Mark Spizzirri: Not an ideal time for a changing of the guard on the blueline

Took a long time, but the downfall has begun.

Took a long time, but the downfall has begun.
- LeftCoaster

Took a long time, but the downfall has begun.
- LeftCoaster

same was sad after yzerman retired, clown boy.

same was sad after yzerman retired, clown boy.
- wingz4life

people have been saying it for years, but it's finally true!

I want a apology from Ken Holland, for the defense, which he failed to improve whether through trade or free agency.

If Kindl cant play in the top 6 by now then he should be considered a bust, taken in the first round.

I hope Smith can play in the top 4.

It is just sad that they tried to convince Lidstrom to come back yesterday and shows how desperate they are.

The wings take the slow and steady approach when it comes to prospects and yes they do have some great forward prospects, But are doing horribly when it comes to the defense. Have not developed a impact player on defense since Kronwall was drafted.

people have been saying it for years, but it's finally true!
- LeftCoaster

Think Detroit will struggle more than they figure esp with the D they have.

Dont see Kronwall staying healthy all year and Carlo has had issues in the past as well. Kronwall may struggle with the added work load and now that he'll get the most attention at D. Not that he didnt get attention before for playing a bit dirty.

Think Detroit will struggle more than they figure esp with the D they have.

Dont see Kronwall staying healthy all year and Carlo has had issues in the past as well. Kronwall may struggle with the added work load and now that he'll get the most attention at D. Not that he didnt get attention before for playing a bit dirty.
- Gerk

Carlo is already hurt.

I hope Brendan Smith is ready to play, if he can fit in there and play in the top 4 I think they will be OK. Rest of the wings fans think Holland had some great summer. I dont know why.

Think Detroit will struggle more than they figure esp with the D they have.

Dont see Kronwall staying healthy all year and Carlo has had issues in the past as well. Kronwall may struggle with the added work load and now that he'll get the most attention at D. Not that he didnt get attention before for playing a bit dirty.
- Gerk

The Blues are going to be a scary team this year, solid returning roster and ots of promising young players. A full season of Perron/McDonald would be big plus young guys like Schwartz/Tarasenko coming up.

They'd probably be my pick to win the cup this season.

Carlo is already hurt.

I hope Brendan Smith is ready to play, if he can fit in there and play in the top 4 I think they will be OK. Rest of the wings fans think Holland had some great summer. I dont know why.
- wingz4life

Smith looks promising offensively, how is his defensive game? Seems like the Wings have a lot of guys that would be solid on the 2nd or 3rd pairing, but without Lidstrom they lack a true anchor for once.

I also keep hearing how great Damien Brunner is. next ville leino if you ask me.

has dominated the swiss league? ok.so? that means nothing when it comes to playing in the NHL. nobody can say what he will do in the NHL even when playing with Z.

Smith looks promising offensively, how is his defensive game? Seems like the Wings have a lot of guys that would be solid on the 2nd or 3rd pairing, but without Lidstrom they lack a true anchor for once.
- Nucker101

they asked lids to come back yesterday, how desperate.
it shows how much ken holland has failed that they are now relying on Smith (a rookie) to play a important role on this team.

At this rate Detroit will never beat NJ in a playoff game.

they asked lids to come back yesterday, how desperate.
it shows how much ken holland has failed that they are now relying on Smith (a rookie) to play a important role on this team.
- wingz4life

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!! Holland should step down and let a real hockey brain like you run the team, you would have gotten Suter for sure and probably for 2million a year.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!! Holland should step down and let a real hockey brain like you run the team, you would have gotten Suter for sure and probably for 2million a year.
- holygoat

what I typed was true, what you just typed was just plain retarded.

people have been saying it for years, but it's finally true!
- LeftCoaster

tough when you lose like 4 core players at once.

tough when you lose like 4 core players at once.
- Drij

Detroit is one of the greatest franchises in the history of the NHL, I'm just givin Joe Redwing (wingz4life) a hard time.

Detroit is one of the greatest franchises in the history of the NHL, I'm just givin Joe Redwing (wingz4life) a hard time.
- LeftCoaster

me and you werent here, from the time Howe left the team to the time the Norris family sold it to Illitch. yeah, great stuff.

tough when you lose like 4 core players at once.
- Drij

NJ lost Stevens, Daneyko, Nieds, and Gomez in short order. Everyone predicted our downfall. Some organizations rise above. Detroit is one of those organization's. Dont count them out just yet.

NJ lost Stevens, Daneyko, Nieds, and Gomez in short order. Everyone predicted our downfall. Some organizations rise above. Detroit is one of those organization's. Dont count them out just yet.
- WayneZ

Rafalski too, remember everyone saying NJD would suck after they lost all those guys. But, I also remember a lot of NJD fans saying Parise wouldnt leave.

what I typed was true, what you just typed was just plain retarded.
- wingz4life

A little bit of a rebuild and you slam Holland, how many teams are that good for that long? Eventually every team will require a retool it was unfortunate it happened for Detroit while there was a lack of quality free agent defenseman on the market. They have tons of cap space and a decent market to pick from at the end of this year. Add a Douglas Murray or an Alex Edler to your defense, hope Smith and Kindl can fill a 4-5 position and the team looks pretty good.

A little bit of a rebuild and you slam Holland, how many teams are that good for that long? Eventually every team will require a retool it was unfortunate it happened for Detroit while there was a lack of quality free agent defenseman on the market. They have tons of cap space and a decent market to pick from at the end of this year. Add a Douglas Murray or an Alex Edler to your defense, hope Smith and Kindl can fill a 4-5 position and the team looks pretty good.
- holygoat

anyone can talk about ifs, im talking about what already happened this offseason...
yes, it would be nice to add edler

anyone can talk about ifs, im talking about what already happened this offseason...
yes, it would be nice to add edler
- wingz4life

Who would you have added on defense this last off season.

Rafalski too, remember everyone saying NJD would suck after they lost all those guys. But, I also remember a lot of NJD fans saying Parise wouldnt leave.
- wingz4life

I'm always leery of anyone that says they are definitely going to do something but just not right now. I had a sinking feeling about him the whole time. Parise is a great player, but to pay a guy that isn't even a PPG player, that much, is just nuts in a salary cap era. I would not have pulled the trigger on that same deal for NJ, if LL called me for my opinion.