Post-Game Talk: What do you guys have planned for 12:30 on Saturday?

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

We win in regulation or overtime we win.

Well actually pretty much win you make it lose u dont

so if u lose, then what? boston/phili?

 

[Flowah]

As a proponent defending Z and Wings veterans down the stretch I humbly agree tonight was evidence of the argument against the allotment of their bloated ITs. They had nothing in the tank. Carefully trimming minutes the last month our team might have been more fresh in Boston.

I am so shocked that a 35 year old who was never all that fast to begin with and is being overplayed and on the back of a back to back didn't have much left in the tank.

*shocked*

so if u lose, then what? boston/phili?

If we lose, we can still make it if Boston their last game.

Philly lost tonight so they're still a point behind us too. If they only get 1 point out of their last 2 we're still in.

That's if we lose in regulation Saturday.

Or we could just ****ing win and not care about other teams that'd be great too.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

And talking about guys being gassed... Larkin is skating at like 50% of his capability right now.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

This is the worst Wings team I have seen in my lifetime.

 

[Zetterbergs Beard]

I am so shocked that a 35 year old who was never all that fast to begin with and is being overplayed and on the back of a back to back didn't have much left in the tank.

*shocked*

But hey, Z and Richards aren't defensive liabilities, Z and Richards have resume and pedigree, tie goes to the veteran, it's a man's league.

/s

 

[Reddwit]

How many of you were calling for less veteran minutes for the old guard and more for the new kids on the block?

Well AA played nearly 13; 12 for Jurco; 15 for nyquist and Tatar.

Abdelkader played 15; Pav 17; kronwall logged 15 (!); Zetterberg played 16.


Now how did that turn out for the team?

Of course there are other circumstances such as the back to back and less than stellar goaltending.

Still it's not as simple as MANY of you have been making out to be.

Are you ****ing serious?

Look at the game logs. Zetterberg's lowest TOIs for the past 2 months have come in blowout games. The highest TOIs for AA and company have come in blowout games. Put 2 and 2 together. Blashill rests the vets and plays whoever the **** has fresh legs once the game is out of reach.

I watch the TOI on ESPNs feed (surprisngly ESPN, yes. NHL.com blows these days) and Zetterberg was on pace for 19 minutes through 2 periods. Abdelkader was on pace for about 20. Athanasiou - the guy who wasn't on the ice for any goals - was on pace for about 9:50 at that time.

 

[Reddwit]

And talking about guys being gassed... Larkin is skating at like 50% of his capability right now.

Larkin has pretty decent TOI for the year. I want to say its 16+ minutes. The thing is, I doubt he was getting that much or significantly more on average at any point in his late teenage career, and that was against much, much less impressive competition. He was behind Eichel on the development team. He was, at least in the beginning, not widely heralded at Michigan. Not sure about before that, but pretty much anyway you slice it, he wasn't playing a rigorous schedule at any point and he wasn't seeing 1st line minutes for the majority of the past 2 years. So, yeah...he's gassed. I'm not surprised and not really worried either. He'll adjust.

 

[Caspar]

But hey, Z and Richards aren't defensive liabilities, Z and Richards have resume and pedigree, tie goes to the veteran, it's a man's league.

/s

While I understand your argument it's not fair to lump them both together. One is our captain and has been a Wing almost 14 years. The other is an aged vet bought out by NY wandering from team to team who has proven nothing of substance for the DRW. There is a difference.

 

[Reddwit]

While I understand your argument it's not fair to lump them both together. One is our captain and has been a Wing almost 14 years. The other is an aged vet bought out by NY wandering from team to team who has proven nothing of substance for the DRW. There is a difference.

I think his comment was more in reference to Richards being promoted despite his weak (even relatively speaking) production and the comment about Richards vaunted slap pass last year. Blashill kind of made himself look like a fool with that promotion followed by that comment. Fortunately, Richards looked okay for a second and didn't embarrass Blashill, but it sure as hell didn't make him look particularly smart or creative either.

 

[obey86]

How many of you were calling for less veteran minutes for the old guard and more for the new kids on the block?

Well AA played nearly 13; 12 for Jurco; 15 for nyquist and Tatar.

Abdelkader played 15; Pav 17; kronwall logged 15 (!); Zetterberg played 16.


Now how did that turn out for the team?

Of course there are other circumstances such as the back to back and less than stellar goaltending.

Still it's not as simple as MANY of you have been making out to be.

The young guys played more because the Wings were getting blown out. Not vice versa.

 

[obey86]

While I understand your argument it's not fair to lump them both together. One is our captain and has been a Wing almost 14 years. The other is an aged vet bought out by NY wandering from team to team who has proven nothing of substance for the DRW. There is a difference.

Nostalgia is just that, nostalgia. Neither are top 6 centers at this point in their career. I don't care what Z did for the Wings 4 years ago......Blashill should determine his TOI based on what he can do NOW.

 

[Mijatovic]

The young guys played more because the Wings were getting blown out. Not vice versa.

Yeah. If we didnt give up 2 goals in 40 seconds to start the third, AA and Jurco maybe get 2 shifts in the third.

Though Z got another point to pad his stats. As you can see from the replay, had plenty to do with creating that goal with the failed shot on net.

 

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

Nostalgia is just that, nostalgia. Neither are top 6 centers at this point in their career. I don't care what Z did for the Wings 4 years ago......Blashill should determine his TOI based on what he can do NOW.

Zetterberg is absolutely a top 6 center on this team. Until another player pushes him to the bottom 6(where, frankly, your strange vendetta and one note commentary on him is completely unwarranted, and on this team, the bottom 6 is not where he belongs AT all). He's going to absolutely be in the top 6. The reality is, Hank produces like a top 6 player, he has possession of a top 6 player, and therefore, IS a top 6 player. Just because you don't like him, doesn't mean he doesn't belong there. Your empirical bias doesn't actually mean a thing.

Does he deserve less ice time? Yes. Do other players deserve more? Yes. But the radical absolutist angle is getting old as hell.

 

[obey86]

Zetterberg is absolutely a top 6 center on this team. Until another player pushes him to the bottom 6(where, frankly, your strange vendetta and one note commentary on him is completely unwarranted, and on this team, the bottom 6 is not where he belongs AT all). He's going to absolutely be in the top 6. The reality is, Hank produces like a top 6 player, he has possession of a top 6 player, and therefore, IS a top 6 player. Just because you don't like him, doesn't mean he doesn't belong there. Your empirical bias doesn't actually mean a thing.

Does he deserve less ice time? Yes. Do other players deserve more? Yes. But the radical absolutist angle is getting old as hell.

Not sure what you've been watching or paying attention to....but this is 100% incorrect.

Of the top 240 even strength scoring forwards in the NHL, Hank ranks 239th in P/60. He's one of the worst possession players (among forwards) on this Red Wings this season......3rd to last in CF% ahead of just Abdelkader and Glendening. Top 6 production my toosh....he doesn't produce or have the possession of a top 6 player.

He's just simply not a top 6 player anymore. And CERTAINLY not a top line center which is how he's being used now.

 

[TheRatPoisoner]

Well, if I'm the rangers, I'd rather play the cats than the pens, so I guess the Wings have that going for them I guess

 

[SpookyTsuki]

Well, if I'm the rangers, I'd rather play the cats than the pens, so I guess the Wings have that going for them I guess

Yeah hopefully they just sit down and let us win cause we suck easy series win for them


I hope Hank doesn't play. I bet he wants to end the streak

 

[8snake]

Zetterberg is absolutely a top 6 center on this team. Until another player pushes him to the bottom 6(where, frankly, your strange vendetta and one note commentary on him is completely unwarranted, and on this team, the bottom 6 is not where he belongs AT all). He's going to absolutely be in the top 6. The reality is, Hank produces like a top 6 player, he has possession of a top 6 player, and therefore, IS a top 6 player. Just because you don't like him, doesn't mean he doesn't belong there. Your empirical bias doesn't actually mean a thing.

Does he deserve less ice time? Yes. Do other players deserve more? Yes. But the radical absolutist angle is getting old as hell.

Nah...he doesn't play like or produce like a top 6 center anymore...or should I say a quality top 6 center. You and others are looking at Zetterberg through the prism of who he was 3-4 years ago, not the player he is now. He's a 3rd line player, and that's not an insult or a disrespectful opinion to have. It's the reality of where he is as a hockey player and the most effective way to use him at the tail end of his career. Last night spoke volumes about this subject...Julien clearly wanted Bergeron against Hank because he felt he had an advantage there, and Bergeron ate Hank up and completely outplayed him all night. In Hank's prime he was a guy used to chase a line and dominate the opposition's best forward. Those days are long gone. Hopefully next year his role is reduced and reflects the player he is today, not the player he used to be.

 

[ap3x]

Never expected a win anyway. But not even seeing them getting that point was really disappointing. Always great to realize how well we match up with them.
Guess after that game Saturday, u can call the ambulance for me. Heart is like "are u ****ing kidding me?"

 

[14ari13]

Game on Saturday will be there 3rd game in 4 nights on top of being an afternoon game.

Don't hold much hope for a win.

At least not back to back. One day off should help. If we can get solid goaltending, we win.

Heres hoping the NYR tank on purpose to avoid the Penguins

The pens are the hottest team in the league. It would definitely be smart to avoid them. The pens might not go all the way, but they are entering round 1 red hot.

Hope Howie gets the start. Nothing about tonight is on him.

Howard was bad, very bad. 1st goal he has to cover low and force him to lift the puck on the backhand.

Never expected a win anyway. But not even seeing them getting that point was really disappointing. Always great to realize how well we match up with them.
Guess after that game Saturday, u can call the ambulance for me. Heart is like "are u ****ing kidding me?"

The team was exhausted after the game vs flyers. Too bad the leafs did not win.

 

[Heaton]

Not sure what you've been watching or paying attention to....but this is 100% incorrect.

Of the top 240 even strength scoring forwards in the NHL, Hank ranks 239th in P/60. He's one of the worst possession players (among forwards) on this Red Wings this season......3rd to last in CF% ahead of just Abdelkader and Glendening. Top 6 production my toosh....he doesn't produce or have the possession of a top 6 player.

He's just simply not a top 6 player anymore. And CERTAINLY not a top line center which is how he's being used now.

Yeah but... Who did produce like a top 6 forward this year besides Datsyuk? I think you're focused too much on Z and not enough on the guys who are supposedly in their prime and falling way short. Z has been bad, Tatar and Nyquist have been way worse.

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

I don't know if that was a schedule loss or a Wings are terrible loss. Probably a little bit of both. The Bruins looked like they were playing their hearts out and the Wings just seemed like "meh."


As for 12:30 Saturday I'll have a bottle of jack daniels for during the game and a bottle of bleach ready for after it.

 

[ArGarBarGar]

I suppose my concern about starting Howard on the second game of the back to back was correct.

If Blashill had faith in Howard than Mrazek, probably should have started Mrazek at home against Philly and Howard in Boston.

 

[8snake]

Yeah but... Who did produce like a top 6 forward this year besides Datsyuk? I think you're focused too much on Z and not enough on the guys who are supposedly in their prime and falling way short. Z has been bad, Tatar and Nyquist have been way worse.

Your level of disappointment might be higher for Tatar and Gus and whatever expectations you had for them but neither have been demonstrably worse than Hank. Hank's numbers the 2nd half+ of the season have been horrendous....especially given his minutes and current role on the team.

 

[Shoalzie]

Gotta handle ya bidness...I don't want to see them in get with a loss. Win and you're in. Recharge and bring a desperate game to MSG.

 

[Pavels Dog]

And talking about guys being gassed... Larkin is skating at like 50% of his capability right now.

Larkin has been absolutely flying lately, he only looks tired in the 2nd night on back-to-backs which has been a trend all season.