22 down, 60 to go
Now that the Wings have hit the quarter mark I thought we would open up the discussion of how you think the Wings have done so far.
Let’s break down a few key stats after the jump
Record: 14-7-1 (29 pts)
Last 10: 8-2-0 (2nd best in NHL)
Division Rank: 2
Conference Rank: 4
League Rank: 5
Chicago is currently in 1st place in the west and the central by 2 points (vomit). They have also played 2 more games and lost both in overtime. Chicago is not a superior team, yes they lead the league in scoring with 3.29 goals a game, but they also allow 3.08 per game, only Ottawa, Anaheim and Columbus have let in more. It’s only a matter of time before Chicago’s defense and goaltending get the better of them.
Power Play: 7th (19.4%)
Penalty Kill: 20th (80.5%)
The power play has been kicking on all cylinders the last five games going 6/20 (30%). The PK may look dismal, but over the last five games they have killed 17/19 (89.5%).
|
G |
A |
P |
+/- |
PP |
|
|
Johan Franzen |
10 |
12 |
22 |
10 |
5 |
|
Valterri Filppula |
7 |
12 |
19 |
8 |
1 |
|
Pavel Datsyuk |
6 |
13 |
19 |
1 |
2 |
|
Nick Lidstrom |
6 |
10 |
16 |
8 |
2 |
|
Henrik Zetterberg |
5 |
8 |
13 |
1 |
0 |
These are the top five scorers on the team. It’s nice to see Filppula and Franzen up there at the top. It seems that they are finally coming into their own and showing that they are capable of carrying the team when Z and Pav can’t.
Guess who is number 6 on the Wings scoring list? Yup, everybody’s favorite whipping boy Happy Hudler (2G, 10A, +4)
Wins: 13 (1st)
GAA: 1.87 (3rd)
Save %: .930 (10th)
Shutouts: 3 (2nd)
Jimmy has been none other than spectacular this season. It appears that he has finally turned the corner from being a very good young goalie, to the type of guy that can steal games with confidence and swagger. I was never sold on Jimmy being the goalie of the future for the Wings until now. I can truly say that Jimmy is 100% capable of taking us all the way.
Other than the 6-game skid the Wings have played dominant hockey from the top line to the bottom pairing, so tell me your thoughts so far. What have they done well? what can they improve on? Should they make any changes? Will they go all the way? Stephen Weiss?
I have been hoping to see some Iginla action by Detroit for 2 years now. Other teams that might be marketing people we should look at are Anaheim (Bobby Ryan) or Washington (Semin?). Great thing is that we aren't under any pressure to make a quick move, so if there isn't a good deal to be had, we don't have to jump at it.
Turris from the Coyotes might not be a bad idea either. Young, big RHS Center with lots of potential. Low cap hit and wants to be traded apparently.
@ThroatShot And unfortunately sorta a bitch. Turris looked like a ass in the holdout situation.
I'd be willing to pay the price for Ryan or Parise since they are so young, but not Iginla. @moorecha @ThroatShot
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@ThroatShot Like the Ignila and Ryan suggestions though, but know the asking price has to be sky high.
Hudler is my favorite... there i said it.But wow is Jimmah a beast!!!
And yay for finally showing people what youre made of flips and mule :)LGRW <3
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I gotta say, I'm very happy with how the wings have played so far. Don't get me wrong, I was one of those people who needed to be walked back from the ledge during the 6 darkest days in recent memory. But when you look at those 6 games, we only played like garbage 2 of those times. The rest, we played good, we just couldn't score. Overall though, we're getting balanced scoring. Our defense has been doing great offensively, our team defense is solid as hell and our starting goaltending has been superb. The only complaint I have is we seem to be too dependent on our defense for scoring. Don't get me wrong, I think having a high scoring defense great and is necessary to win the cup but I would just like our forwards to step it up a bit like we know they can.
Also, on a side note, do we have the greatest GM (& front office) in the game or what! Ian White is looking like the bargain of the year while you have Ernhoff and Leino, two people I wanted desperately, struggling big time. I guess we know why I'm not a GM. AND we have a lot of cap space. This is starting to look like '08. Kenny stayed patient and didn't over pay. The only beef I got with him is the Ericsson re-signing but compared to those other guys, it's a drop in the bucket.
Now this is crazy, but TSN was talking about Iginla and the possibility of being traded.... We have $$ to swing it, but what would we send to the Flamers for him. I guess we really don't have a roster spot to give up for the guy tho, unless we sent Miller/Hudler+draft picks or something.
Jimmy Howard is our MVP, far and away he has surprised the most (even though we all knew he was very good to start the season). He's really cut down on the goofy goals against and even reacts to deflections better this year. And the defense in front of him is just a bit more physical than last year, don't know how or why it has helped but our Shots Against are way down from last year. With Jimmy in net and shots rendered 25 or less, we have a winning formula.
Agreed, Howie has shown major improvement. The goals that get by would be hard to stop, and he isn't letting in the soft ones. The players have all seemed to really put it on the line for him as well @brendanksullivan
I have really noticed Kronwall for the first 22 games. Maybe I'm just honing in on him now, but I find myself always impressed with his play. He just seems to have more of a spark than before. Maybe it's just because of the more ice time? Whatever it is, I hope he keeps it up.
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Me too, I have been really excited about his play. he is going to be a leader on this team in the future @teddywings
The biggest change that the wings need is to find a replacement for the toilet bowl cleaner. I think that if JIMMAH keeps playing this many games come playoffs he will be gassed out. So a backup goalie is needed. That doesnt make me cringe whenever he is in. Ty has not been all that good except that first shutout.
There are very few options out there though. Nabokov or Montoya? but would they really be an upgrade. Conks can play, he had a rough start and really hasn't been able to bounce back, beyond that Detroit doesn't really have any goalies in their system even worth a look outside Mrazek who is still too young and in the OHL, this kid could be a beast, but not for awhile. They could try and convince Larsson to come back from Sweden but he may have to clear waivers @Red_Wings-Devilmasta
@Jordan_Reis I was not saying anything about trades or any of that.... I just think that the one weak spot right now is backup in net.... if jimmy got hurt and ty cant get into his groove fast enough then that could make it hard to keep winning.
I dont keep an eye one who is where anymore however I do remember last year mac was fairly solid for a little while. Not sure if he would be any better than ty though. Just dont want to see jimmy get gassed out by the playoffs.
@D.M.N @Red_Wings-Devilmasta I agree that we're screwed if he gets hurt, but I think the plan is to play him as much as possible untill clinching a playoff spot becomes eminent. Then I expect him to be rested almost every other game. Not ideal, I know, but what team can afford to lose their #1?
@Red_Wings-Devilmasta this topic is the 800lbs gorrila in the room. Nobody wants to talk seriously about aquiring a decent backup, which scares the shit outta me, and spare me the, Concks can play, nobody, including most importantly Babbles, has any confidence in this guy being able to step his game up. If he did I'm sure Jimmy wouldn't have played 3 back to back scenarios so far this season. Howard is on pace to play 71 games this season, his tank will be dry come playoffs... of coarse a worse than the Lupul incident could take place (knocks on wood) and then Ty could shit the bed for us every night and we won't have to worry about playoffs... Now Back to the top 6 scorer trade talks!
@Jordan_Reis @Red_Wings-Devilmasta Don't we still have MacDonald? What happened to him?
@Jordan_Reis@brendanksullivan@Red_Wings-Devilmasta MacDonald has a concussion right now anyways
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MacDonald as our backup scares me! McCollum too! remember the spanking by St. Louis? that was your tandem that night @brendanksullivan @Red_Wings-Devilmasta
@brendanksullivan heard he had a farm somewhere.... Couldn't resist... Here are macdonalds current stats from GR 2011-12 GR 9 5 4 0 2.17 0.930 2
@Jordan_Reis didn't Nappy blow out his groin? And I thought Erroricsson was everyone's favorite to hate, happy is just favorite trade bait... The Wings have certainatly had their highs and lows so far this season but the last few games they've played has been some real cohesive puck, I think they've got their groove back... (movie poster hint??)
I'd say Hudler is in the same boat as Ericsson. Happy is the favorie forward scapegoat. yes Nabby did get injured, I believe that Montoya did as well, but I have heard that both may be available in trade. Somehow the Isles keep coming up with goalies, yet they still havent bought Dipietro out @D.M.N
I doubt Florida is going to trade anyone away this season, as they've looked good, plus they have to be above the salary floor.
I had never really even considered Weiss, mainly due to the fact that i forgot the Panthers even existed. I saw someone mention him as a Wings possibility and I liked it. getting a solid top-six center could be the key to keeping Fil, Z on the wing and Buckets on the 3rd or 4th. You are most likely right that the Panthers wouldn't be sellers, but you never know with Tallon. @moorecha
