Time for 55 to Drive
So what are we looking at right now in terms of defense heading into this next season?Kronwall-White
Quincey-Ericsson
Smith-Kindl
Question marks? Sure. But there are worse top 6 in the league...despite all of the complaining in the Red Wings' universe. Remember Brett Lebda? Remember Derek Meech?
Kyle Quincey had a mediocre (at best) end to the season...that doesn't mean he won't turn back into the stud he was in Colorado that made us all sad we got rid of him.
But the real driver of the back end will be none other than Detroit's own home-grown Punisher...#55 Niklas Kronwall.
Make the jump for more.
Whether or not they strap the "C" on his chest - Kronwall's role on this team is about to get magnified exponentially. Anybody got a problem with that?
Kronwall seems to be getting better and better with time. It took Nick Lidstrom 10 seasons to win his first Norris Trophy. Kronwall has played in 8 regular seasons thus far. Sure - Lidstrom already had 423 points in 8 seasons while Kronwall only has 217...but they're different players playing in different times. Could we be looking at a one-two punch with Smith for Calder and Kronwall for Norris? Not bloody likely...but we can dream.
I'm not saying that Kronwall is going to go out and win 7 Norris Trophies in the next decade or so...but he his becoming a much more well-rounded player.
The dude can do more than just crush people into dust. He had a career-high 15 goals last season. What's even more promising is the fact that he played in all 82 games. Something he had not done in his previous 7 seasons with the club.
Is Kronwall showing toughness and durability?
...let's see you get up from that. (Oh and I love Darren Pang.)
But nobody comes to NOHS here to see videos of Kronwall GETTING hit. Let's get to what he all have come to love...
Here he is sticking it to Parise and Suter's buddy in Minnesota:
You know who didn't like that? Ryan Clowe. Who started running his mouth about it? Ryan Clowe. Who was next on the Punisher's list? Ryan Clowe.
The hit so hard it almost knocked Engblom off his toolbox. I remember scaring my wife by jumping up and screaming my excitement for this one....2nd favorite hit of all time (next to Havlat getting Kronwalled).
More ice time means that Kronwall will have much more time to do stuff like this. And these aren't rookies or scrubs that he's laying waste to. They're top 3 forwards. They're All-Star participants. They're Frank J. Selke Trophy winners...
So as we head into the season knowing that we're going to be seeing a lot more of #55 in Red and White on the ice...be glad. This season isn't just Brendan Smith's coming out party...it's Niklas Kronwall's turn to take the reigns as a top 2 D-man for this club. And that spells trouble for every top 3 forward that goes against the Wings this year.
Believe in Detroit...because they can hit.
Hard.
Felt good to watch some videos of Kronwall doing what he does best. As much as it sucks to see Lidstrom retire, it will be nice to see Kronwall getting a chance at the top slot. Is it September yet?
@thebiglachovsky We can only HOPE the season starts on time. I get the sinking feeling it won't though =\
@thebiglachovsky @JaysinHorror @freakazoid0587 Thats what I thought, but wasn't really sure. I didn't know how far down the totem pole the CBA went
@JaysinHorror @freakazoid0587 no they should still go on as usual as they aren't affiliated with the NHL in anyway.
@freakazoid0587 @thebiglachovsky
This is probably a dumb question but....If there IS an NHL lockout, does that mean the smaller leagues like the ECHL, CHL, QMJHL and all the other ones have to stop too?
@thebiglachovsky @freakazoid0587 @JaysinHorror
Communist! JK - if hockey is cancelled I'm going to become a much bigger Lions fan...
@freakazoid0587 @JaysinHorror if there is a lockout we should pick a KHL team to follow and root for. Anyone at NOHS speak Russian?
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I love how he makes clean hits and then draws the other team into penalties. He doesn't have to defend himself as long as it's clean and he also has a level head on his shoulders.
I feel like no matter who steps on to the ice defending for us this year they're going to play hard. No one can walk out as a professional athlete let alone a Detroit Red Wing and say "Well Lidstroms out now I can cruise and blame the goals on his absence" each and every one of them especially Kronners is going to do their best to prove that they were a major part of the defense last season and it wasn't a fluke held together by TPH. Believe. LGRW!
My only fear, is that they institute a set of rule changes or start enforcing the rules in such a way that he's not allowed to crush players. They're getting more stingy when it comes to injuries and such.
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@Josh Howard What pisses me off is the number of times people go after hitters when they've had a clean hit. It's actually ruining the game.
@Reddy @Josh Howard ... or when they call a penalty just because there was a big hit though no actual penalty was committed.
@ThroatShot @Reddy @Josh Howard I'm excited to see how well Kronwall takes the reins as a top pair D-man on our team! Hopefully Kindl can take a step up with his game as well
