Blegh.

This blog's starting to sound like a broken record.. mostly because the team keeps making the same mistakes.

But seriously, when will this team catch a break? Goalies play out of their skulls against Detroit. A lot of people probably aren't familiar with Ondrej Pavelec, but I remember the '05 draft like yesterday. Always been a highly regarded prospect, no surprise at all he's succeeding. I think I threw it out there in the offseason when I was running through ideas to trade Hudler's rights that maybe they should target a young goalie like Pavelec or Josh Harding. Unfortunately, with Kari Lehtonen out long-term, I don't think Pavelec is in Detroit's price range anymore.

But anyway, too many freakish performances by goalies. Too many blocked shots. But it wasn't like Atlanta was always "hitting both bumpers" (for those who play NHL 10). Shots were tipping off sticks, passes just hitting shins. I'd say half their blocks were accidental. After a while, it got to be painful. I called the shutout with 11 minutes left in the 3rd. Just because it was that type of game.

Think the early reviews on the game are too harsh. While they didn't necessarily play well enough to win, I don't think Detroit deserved to be shutout. They controlled the first period and most of the second. They didn't really put on the gas in the third like they could have. Naturally, Bertuzzi is being blamed. If anyone could tell me something he did that was stupid besides that one misfired pass (because no one else misfired tonight), that'd be great. I just want to see the same game the rest of you are seeing, I feel like I'm missing out.

Lines need to drastically be shaken. Top two lines aren't doing anything, third line is exciting to watch, but when you break it down, Eaves, Helm, and Draper all have the same problem -- they're spazzes, always flying and generating chances, never finishing. Spread them out throughout the lineup. And you know what's great about a May/Abdelkader/Maltby line? It's a great time to get up and get a snack or something, because you just know that line has no threat of scoring. Abdelkader's excused because he's far too young to have that kind of offensive pressure placed entirely on him. If you want to talk useless, look at May and Maltby tonight. I've seen guys skate harder at open skate. Eaves can't come back in for one of these guys soon enough.

And Lebda/Meech.. It's cute, but I want Jakub Kindl. What? He took a shot off the foot at practice and didn't play tonight? Fantastic. Anyone for Delmore? Ugh. Tatar has two goals and four assists in his past three games.

Sidenote: This guy's on waivers. I have really no idea how he's done in Denver or why they're exposing him to waivers. But I watched him at Michigan and I know he can put up points in this league. We're still low in the standings, why not give him a shot? If he's useless, he'll fit right in.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Comments (9)

felix said:

	... at least howard didn't get totally lit up? still, these injuries are really getting to me. if i had been home, i'd have been way more compelled to watch hossa's debut with the hawks tonight, tbh.
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November 26, 2009 | url
Votes: +0

anyonebutdetroit said:

	... Please take TJ! Please! Hensick has shown some skill, but he is not as good as the other young centers the Avs have - Duchene, O'Reilly and Galiardi. A change of scenery and some veteran leadership from a guy like Zetterberg could get his game turned around. Or maybe he just sucks... I'm not sure.
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November 26, 2009 | url
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Baroque said:

	... I thought I heard rumblings of attitude problems? Not unusual in an immature kid, though.
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November 26, 2009
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junkyarddog said:

	... Great work Mr. K. Now I am believing the wings are not the team of the past. STILL once the injuries heal they will be quite a different looking team. We need some talent NOT Brad May Types. No place for GOONS on this team!
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November 26, 2009
Votes: +1

Keith B said:

... I'm a huge Michigan hockey fan but I don't think Hensick is any better than what we got in Miller. He is too small to do anything but score but he's not scoring so I don't see his value. There is a chance it takes him a couple of years in the pros like it did with some other Wolverines (Cammalleri 3 years, Tambellini 5 years, Comrie 3 years) but he won't help Detroit this year. I really think it might be time to use some of our open cap room (thanks Lilja & Franzen) and deal some picks/prospects for a top 2 line guy on a shitty team like Carolina or Minnesota. Carolina is truly horrible (5-14-5) and even worse they are OLD! Old and bad is the wrong combo so Carolina should be dealing a number of players like Ray Whitney (6 goals 9 assists), Rod Brind'Amour, or Erik Cole who are old yet have some trade value. Carolina being an old team not going anywhere soon would be crazy not to trade a forward over 30 for young prospects. Minnesota, much like Carolina, sucks and should deal older players like Andrew Brunette (8 goals, 9 assists), Eric Belanger (4 goals, 10 assists), or Owen Nolan (6 goals, 4 assists) for young prospects. A player like Burnette (36 years old) would probably not cost the Wings more than a middle of the road prospect plus a couple of picks. He could play on the second line and the PP until Franzen gets back. After the season we could keep him and his affordable cap (2.5 million) or we could trade him for some picks to make up for what we lost. I really think making a deal like this makes tons of sense for both sides.

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November 27, 2009
Votes: -1

Baroque said:

... The problem with dealing any prospects for players is the salary - sure, Detroit has some room now, but they won't have any space once players start coming back from injury, and if they deal a prospect for a player who is just going to be off the roster once someone is back, they Detroit has lost a prospect for about two or three months of some other guy. It's painful, but their best option might be to just try to hold on until key players get healthy.

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November 27, 2009
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junkyarddog said:

	... I agree with Baroque. With due respect to keith B, Picking up an old man like Burnette or some other Carolina castoffs is silly. We can see the example in Big Bert.
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November 27, 2009
Votes: +1

Ben G said:

	... Big Bert cannot be compared to Ray Whitney. I'd take Whitney over Bert any day of the week. However, the point is, we don't have these luxuries. Pray for a quick return of a fully healthy Filp, Mule and Kronners...that's all we can really do. Hang on tight, this season is gonna be a heck of a roller coaster.
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November 28, 2009 | url
Votes: -1

Keith B said:

... We now have the room for a player like the ones above. None make more than 5 million and you pay the players salary for the games he's here. NHL salary is prorated. Thus a 2.5 million player who plays half the season with us is a 1.25 hit to the cap. Franzen's cap hit is 3.955 this year (nhlnumbers.com) and if he's back in March that's about 1 million for the year? That leaves Detroit just under 3 million so we could get a 6 million dollar guy 1/2 way through the year.

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November 29, 2009
Votes: -1

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