I have to disagree. I cannot deny that our skilled play has beaten some very dirty and tough teams. But it has also cost us in the playoffs.
When we were swept by Calgary it was due to their relentless forecheck. Whenever we play a forecheck heavy team we have troubles.
Teams like the Flames and the Ducks like to get the puck down low in the offensive zone and force us to work off the boards. This does not suit the Wings as we do not have many big guys who can use their size/weight effectively along the boards.
In the post-season the teams that have the most success shutting down our offense are also the teams that force us to work off the boards in the offense.
We nearly didn't make it through some rounds in past playoff runs when forced to take our offense to the deep boards as opposed to the beautiful open ice passes Detroit fans have been spoiled with.
As well, except for Holmstrom I don't see anyone ready and willing to stand 1 ft. in front of the crease and take the punishment necessary to give the goalie problems. If Homer gets hurt, then what?
Granted we have $5 million dollars under the cap left to spend. I bet come playoff time a tough forechecker is added to the lineup. We need grit to match our exceptional talent.
DingleBerry is a hugh Lang hater. Hugh. DingleBerry will spare you the long rant here.
The Wings need scoring after Z, D, Homer. Who will step up? Flip?
The Wings need toughness. Kopecky will help. How exactly does Drake help this team again--DingleBerry wants to know.
Downey isn't an elite HW but will keep people accountable so when the likes of Williams, Lebda, Homer, Franzen, D, Z all get blown up he can answer the bell.
If the Wings don't sign an enforcer it will only be matter of time before D or Z gets planted in the Joe rafters.
I find it funny that you point out that Drake doesn't add anything to the team, but then say that if the Wings don't sign an enforcer the Wings stars will be in trouble. Well, thats exactly what Drake is here for, to add grit and personality to the team. He certainly isn't here to score goals or make pretty passes. Drake might not be a great fighter, but he can drop the gloves once in awhile. We also have Downey as a 13th forward right now, but he will only get limited playing time.
Also, Williams isn't on the team anymore. He was traded to the Hawks for Calder last season before the deadline.
I find it funny that you point out that Drake doesn't add anything to the team, but then say that if the Wings don't sign an enforcer the Wings stars will be in trouble. Well, thats exactly what Drake is here for, to add grit and personality to the team. He certainly isn't here to score goals or make pretty passes. Drake might not be a great fighter, but he can drop the gloves once in awhile. We also have Downey as a 13th forward right now, but he will only get limited playing time.
Also, Williams isn't on the team anymore. He was traded to the Hawks for Calder last season before the deadline.
Ohhh boy...Dallas Drake the enforcer.
Tell my you're joking. When he enforces against the likes of Godard, Boogaard, Parros, Larquare, etc.
Enforcers are needed. If you dont get that they you are the kind of fan that Bettman wants.
Again, when Z or D or Lidstrom or Ralfalski, or whoever (like Williams LAST season) gets their clock cleaned I guess its Dallas Drake to the rescue huh?
Yzerman had Probert. Gretzky had Semenko. etc, etc. The Wings stars will get worked over because nobody respects the Wings. You watch.
Tell my you're joking. When he enforces against the likes of Godard, Boogaard, Parros, Larquare, etc.
Enforcers are needed. If you dont get that they you are the kind of fan that Bettman wants.
Again, when Z or D or Lidstrom or Ralfalski, or whoever (like Williams LAST season) gets their clock cleaned I guess its Dallas Drake to the rescue huh?
Yzerman had Probert. Gretzky had Semenko. etc, etc. The Wings stars will get worked over because nobody respects the Wings. You watch.
The Red Wings adding a player like Boogaard would be ridiculous. It doesn't follow their puck possession game in any way, and would hinder them more than help them. You need to get your brain out of the past, this is a new Red Wings team, and they proved last year that they can win.
The Red Wings adding a player like Boogaard would be ridiculous. It doesn't follow their puck possession game in any way, and would hinder them more than help them. You need to get your brain out of the past, this is a new Red Wings team, and they proved last year that they can win.
The Wings add a player like Boogaard means McLean doesnt two hand Franzen, Torres is picking his teeth off the ice and D and Z have all the room they want. And one more thing, attendance doesnt fall like a rock.
If you like Euros on ice then we'll agree to disagree.
The Wings add a player like Boogaard means McLean doesnt two hand Franzen, Torres is picking his teeth off the ice and D and Z have all the room they want. And one more thing, attendance doesnt fall like a rock.
If you like Euros on ice then we'll agree to disagree.
The Wings didnt win a damn thing last year.
A player like Boogard would not be on the ice during the powerplay, therefore Franzen does still get two-handed. And if you watched that game, then you realize the only reason McLennan doesn't get the crap beat out of him, its because the refs smartly right away go to protect him. The Wings won that game, and the series, if you can show me that having an enforcer helps us win, go ahead.
Not a damn thing? Ok, so you're one of those fans who think that so long as the team doesn't win the Cup, then clearly they didn't do anything worth while. The are plenty of positive intangibles that come along with make a run like the Wings did last year.
A player like Boogard would not be on the ice during the powerplay, therefore Franzen does still get two-handed. And if you watched that game, then you realize the only reason McLennan doesn't get the crap beat out of him, its because the refs smartly right away go to protect him. The Wings won that game, and the series, if you can show me that having an enforcer helps us win, go ahead.
Not a damn thing? Ok, so you're one of those fans who think that so long as the team doesn't win the Cup, then clearly they didn't do anything worth while. The are plenty of positive intangibles that come along with make a run like the Wings did last year.
Hey if you like Euros on ice you must be in heaven then.
If you dont know the value enforcers bring then you are the exact kind of fan Bettman wants.
Yep..I'm one of those fans who thinks that you either win or you lose.
You're one of those fans who thinks the Wings spent all last season gaining "intangibles" I guess. Makes me wonder, do players have it written into their contracts bonuses for winning "intangibles".
I wonder if the Wings went into camp this year with a list of Intangibles as their goal?
Hey if you like Euros on ice you must be in heaven then.
If you dont know the value enforcers bring then you are the exact kind of fan Bettman wants.
Yep..I'm one of those fans who thinks that you either win or you lose.
You're one of those fans who thinks the Wings spent all last season gaining "intangibles" I guess. Makes me wonder, do players have it written into their contracts bonuses for winning "intangibles".
I wonder if the Wings went into camp this year with a list of Intangibles as their goal?
I'm sure that the Wings organization values the money that a deep playoff run brings. Also, the young players gain valuable experience, and the wings organization probably appreciates that. I'm sure they didn't meet all their goals, but there is only one team every year that does. So, I'm one of those fans that understand reality, that you can learn from losing as well as you can learn from winning.
Euros on ice? You sound like Don Cherry. This is a skill team, and they play a skill game. To add an enforcer does not fit in this system. I enjoyed the days of Probert and Kocur as much as the next guy, but I also am able to recognize that there is more than one way to win. What enforcer did we have on the 2002 Cup winning team?
I'm sure that the Wings organization values the money that a deep playoff run brings. Also, the young players gain valuable experience, and the wings organization probably appreciates that. I'm sure they didn't meet all their goals, but there is only one team every year that does. So, I'm one of those fans that understand reality, that you can learn from losing as well as you can learn from winning.
Euros on ice? You sound like Don Cherry. This is a skill team, and they play a skill game. To add an enforcer does not fit in this system. I enjoyed the days of Probert and Kocur as much as the next guy, but I also am able to recognize that there is more than one way to win. What enforcer did we have on the 2002 Cup winning team?
Every year the Wings won they had an enforcer.
Every year Bowman was coach they had an enforcer.
In 2002 two guys enforced--McCarty and Shanny--they took care of all on ice business that had to be taken care of.
In 2002 two guys enforced--McCarty and Shanny--they took care of all on ice business that had to be taken care of.
How can you consider McCarty any more of an enforcer than Drake or Downey? No difference at all. Shanahan was hardly a pure enforcer, he scored goals more than he fought. If you can find a player that brings the same thing as Shanahan does, that fits our cap, I would applaud you for it. As it is, those players cost a lot of money, and I do think that Franzen has some of that potential.
My take on the Wings
I think we DO need more toughness
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