|
Post by attica on Apr 4, 2007 17:58:15 GMT -5
well.. there aint much to comment on with emmerton. It was kind of a no brainer.
|
|
|
Post by nicholasbellono on Apr 4, 2007 18:53:13 GMT -5
Let's get 1 point in the last 2 games and let Anaheim overtake us for top spot in the West! I know you don't intentionally tank games but frankly I would be all for that scenario. I'm for it
|
|
|
Post by wings55 on Apr 4, 2007 20:22:00 GMT -5
Great to hear about the Emmerton deal. Does anyone know if he's going back to the OHL next year or is he eligible to play in GR?
|
|
|
Post by spiritfan8 on Apr 4, 2007 20:29:03 GMT -5
Emmerton is an 88, so unless he makes the Wings out of camp (chances slim to none, of course) he will be back in the OHL. Cory finished in the top three for "Smartest Player" in the Eastern Conference (Coaches' Poll). Had he not been sidelined for a significant amount of time with an injury this year, his stats would have been much better, and next year should reflect that.
|
|
|
Post by guschiggins on Apr 5, 2007 9:48:05 GMT -5
The Wings can survive without Hank. Would it be better if he can play? Of course! But Detroit can certainly beat the Flames without him. That's why we traded for Bertuzzi and Calder, so we don't rely on just one or two guys / one line for all the offense. Personally, I'd rather take our chances without Hank, at least for a couple of games, because we will need him healthy should we make it to round 2 and beyond. But if we get down early, then yeah - let him dress if he's close to healthy. Regarding the match up with Calgary, here are how the 4 games against them break down: 1. In Detroit, Wins won 3-2 in a very close game 2. In Calgary, Flames won 1-4 in a lopsided game 3. In Detroit, Wings won 7-4. This game was over in the first period, total domination by Detroit. 4. In Calgary, Flames won 1-2 in a game the Wings couldn't stay out of the penalty box. Based on that, I don't see Calgary as some hugely intimidating foe. They were terrible on the road all season and got completely blown out of JLA once. Should we play them, with home ice advantage, I like our chances. You say the Wings can beat Calgary without Hank. They CAN, but it's also true that Calgary can beat the Wings WITH Hank. At the time, I tried breaking down the Oilers series last year along the same lines you did - by comparing the season series. Couldn't have picked a less accurate predictor. Better predictors, IMO, are: Current road performance - CGY has won 4 in a row and 6 of 9 on the road. Style of play - CGY has been playing a more physical, playoff style lately after playing rather lax defensively most of the year. Goaltending - Kipper can go toe to toe with anyone in net. Experience - most of this team has been to the Finals, they have several playoff runs, successful and unsuccessful, under their belts. I'm not saying the Flames will beat the Wings, or that they'd be favored to beat the Wings. But I will say that they should worry us. A lot. Minnesota would be a much better matchup. That's no guarantee the Wings would beat them, but it would be a better matchup, and would give the Wings a better chance to go far if they win the series. Calgary is going to pound the bejeezus out of our players.
|
|
|
Post by toledowingsfan on Apr 5, 2007 10:02:57 GMT -5
Calgary is going to pound the bejeezus out of our players. I'm saying Bert, Calder, Lilja, Markov, Franzen, Maltby, Cleary, Schneider, Cheli, Draper, Homer and even Lebda and Flip have something to say about that. This isn't a soft team, even Pavel has added some grit to his game.
|
|
|
Post by heaton on Apr 5, 2007 10:05:49 GMT -5
Calgary isn't exactly the tough lineup they were last season or the season where they beat us. They definitely have more team toughness than the Wings but in terms of who they lost, they lost a lot.
|
|
|
Post by guschiggins on Apr 5, 2007 10:12:19 GMT -5
Calgary is going to pound the bejeezus out of our players. I'm saying Bert, Calder, Lilja, Markov, Franzen, Maltby, Cleary, Schneider, Cheli, Draper, Homer and even Lebda and Flip have something to say about that. This isn't a soft team, even Pavel has added some grit to his game. It's not a soft team anymore, but no matter how big players are, if they take enough of a beating, some of them are going to start hurting. Stuart isn't the biggest or most physical player, and he KO'd Z for the past 2 months. Minny is a very small, very soft team, particularly in their top 6 forwards. They have a few guys that can hurt you physically, but they don't have the bruisers that Calgary does.
|
|
|
Post by toledowingsfan on Apr 5, 2007 10:29:37 GMT -5
Minny is a very small, very soft team, particularly in their top 6 forwards. They have a few guys that can hurt you physically, but they don't have the bruisers that Calgary does. I don't care. I didn't shell out $353.75 to watch Minnesota. Besides, Boogard is just as likely to take a cheap shot on someone and cause an injury as anyone that plays for Calgary. Gaborik steps it up in the playoffs and the Wild have been hot too. I'll take my chances with Calgary. Hamrlik will go about -8 in a seven game series against the Wings. Playoff loses follow him wherever he goes.
|
|
|
Post by guschiggins on Apr 5, 2007 12:47:51 GMT -5
That's if Boogaard dresses in the playoffs. He may not. And if he does, he'll only be on the ice for 2 or 3 minutes. Calgary has 5 or 6 guys that play a lot more minutes and are just as likely to cheap shot somebody and injure them.
The Wings' D is well-equipped to deal with a team that gets most of its scoring from Gaborik, Bouchard, Demitra, and Koivu. All of those players are either small and/or soft. The Wings' D is exposed by big, strong forwards. 10 of Calgary's 12 forwards are 6' or better, and 9 of them are 193 lbs or bigger. The Wild, by comparison, have 5 regular forwards and one regular defenseman under 6'. Rolston is the biggest guy they have on their scoring lines, and he doesn't play an overly physical game.
It would be boring as hell to watch, but I'd rather watch one boring series with some interesting series afterward, than watch one interesting series and then watch the Wings go golfing, or watch the Wings try and beat someone like Anaheim or San Jose with a bunch of their players on the DL.
|
|