Mark Spizzirri: GAMEDAY: Wings vs. Flames

Like I said before everybody is making too big a deal about what Datsyuk said just because his contract is up in next year.

Sure it might be nice to finish his career in Russia. Lidstrom said the same thing about playing in Sweden for probably 10 years but he still played in Detroit until he was 42. Probably every European would tell you it might be nice to finish their career at home if you asked them. Very few of them are actually going to retire from the NHL at 36 (while still an elite player no less) and go do it though.

I would be surprised if he quit the Red Wings before he's 38. After that it's probably 50/50 depending on how the Wings are doing, how healthy he feels, and how much he thinks he can still contribute.

The ONLY good thing about us not playing as well as usual is that we actually have a first round draft pick this year. In a deep draft.

Really hope Datsyuk stays for a couple more years. With so many young players that will be entering the Wings lineup in the next few years, the Wings would be hard pressed to find a better mentor or role model for them than Datsyuk. Plus Datsyuk is probably the most entertaining player to watch in the league.


As for Howard, I like him but I would have liked either a bit lower salary or shorter term. By the mid point of his deal, Mrazek could very well be pushing him to the backup role.

Really hope Datsyuk stays for a couple more years. With so many young players that will be entering the Wings lineup in the next few years, the Wings would be hard pressed to find a better mentor or role model for them than Datsyuk. Plus Datsyuk is probably the most entertaining player to watch in the league.


As for Howard, I like him but I would have liked either a bit lower salary or shorter term. By the mid point of his deal, Mrazek could very well be pushing him to the backup role.
- dcz28

I agree. 4.5 for 4-5 years would have been great.

I agree. 4.5 for 4-5 years would have been great.
- zetterberg40

Hopefully the cap will go back up after next season and keep going up. Give the Wings more space to add what they need.

I agree. 4.5 for 4-5 years would have been great.
- zetterberg40

It would have been great but probably unrealistic. I would put Howard in the top ten goalies in the league and this salary pays him accordingly. If he continues his play, there are no issues.

I don't mind the salary (a bit high but within reason for a consistently very good starter in his late 20s) but I hate the term. Nothing against Howard, but six years is an eternity for a goalie. Any goalie. There's just so much risk.

An overpaid skater in decline can still help you as a secondary contributor. An overpaid goalie in decline (either due to age or injury or nerves or whatever) is worse than useless. He's either not playing at all or he's preventing you from acquiring or keeping or playing someone better.

Here's hoping Howie stays healthy and productive for the balance of the term.

I don't mind the salary (a bit high but within reason for a consistently very good starter in his late 20s) but I hate the term. Nothing against Howard, but six years is an eternity for a goalie. Any goalie. There's just so much risk.

An overpaid skater in decline can still help you as a secondary contributor. An overpaid goalie in decline (either due to age or injury or nerves or whatever) is worse than useless. He's either not playing at all or he's preventing you from acquiring or keeping or playing someone better.

Here's hoping Howie stays healthy and productive for the balance of the term.
- Sven22

Oh (frank)! Is the ink dry yet???

Howard, cripes.

Howard, cripes.
- BooBoo997

Bad play by Howard for sure but who was coming back for the puck, there was no one even close?

Howard, cripes.
- BooBoo997

Plenty of blame to go around. Howard, yeah, for whiffing, but also Quincey for leaving him in no man's land, and the NHL for coming up with the stupid freaking trapezoid in the first place.

Although for the first time in history tonight I actually wished we had crazy old man Hasek handling the puck. He probably would have cut off that dump-around at the frickin' blue line.

Bad play by Howard for sure but who was coming back for the puck, there was no one even close?
- ShooterMcGavin

Yeah you could see his frustration that the only guy coming towards him was a flames player.

Tough loss, CBJ tied it up with the ducks too, 5 minutes to go in that one...

This team doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs. They are better off missing them and if Holland says "we like our team" again before making changes he needs to be fired or promoted so he's not GM anymore. Way too many useless players on this team. Cleary, Sammy and Quincey all need to go for sure...all of them are a complete waste of cap space. Eaves and Colaiacovo wouldn't hurt anything either if they were gone. Filppula i'm on the fence but no way in hell is he worth 5 or close to it.


Time to get rid of the dead weight and add players who can actually help the team.

This team doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs. They are better off missing them and if Holland says "we like our team" again before making changes he needs to be fired or promoted so he's not GM anymore. Way too many useless players on this team. Cleary, Sammy and Quincey all need to go for sure...all of them are a complete waste of cap space. Eaves and Colaiacovo wouldn't hurt anything either if they were gone. Filppula i'm on the fence but no way in hell is he worth 5 or close to it.


Time to get rid of the dead weight and add players who can actually help the team.
- dcz28

Pretty well agree with all of those players, a little tougher to say on Holland but it could be a wake up call if they miss by a few points. Out of all the guys who have been healthy scratched this year it's pretty crazy that Cleary hasn't been, just always invisible and blowing chances, doesn't bring anything to any line you put him on. Tootoo may be fairly one dimensional, but it's a dimension that is just gone when you take him out.

Hard to really keep things in perspective when both 3rd period goals against were basically flukes and emotions about the whole season are kinda crashing around. I mean, if Zetterberg pots that PP goal that Kipper rips off, it's a 2-2 game and maybe we're talking about how the Wings dominated the last two periods and played "well enough to win."

Still, locking this game out of my brain for the moment, some random observations:

1) Cleary would find a way to turn over the puck along the boards even if he was the only man within 45 feet of the puck.

2) I've yet to see convincing evidence that Brendan Smith, Kyle Quincey, Carlo Colaiacovo, and Ian White are not, in fact, the same person. What good is it doing to rotate them all in and out of the lineup? You get two of them in, two out no matter what. It doesn't seem to matter who plays or who doesn't. I still can't believe Holland didn't AT LEAST trade White for a pick. The Wings had TEN healthy defenders at the deadline and the only move was Huskins for a 7th.

3) Henrik Zetterberg has four even strength goals this year, in 41 games. No, that's not a misprint. Four. Let that sink in for a minute.

Pretty well agree with all of those players, a little tougher to say on Holland but it could be a wake up call if they miss by a few points. Out of all the guys who have been healthy scratched this year it's pretty crazy that Cleary hasn't been, just always invisible and blowing chances, doesn't bring anything to any line you put him on. Tootoo may be fairly one dimensional, but it's a dimension that is just gone when you take him out.
- tmanv

Cleary does do something...wrecks the plays for his teammates. Seems like every time he gets the puck he gives it away or fumbles it. Tootoo doesn't bring offense much but he's pretty much the only player on the Wings that make the other teams defensemen get rid of pucks because of his hitting. He's also one of the few willing to drop the gloves.

Won't matter much because I expect Holland will bring back the same team next season saying with a full training camp and a healthy roster that this is a good team He's going to bring back Cleary at 2 mil per for 2 years and won't get rid of anyone aside from White and probably Filppula if he doesn't overpay him.

Hard to really keep things in perspective when both 3rd period goals against were basically flukes and emotions about the whole season are kinda crashing around. I mean, if Zetterberg pots that PP goal that Kipper rips off, it's a 2-2 game and maybe we're talking about how the Wings dominated the last two periods and played "well enough to win."

Still, locking this game out of my brain for the moment, some random observations:

1) Cleary would find a way to turn over the puck along the boards even if he was the only man within 45 feet of the puck.

2) I've yet to see convincing evidence that Brendan Smith, Kyle Quincey, Carlo Colaiacovo, and Ian White are not, in fact, the same person. What good is it doing to rotate them all in and out of the lineup? You get two of them in, two out no matter what. It doesn't seem to matter who plays or who doesn't. I still can't believe Holland didn't AT LEAST trade White for a pick. The Wings had TEN healthy defenders at the deadline and the only move was Huskins for a 7th.

3) Henrik Zetterberg has four even strength goals this year, in 41 games. No, that's not a misprint. Four. Let that sink in for a minute.
- Sven22

Smith at least has an excuse over the others....he's a rookie. The others have been in the league for a good while.

Datsyuk and Zetterberg are the main focus of every team they have faced this season...you stop those 2 and the rest will be lucky to score a goal.

Good luck with Howard

trapezoid is a frickin joke.......when will the NHL realize this?

Thanks for screwing up our lottery pick Howard...at least you have 30M when you get bought out.

trapezoid is a frickin joke.......when will the NHL realize this?
- Muskoka88

Yep! It's the trapezoids fault that Howard misplayed 2 pucks that led to two goals ultimately one in which he scored on himself! Derp! That's priceless!


It's weird you don't come trolling on the Minne site when your team loses...Hmmm

Have a terrible day!

Yep! It's the trapezoids fault that Howard misplayed 2 pucks that led to two goals ultimately one in which he scored on himself! Derp! That's priceless!


It's weird you don't come trolling on the Minne site when your team loses...Hmmm

Have a terrible day!
- MnGump

Way to take the high road...

Way to take the high road...
- drice97

No offense to all the civil Detroit fans. I had one disagreement with that idiot after the Wild beat the Wings and he's been troll stalking me on the Minne site ever since. Thought he might like a taste of his own medicine. Guy is a complete DB.

No offense to all the civil Detroit fans. I had one disagreement with that idiot after the Wild beat the Wings and he's been troll stalking me on the Minne site ever since. Thought he might like a taste of his own medicine. Guy is a complete DB.
- MnGump

He's an idiot no doubt.