Red Wings

[froot loops]

But what does Babcock bring to the table now and in the future that indicates he part of the solution in the future. Thats my question? Jad always tells me he the best coach in the NHL, but never says what makes him the best coach in the NHL.

I can name a few coaches that Red Wings had and what they did to improve the team. Demers brought grittiness to the team and he got a lot of mileage out of some subpar players. Murray brought a lot of offensive effiency to the team, he made them dangerous. Bowman took that and brought defensive discipline. Bacock brought some toughness to the team. But two of the three coaches I mentioned got the ziggy.

If you are going to make changes, you got to make changes.

Good coaches get fired, good coaches have shelf lifes and then their effectiveness diminishes.

[Topweasel]

Nah this is Babs team till either he fails so badly for enough years for Holland to have to let him go

Double what? Does that mean you think in your mind that the Wings will tolerate a few playoff misses before even considering letting Babcock go? This is madness.

Yeah sure why not? Not saying that any person should not be disapointed in that but I doubt Holland or Illitch is going to make a rash desicion to get rid of the coach that has kept the team in the play-offs for 8 years and made two Stanley Cup finals appearances, winning one of them. Specially since everyone and their mother recognizes that this is a rebuilding period, just with different opinions on what the team should do about it.

[DanO]

The LA Kings were the best 8th seed team in history.

They had so much talent that was under-performing and the shake-up at the deadline where they brought in Carter and reunited him with Richards. From that moment on they were the best team in the NHL, they may have only ended up at 8th seed but they had been playing the best hockey leading into the month and a half before the playoffs.

Ahhhhhhh yes. Where is that talent now?

[FVD]

I want them to make the playoffs. If your goalie gets hot your team has a puncher's chance. Sure they likely will be eliminated in the first round. At least they have a chance to advance if they make it.

[chemiclord]

Bowman was really good though. I don't understand this slavish devotion to Babcock. Is he doing a good job this year? A lot of players didn't like Scooter but they tolerated him and they had the talent.

Babcock is not on the level of Bowman. Its not like only the Detroit media is recycling the story. Coaches have shelf life, Babcock is a good coach, but why is he such a scared cow? Is it the hair? Good coaches get fired all the time.

Datsyuk is not going back to the KHL. Thats a Lidtrom like negotiating ploy. That is a recycled media story if there was one.

It wasn't so much saying that Babock was Bowman's equal more than the Detroit media has this tendency to recycle stories... and they are just as much bumpkus now as they were then.

If Babcock gets canned, it's going to be because he failed at his job, not because some dipshit "journalist" fabricates a story about the players are ready to mutiny on him.

[froot loops]

not because some dipshit "journalist" fabricates a story about the players are ready to mutiny on him.

Who is suggesting that a media story is going to get him canned. His prickliness is a problem for free agents. Nobody is flocking to the Red Wings to play for him, thats kind of strange for the best coach in the NHL.

[WingsFan]

Datsyuk is not going back to the KHL. Thats a Lidtrom like negotiating ploy. That is a recycled media story if there was one.

I opened pandoras box while the Red Wings are battling for a playoff spot :x



One rumor is Pavel Datsyuk doesn't get along with Babcock and is going to split if he's still the coach. I sure hope your right that this is a negotiating ploy, but why would people put it as a personal issue?

[chemiclord]

not because some dipshit "journalist" fabricates a story about the players are ready to mutiny on him.

Who is suggesting that a media story is going to get him canned. His prickliness is a problem for free agents. Nobody is flocking to the Red Wings to play for him, thats kind of strange for the best coach in the NHL.

Babcock's "prickliness" didn't stop him in 2008 or 2009, and it didn't stop Team Canada in 2010. It's a non-starter.

Free Agents aren't coming here any more because the salary cap means Illitch can't just throw a bag of money at every aging player looking for a sip from the cup one more time. Young star FA's in their prime have NEVER really made beelines for Detroit, even during this two decade run, no matter who the coach was.

And that's how the Wings success has gone; find young cheap talent that blossoms into superstars, and surround them with veterans looking for a championship. The former has dried up, and the salary cap prevents too much of the latter. That has little to do with Babcock. He's done about as well as the talent on this team currently allows.

[WingsFan]

Another signing I didn't like was 6 years for Howard, I like him, but not for 6 years WTF

[chemiclord]

It was 6 years at something like 30 mil, wasn't it?

Even if they wind up dumping him halfway through, that doesn't quite feel like an albatross of a contract that's going to cripple them.

[WingsFan]

Need a win badly tonight at home. Top Kings player Dustin Brown out for game against Red Wings, the captain for the Los Angeles Kings, was suspended two games by the NHL for his hit of Minnesota forward Jason Pominville on Tuesday night.

[Malto Marko]

Another signing I didn't like was 6 years for Howard, I like him, but not for 6 years WTF

It was 6 years at something like 30 mil, wasn't it?

Even if they wind up dumping him halfway through, that doesn't quite feel like an albatross of a contract that's going to cripple them.

Yup.

Hockey contracts are not guaranteed so you cut them when they are not living up to the contract (.......see, Mule, Franzen J.......ok, so recently he has preformed but, he gets paid to be a heavyweight and he has to carry his weight).

Cut them if they are not playing up to their cap space and no harm no foul.

It is the NHLPA that wanted a cap structure so, deal with it.

[WingsFan]

Didn't get to see the game (wasn't on FoxDet) but the Red Wings have played very good the last 3 games even though some bounces didn't go are way and winning tonight right now 3-1 over the Kings.

[chemiclord]

If I'm the Wings, I'm really hoping we can catch Minnesota for that 7th spot.

Detroit's had success against the Ducks. They haven't been able to close the deal on the Blackhawks AT ALL, though.

[froot loops]

Big Time win last night.