Kindl Strutting His Stuff
So another weekend goes by and another W for the good guys. Detroit picked up the garbage in OT to beat the Wild (on the PP no less) 3-2 in Minnesota on Saturday. I'm sure you've read everything you've wanted to regarding the game by now, so I'm not going to bore you with any sort of recap or reflection. But I will excite you with two other items.
First, did you know that the last time the Wings started the season 4-0 was in 1997-98? The only other team to start the season 4-0 so far is Washington. The last time they started 4-0? 1997-98. Anyone remember how that season finished for both Detroit and Washington? All smiles for the boys in Red and White is one thing that comes to mind
And a heavy object as well.
This season, I've completely changed my tune. He's put on some weight, the good kind, up from just over 200 last season to around 220 lbs this year. You can completely tell by the way he plays. He's stronger on the puck, passes harder, and is simply more stable. He looks like a veteran in the way he plays this season, and not the scared timid little girl that we say in the past. As explained by Mike Babcock:
“He has confidence in himself so he earns confidence in himself."
And it shows. I had never really realized his vision before. The past on Saturday to Happy was nothing short of perfect. He's made smart plays consistantly, which has helped put him in the team lead in +/- right now, with an impressive +6 in four games.This all has given him, in my eyes, a jump on Big E and Commie22 for those last two defensive spots. For all the talk about how happy we are with Happy, Filppula and Franzen's play thus far, I'm even more surprised and delighted with Kindl's play.
I'm discussing this with JJ on WIIM and trying to figure out where we should put him and what we should expect.
All the young guys look far stronger and heavier this season, even Hudler looks good so far. If they can get that fourth line producing and stay healthy, those 12-1 odds for a RW cup are looking pretty sweet.
1 Like
Agreed as well. He has been playing great. And I saw him really plow a guy into the boards to get position on front of him to take the puck away. You never see Ericsson use his body like that. In fact, Ericsson falls over when he tries to hit other people into the boards. I hope Kindl gets to stay in and Ericsson and Commie do the rotation when he returns.
@Lauren H That's one expensive third line/scratch D-man. I still have faith in Kenny. It's only four games in and Shitbox looks the same, but he still has plenty of time to turn it around. I don't know if he will, but I just want to believe. If he isn't in 08 form by the end of the season, then I see him on the trade block for a replacement for TPH should he decide to hang em up (God forbid). But if he does, chalk up number 12.
@BLOOD RED I agree that it would be a waste of money to have E sit. But is it fair to take Kindl out of the lineup if he continues to play really well and keep E in if he still isn't playing well just because he has a bigger paycheck?
