for Smith to play his game, don't you?

 

[Bench]

No, I just don't believe he's telling him to be aggressive offensively. I know Babs likes his physicality. I think he said something about that after the suspension last year.

Let me ask you something, Bench. Does he look like he has the mindset he did last year? The first thing I noticed about him this year is how much more he holds back, to the point of not even taking shots during his first few games. Compare that to how he game out of the gate last year, and it's like it's not even the same guy.

I'm not noticing a huge difference. Of course, it's a pretty small sample size. Using his stint from March last year, he played 10 games, recording points in 4 of those games. He only had 6 shots.

Then this year he has 1 point in 8 games. And 11 shots. More shots, but that is likely a product of ice time.

It's just not enough data to ween any sweeping conclusions. If you think Babcock wants him to play conservative, then that's probably what you're going to see. Personally, I see a rookie who hasn't figured it out yet. That's pretty common.

If you believe he was substantially better offensively in his 14 games last year, well, that's totally possible, since small sample sizes can skew trends dramatically. Last year he was gunning to prove something offensively during a Lidstrom absence. And we knew his odds of sticking were small. This year he's secured a role in the top 6 and has to carry the weight of playing against the oppositions better players.

His game will open up as he gets comfortable. I'm not worried.

 

[Bench]

If the Wings still had Stuart and Lidstrom? I think it would be MUCH easier for Smith to play his game, don't you?

I do! Because I just said so in the post above as well.

 

[Bench]

I don't think we make the playoffs without Helm coming back reasonably soon and staying reasonably healthy.

Make the playoffs? Sure, that shouldn't be a problem.

Have the depth to match up against the best playoff teams? That could be a problem without him.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Update on Helm does not sound to promising.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2013/02/red_wings_darren_helm_puzzled.html

Tests done Monday, including a bone scan and a CT scan, all returned negative. But the pain that has kept him off the ice for 10 days hasn't subsided. He will take his test results to a back specialist in the next day or two, hoping to find answers.

Of curious note, what takes the Wings additional days to get a guy with this problem to a specialist. Just find that curious, would seem an easy thing to schedule a little quicker it isn't like we didn't know he would want to see one after the CT scan.

He hasn't skated since leaving halfway through practice on Jan. 26. His off-ice training has been limited to riding the elliptical trainer a few times.

“The first time my back started hurting (Jan. 10), it took me a week until I could start skating, working out,'' Helm said. “Now, it's been 10-11 days, and it still kind of feels the same from the moment it started bugging me.''

Internet doctor time pinched nerve or slipped disk, i would think that would show though. Hoping it isn't something far worse, remember Lemieux having trouble finding a diagnosis before he got the much worse news from the Pens in his first retirement. Starting to hold my breath about what this can actually be, when you have trouble finding something wrong for a month plus, that is a really bad sign.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

Make the playoffs? Sure, that shouldn't be a problem.

Have the depth to match up against the best playoff teams? That could be a problem without him.

Ehh I don't know. I just don't think the top-six can carry the scoring load the entire season. With Abdelkader as our 3rd line center, your not gonna produce much in the bottom-six. I mean we can slip in as a 7 or 8 seed but you're right that we'd get bombed in the playoffs. Of course all of this could change with one trade, but I have my doubts with KH as well.

 

[RedWingsNow*]

It's not only Smith.
I notice Quincey isn't freelancing as much in the offensive and neutral zones, either,

 

[Brick Top]

He's the anti-Cleary.

Sneaky funny, dude- I like it

Smith and Quincey looked to be ironing out some of their problems. Smith was starting to get more comfortable in the lineup and doing more of the things you see him try at the AHL level along with timing his jumps and rushes better. He is one of really if not the only guy that can skate the puck out of trouble and does so from time to time. Really stinks to lose him for a month when he seemed to be picking up his play.

Well, I for one am happy for those two crazy kids- I'm glad to see that the counseling has allowed those two to work out their differences and stay together. It's really a feel-good story, albeit one full of turnovers and missed assignments.

It's frustrating that Smith is missing time, as he seemed to be slowly improving and gaining confidence game by game. I wish that KH had a DeLorean so he could go back in time to last year and have Smitty have his first full season with Lidstrom, working out the rookie kinks in his game under the tutelage of an all-timer. Oh well. Just hope he comes back healthy asap, and lets his offensive abilities show a little more on the ice.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

Well Babcock stressed the whole "team defense" thing at the beginning if the year. Nobody knows exactly why they aren't jumping into the play as much though.