MSU Red Cedar Message Board

too old, too slow and not tough enough...its what happens when you stand pat with almost the same squad for years while everyone around you makes big moves and gets better. we just flat out dont have the guys it takes to get it done. regular season is fine because it's a different style of hockey than the playoffs. the guys we brought in to fill certain roles no longer fill those for whatever reason and its starting to show

no, not really, not at all.

We're outhitting NSH, our average age isnt much more than NSH, and too slow? Only because of injury, but moreso that NSH (like PHX) plays this redic slow down game, trapping and shit.

The fact of the matter is this. We're a good banged up team playing a good non banged up team and thats the edge.

Gaustad is actually the perfect example. I think his play in this series is clearly indicative of why he would have been a good acquisition considering he's on an expiring contract and is obviously a huge upgrade over Emmerton at the 4th center spot. Not to mention physicality, face-off ability, and size... all of which are lacking on the Wings.

That's the big issue, in my opinion. The Wings have excellent skilled players, who play a very similar style. It's attractive hockey, it's going to win a lot of games, and it fails to acknowledge that the NHL post-season is an entirely different animal. I think the Red Wings have an excellent front-office and coaching staff. They've got a core group that remains the envy of the league, but they need to look at the role players to have both a higher quality and a broader array of skills, including size, physicality, power-play ability, etc. The front-office needs to be a bit more aggressive this off-season as Nashville (however this series ends) is exposing some issues that were already being seen. We'll see what happens.......

I don't believe Gaustad was worth the first round draft pick that Nashville gave up to get him though. He'll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. A first round pick for a 3-month rental is steep.

Of course, the Wings traded away a first round pick for Quincey. Guess Holland thought at the time that a top-6 defensemen was more important than a rental 3rd or 4th line center. Looks like Quincey will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season.

Quincey has been above average! Q has made a lot of plays and is physical. Ericsson too is playing better than last year. Keep Q & replace Stuart and Lidsrrom w Suter and B Smth.

If he keeps playing at this level Nashville wins the cup and he hoists the Conn Smythe.

No money left...prince fielder is using it all up

I think you're absolutely right. The wings are beating the predators in every phase--except goaltending. And that's not a knock on Jimmy. Pekka is just that fucking good.

Fire Holland too. Bring back Stevie Y.

Alright. I jumped on grr early in the season, but have slowly been joining his side over the past few months. I don't care if you have injuries. This has bee unacceptable. Ill give him one more year only because I know other teams would love to be in this position. But seriously he better make moves next post season.

I'm sorry, but you don't lose a series 4:1, including losing two home games, by simply running into a hot goaltender. The Wings played into the Predators game-plan, which was to not worry about shots on goal but to worry about the quality of the shots. The Red Wings skate pretty and take their shots from the outside, meanwhile Rinne has a clear look at what's coming and the defense focuses on cleaning up rebounds and clearing the zone. Offensively, Nashville isn't going to dominate but they do punish mistakes.

This "the Red Wings dominated but lost" mentality misses the point of that series - Nashville was clearly the better team. That sound you hear was the window of opportunity for a Stanley Cup slamming shut. And this isn't a Babcock coaching issue; it's the front office that needs to look at personnel, especially depth. When an aging team gets lapped by a younger one, that has to force reflection........