How drastically are the Wings going to have to change their playing style in order to be successful in the Eastern Conference?

Think you can put together an offseason mock, similar to what DrRay does for the Lions?

How drastically are the Wings going to have to change their playing style in order to be successful in the Eastern Conference?

That a good question and one that's been playing in my head for a while. My feelings right now are not that much. The East is top heavy with the fucking Penguins and the Bruins as their top dogs (Maybe Montreal can get thrown in there). I omit the Caps because they've never really proven it. The West overall is much more talented and faster than the East. That said however the Wings don't really have the talent to say their up there with the Bruins or the fucking Penguins.

The Wings this year were more of a checking team (more or less) than before. I think they should continue and improve up on that and if they can get back to some of their fast transition and puck possession, they'll make it tough for the majority of teams in the East.

Think you can put together an offseason mock, similar to what DrRay does for the Lions?

No fucking way. His mock is downright awesome. The hacks at the Detroit rags should see his work and give him a chunk of their salary around draft time.

So the real question is can I put together an offseason mock? I don't know. I'm not that great on the who's who with players and talent. But I have a friend who is really good at that stuff and maybe I can talk to him. I know I should do something to contribute, especially after I've called out what can help this site.

Hopefully you'll have some time as the Wings go deep into the postseason.

Hopefully.

Do you miss Gary Thorne calling NHL games?

Not too much but he was great and I liked him and Bill Clement. The first one for me growing up was Bruce Martin with Sid Abel. They'd do radio and tv. Very underrated. There was the CBC crew and when Bowman did color. I remembr Al Michaels ans Ken Dryden but thanks to the movies now everyone does. I liked Dave Strader and am enjoying listening to him now.

Doc Emrick is awesome. Like Ernie Harwell telling stories while calling the play awesome.

Watching those awesome clips you've posted, he was really good. Thing is I was also living out of the country starting in 94 (more or less).

What are some good, informative Detroit Red Wings sites, you guy?

You know, I don't really know. I read a combination of national ans local news and really haven't looked at other stuff. I was checking out bleacher to see some articles there. I'm hoping to have a ray-like offseason post soon (though he set the bar way high) and I'll hopefully have a couple of good sources by then.

Hell yeah!

Check out Franklin Steele on Bleacher Report. He's not too bad. He's a Wings fan.

I will for sure. Thanks.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1656874-detroit-red-wings-blueprint-for-a-successful-offseason

Shit that's good. See I think they should try to resign Pavel but see if he'll lower his cap hit and get extended until he's 40. I agree big time with Brunner and the UFA's. I'm more on the fence with Flip and Cleary. I might let Flip go and maybe put that money towards a more power forward. You know who's a UFA and only making $500k? Fucking Bickell. I think I'd rather have Bickell for less money than Flip. But that's just a thought right now.

And capgeek is awesome. I've been on it so much for the last two days. That's where I learned about Bickell http://capgeek.com/bargain-hunter/.

And I would use the two cuts. Samuelson for sure. I don't know about Bert, I think he's important healthy.

Mike Babcock: WHAT TIER DOES HE BELONG IN?

Too soon to tell. Was borderline tier 4.

I think with hockey today it's not as easy. But among today's coaches right now he's got to be a T5. Granted I'm biased because I'm a big fan of his but he's got the cred. He's won championships at various levels including the 2010 gold with Canada. He's worked with many different types of teams and always gets very high production. He's great at lines and matchups. He's terrific with making first adjustments. My only knock would be when teams then adjust to the Wings as Chicago did this year or the Pens in 09.

Who do you like in the Cup Finals? I want to say Bruins in 7, but I have nothing to back my opinion up, of course. Just a gut feeling.

My Bruins in 5.

Of course, if we're extremely focused in trying to win we could take the Bruins down.

I don't know. I'd love to say the Bruins but that's because I fucking hate the Blackhawks. I mean I hate Boston teams but other than the Celtics, I hate Chicago teams even more. I've hated the Blackhawks since at least the Jacques Demers days with the Wings. So that has to be factored into this.

The Bruins smoked the Pens. Fucking owned them. They pushed them around. They shut them down all over the ice. They took away all play in the neutral zone and never let the Penguins once get comfortable. The truth is so that the Pens are cheap shots and gruff and bluff but deep down they're mostly pussies. Especially they're forwards. I will go to my grave believing that their blue liners won them their cup against the Wings more than anything their forwards did. The hawks have shown to have more balls though. They stepped up against the Wings and they did what it takes against the Kings.

But I think the Bruins are better right now than either of those two. I think the majority of hawks goals and momentum come from turnovers and flying through the neutral ice with quick transitions. They kill you if you screw up a line change. The Bruins didn't have any of those problems with the Pens.

I'm gonna take the Bruins as well. I'll say 6. But take that with a grain of salt.

I've got the Bruins too.

Get a chance to catch the Wings' draft? What do you think?

I love that first pick. A big goal scoring forward?! If that's not the Wing's first need than it's second. I was pretty psyched with that one. I think the second one was interesting (I think it's the second one). It's the one where they compared him to Shaw, a little guy who creates problems and pisses people off. If he can be like Shaw was for the cawks in the playoffs I'm happy about that too.

I haven't really looked at any of the other picks though tbh.

I read that Mantha plays like he doesn't give a shit sometimes. That's the only thing about him that really bugs me.

That won't be tolerated RIGHT HERE IN THE D.

I didn't know that. I'll hope that's because of competition levels. I guess the Wings will see when he's in GR.

Think "we" can be legit SC contenders this year?

Hell yeah! The kool-aid is getting up to tsunami levels here!

They do. Boston is going to be very, very tough and there are some other good teams. But the Wings are younger, faster and deeper than last year. It's been so long since they could put the two mega-stars on the same line consistently and still roll four lines (the last time were the last SC years I think). The D has good size, great skills and have great potential to be amazing.

At the same time I think Reverend Mick brought up a good point tonight. Boston and Philly can be both tough and skilled, Boston especially. The Bruins and maybe a couple of other teams can skate with the Wings. And the way the Wings play just trying to go rough or gooning it up really doesn't work.

It's preseason. But it's looking good.

Wanna glass?

http://i.imgur.com/IHbLk.gif

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A real friend could blackmail you with it.

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A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.

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Man. I like to make hungover purchases. NHL Gamecenter here I come.

Fuck yeah.

I'm holding out a bit but I'm really close to buying it this year too.

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What would be the most ideal 1st round matchup for the Wings IYO?

I must've ran him off.

Tahoe killed him.

You like the Wings' draft and offseason moves??

I actually have to agree with Drew Sharp on one of points, that the Wings now have to really learn to build with the draft. I like how they're looking at youth, size, speed and they know they have to improve their blue liners. I'd like them to really make sure Dekeyser is a Wing for life. I feel that dude could become a top 5 NHL defenseman. I'm all about them tying up Tatar for 3 years and not stupid money. I'm not sold that they can go far in the playoffs but they could be young and competitive like last year or even better.

Agreed!!

Guys like us get it.

Have you been watching the World Cup of Hockey?