Mark Spizzirri: Red Wings roster review: Forwards

What are the chances tatar makes the team next season?

Filppula - Datsyuk - ???

You probably saw all games this season where I only watched like a dozen or so, but from what I saw Filppula was always at his best when paired with Zetterberg, and Zetterberg was at his best when paired with Filppula.

Good job Mark...pretty much sums it up.

I do wish the Wings keep Abdelkader to 1 million or less until he shows he can chip in some offense from the bottom 6.

Tatar also deserves a chance. He has put in his time in the minors and has not complained even though the Wings recalled him twice only to sit him in the stands while other recalls got to play.

I could do without Emmerton if the Wings can replace him with someone like Konopka who brings more size, better faceoff % and some toughness.

Wings should bring in some size, toughness and someone who will hit like a Mack truck on the forecheck for their bottom 6.

Hope the Wings can add a Parise, Semin, Doan (not likely to go anywhere) or even Jones to their top 6.

Bye bye Hudler...go chase your money somewhere else just like Samuelsson did and you might end up like Leino.

You probably saw all games this season where I only watched like a dozen or so, but from what I saw Filppula was always at his best when paired with Zetterberg, and Zetterberg was at his best when paired with Filppula.
- atc

Yes...Filppula and Zetterberg made a great duo. Datsyuk was stuck with Bertuzzi and Franzen all season.

hmmmmm I wonder who you could be salivating about....

You are joking about Datsyuk going back to Russia right? I never considered that he might leave detroit and play in the KHL.

I realize the Red Wings were once again near the top of the league in scoring last season, but there's reason to be at least a little bit concerned about just about all the forwards relied on for scoring:

Datsyuk -- Will be 34 next season. His offensive output over the last three years, while still almost a point per game, has tailed off noticeably from his career peak during the first four post-lockout seasons. Datsyuk is still one of the best players in the world and may still be able to play at this level for many more years -- or he may start to decline even further. No real way to know, but we do know that he isn't getting any better.

Zetterberg -- Will be 32 next season, and basically all the stuff I just said about Datsyuk applies to him as well (especially due to his history of back problems).

Filppula -- Will he be able to repeat his 66-point output? I think if he stays healthy and stays on the wing he should be able to have another good year statistically, but I doubt 66 is in the cards again. Filppula was near the top of the league in both individual and team shooting percentage last year, both highly luck-influenced stats, with numbers that are not sustainable long-term. I would expect something closer to 55 points from him this season.

Franzen -- you get what you see with him. There's a reason he's never cracked 60 points in a campaign. He's good, even fairly consistent statistically, but he is not an elite power forward and he never has been, at least not over the course of a full season.

Bertuzzi -- old, slow and past due for a significant decline.

Cleary -- injury issues make him a real question mark.

Hudler -- probably gone. And if not for an absurdly high shooting percentage this season (almost 20 percent), he wouldn't have been much better this season than last. Telling stat: despite better linemates and more ice time, his assists-per-game actually dropped substantially this season.

Holmstrom -- probably gone. And while I love his game and want him to come back, it's clear that his value is diminishing.

Nyquist -- far from a sure thing. His numbers in his first AHL season are encouraging (NCAA to AHL is usually a very hard transition), but good AHL numbers don't always translate into good NHL numbers -- especially for small forwards. Nyquist's official bio: 5'10", 169.

----
In short:

Not all these worst-case scenarios will necessary come true; we might be surprised by a rebound year from one of the vets or a big campaign from Nyquist.

But when I look up and down at the roster, look at the players, ask myself how likely each one is to improve, plateau, or decline ... and I'm left with the impression that the Wings MUST find significant outside help. Doing nothing (or doing very little) will probably mean the Wings get worse. Going out and getting another top winger might only keep them where they are now.

And this is just the forwards. Losing Stuart and potentially Lidstrom on the back end? You just can't replace that in one offseason. All I can say is that the Wings had better get Suter and Smith had better be the second coming.

well,lets see

Holmsrom can go, and Bertuzzi should of never been signed

wings need to get bigger,tougher,younger. look at LA
Franzen-lazy fkin turd, ugh. he should be a top line player but isnt cuz he is a lazy (frank)er

the next generation of stars needs to arrive and soon, it speaks VOLUMES about the wings depth that the wings actually relied on Cleary to play a top 6 role in the playoffs.

Full tear down and rebuild mode by the trade deadline.

Full tear down and rebuild mode by the trade deadline.
- Zezel

This is a rather ironic comment from a Toronto fan, considering you guys have been so successful at rebuilding on the fly.

IMO, the Wings are still one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Lots of top end talent, great management, and a ton of available cap space. I'm hoping that realignment goes through soon.

I think the real issues is lack of elite depth and our 2nd units are done.

It seems to me that we have 3 guys that do what you should expect in Dats, Hank and Mule... but after that the depth is simply outmatched with Flip, Huds, Bert and Cleary.

To me another skilled elite player (Parise is my choice, but I think, unfortunately we end up with Semin) would add some much needed help to Zetterberg and Dats, meanwhile getting some size and grit for the 2nd units would do the trick.

Guys like Gaustad, Jones and Winnik would be what I would like to see on the bottom half.... a sleeper I also like is Steve Bernier. These guys blended in with Tatar, Nyquist could make things a different but interesting look for 2013.

...

On the backend,
Stuart I always liked, but his time in Motown is done. So obviously there will be someone brought in.

My guess is Suter will be a prime target for Holland... I think he will fill in for Stuart nicely, but my worry is he will get Lidstrom dollars, and im not sure he #1 material to be quite honest....

Two that interest me is Oduya and Hannan, I think you could get either or fairly cheap.

but I would imagine it will look like Suter will be the guy, maybe even before getting a forward as per above.

....

in the end, it will most likely take for a Lidstrom retirement before any real "re-buidling goes on". I think well end up just as dissapointed and inconsistent for 2013.

signed - Glory years Ova!.

Lidstrom I think will be back.

Personally, I would like to see the Wings get a real goal scorer to pair with Filpula, and put Zetterberg/Datsyuk back on the same line. They're great players either way, but they are even better together.

I understand why Babcock has put them on separate lines with the lack of depth up front, but there is a reason he kept putting them back together the first 50 times he tried to split them up.

Personally, I would like to see the Wings get a real goal scorer to pair with Filpula, and put Zetterberg/Datsyuk back on the same line. They're great players either way, but they are even better together.

I understand why Babcock has put them on separate lines with the lack of depth up front, but there is a reason he kept putting them back together the first 50 times he tried to split them up.
- noffsin6

I would keep Z and Dats appart for the most part. Keep Z with Filppula and add someone like Jones with them if possible. Put Parise or Semin with Datsyuk and Franzen. Bert and Cleary on the 3rd or 4th line.

Parise/Semin - Datsyuk - Franzen
Filppula - Zetterberg - Jones
Nyquist - Helm - Cleary/Bertuzzi
Abdelkader - Konopka - Cleary/Bertuzzi
Eaves, Miller

Would love something like this but there is a lot of if's with the UFAs.

I think the real issues is lack of elite depth and our 2nd units are done.

It seems to me that we have 3 guys that do what you should expect in Dats, Hank and Mule... but after that the depth is simply outmatched with Flip, Huds, Bert and Cleary.

To me another skilled elite player (Parise is my choice, but I think, unfortunately we end up with Semin) would add some much needed help to Zetterberg and Dats, meanwhile getting some size and grit for the 2nd units would do the trick.

Guys like Gaustad, Jones and Winnik would be what I would like to see on the bottom half.... a sleeper I also like is Steve Bernier. These guys blended in with Tatar, Nyquist could make things a different but interesting look for 2013.

...

On the backend,
Stuart I always liked, but his time in Motown is done. So obviously there will be someone brought in.

My guess is Suter will be a prime target for Holland... I think he will fill in for Stuart nicely, but my worry is he will get Lidstrom dollars, and im not sure he #1 material to be quite honest....

Two that interest me is Oduya and Hannan, I think you could get either or fairly cheap.

but I would imagine it will look like Suter will be the guy, maybe even before getting a forward as per above.

....

in the end, it will most likely take for a Lidstrom retirement before any real "re-buidling goes on". I think well end up just as dissapointed and inconsistent for 2013.

signed - Glory years Ova!.

Lidstrom I think will be back.
- BooBoo997

Defense i would rather have Wideman, Allen, Jackman, Kubina or even Salo if they can't get Suter.

It really sounds like everyone in here has given up on this team. I think we have some really good prospects coming up, and even if we lose Lidstrom, free agents can be brought in to stop the bleeding. Brendan Smith is not a sure thing, but he has the potential to be great. We still have Kronwall Ericsson and Quincey, who although won't win the Norris anytime soon, are good defensemen. Howard has proven that his is a number one goalie in this league. As younger kids come up, like Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Jurco, and Smith, the older guys will be able to provide the mentoring that Hull and others passed on to them. I can't argue that the Wings are not in a tough situation, but if we can get through this, the Red Wings will continue to be great.

I realize the Red Wings were once again near the top of the league in scoring last season, but there's reason to be at least a little bit concerned about just about all the forwards relied on for scoring:

Datsyuk -- Will be 34 next season. His offensive output over the last three years, while still almost a point per game, has tailed off noticeably from his career peak during the first four post-lockout seasons. Datsyuk is still one of the best players in the world and may still be able to play at this level for many more years -- or he may start to decline even further. No real way to know, but we do know that he isn't getting any better.

Zetterberg -- Will be 32 next season, and basically all the stuff I just said about Datsyuk applies to him as well (especially due to his history of back problems).

Filppula -- Will he be able to repeat his 66-point output? I think if he stays healthy and stays on the wing he should be able to have another good year statistically, but I doubt 66 is in the cards again. Filppula was near the top of the league in both individual and team shooting percentage last year, both highly luck-influenced stats, with numbers that are not sustainable long-term. I would expect something closer to 55 points from him this season.

Franzen -- you get what you see with him. There's a reason he's never cracked 60 points in a campaign. He's good, even fairly consistent statistically, but he is not an elite power forward and he never has been, at least not over the course of a full season.

Bertuzzi -- old, slow and past due for a significant decline.

Cleary -- injury issues make him a real question mark.

Hudler -- probably gone. And if not for an absurdly high shooting percentage this season (almost 20 percent), he wouldn't have been much better this season than last. Telling stat: despite better linemates and more ice time, his assists-per-game actually dropped substantially this season.

Holmstrom -- probably gone. And while I love his game and want him to come back, it's clear that his value is diminishing.

Nyquist -- far from a sure thing. His numbers in his first AHL season are encouraging (NCAA to AHL is usually a very hard transition), but good AHL numbers don't always translate into good NHL numbers -- especially for small forwards. Nyquist's official bio: 5'10", 169.

----
In short:

Not all these worst-case scenarios will necessary come true; we might be surprised by a rebound year from one of the vets or a big campaign from Nyquist.

But when I look up and down at the roster, look at the players, ask myself how likely each one is to improve, plateau, or decline ... and I'm left with the impression that the Wings MUST find significant outside help. Doing nothing (or doing very little) will probably mean the Wings get worse. Going out and getting another top winger might only keep them where they are now.

And this is just the forwards. Losing Stuart and potentially Lidstrom on the back end? You just can't replace that in one offseason. All I can say is that the Wings had better get Suter and Smith had better be the second coming.
- Sven22

And taking all this into account Detroit is suppose to be the most attractive team for Parise & Suter?

What? I am a Colorado fan do you expect me to say nice things when I come in here? =)

On a non trolling note youth should be a priority moving forward for you guys.

Very good job, Mark.

Also good comments overall, outside of a few crazy outliers (e.g., Toronto, Colorado).

Youth, speed and size have to be the focus for Wings in the off-season. We're simply getting out-muscled and blown away by bigger and faster teams in the playoffs...since 2009.

I vote for Suter as #1 priority, though, because there are enough Forwards available. Huge drop-off amongst Defensemen, though, after Suter.

Very good job, Mark.

Also good comments overall, outside of a few crazy outliers (e.g., Toronto, Colorado).

Youth, speed and size have to be the focus for Wings in the off-season. We're simply getting out-muscled and blown away by bigger and faster teams in the playoffs...since 2009.

I vote for Suter as #1 priority, though, because there are enough Forwards available. Huge drop-off amongst Defensemen, though, after Suter.
- sesorkcalb

Well the forwards are the same thing with a big drop-off after Parise and Semin. Hudler is in the top 5 for UFA forwards in points this season...that says a lot about the quality of scoring forwards that might be available this summer.

And taking all this into account Detroit is suppose to be the most attractive team for Parise & Suter?

What? I am a Colorado fan do you expect me to say nice things when I come in here? =)

On a non trolling note youth should be a priority moving forward for you guys.
- Steve-B

youth we have... effective youth is another thing.

Emmerton, Mursak, Helm, Abdelkader, Tatar, Sheahan, Nyquist... all young. But not ready. If the Wings want to build to win a cup before Lidstrom hangs em' up, the only way right now is Free Agency, and youth, speed and size.... not much out there.

youth we have... effective youth is another thing.

Emmerton, Mursak, Helm, Abdelkader, Tatar, Sheahan, Nyquist... all young. But not ready. If the Wings want to build to win a cup before Lidstrom hangs em' up, the only way right now is Free Agency, and youth, speed and size.... not much out there.
- BooBoo997

Helm not ready? Helm was obviously our most prized player, it was evident when he went down. We have no one even close to him tempo-wise on this team. He is crucial to our team's success. May sound crazy, but without him, our team has no real spark plug.

Helm not ready? Helm was obviously our most prized player, it was evident when he went down. We have no one even close to him tempo-wise on this team. He is crucial to our team's success. May sound crazy, but without him, our team has no real spark plug.
- snipesydangle

he is good but far from team carrying on a nightly basis.

he is the spark amongst our current roster for sure, there is no doubt, but I cannot say that he will create the offense needed to be a top 6 player at this point.

he is good but far from team carrying on a nightly basis.

he is the spark amongst our current roster for sure, there is no doubt, but I cannot say that he will create the offense needed to be a top 6 player at this point.
- BooBoo997

Not at all is he going to carry the team, and to be honest I doubt he ever will. However, I still look at him as being a very crucial part to this team going forward.

Not at all is he going to carry the team, and to be honest I doubt he ever will. However, I still look at him as being a very crucial part to this team going forward.
- snipesydangle

no doubt.

But I was implying that those "young" players are not yet a impact player that can be a "Parise" to Zetterberg or Datsyuk right now.

Helm is the only one with any NHL impact, and is our next Kris Draper. -- He is there and is effective in that role... but that spot is not what will help our with the Wings biggest needs in my opinion. He is leading the pact as far as NHL ready young guys though.

I'm not trying to be pessimistic... but I have a hunch neither Parise or Suter are going to Detroit next season. Both of their respective teams have already publicly stated they are going to do everything possible to keep those players. And I don't want Holland doing any more of these stupid 7, 8, or 9 year contracts.... that is insanity.

So... plan B I assume is to go after Semin. But I'm still not convinced he's the power forward they really need. He would be a nice addition though... (I think he's a right-handed shot and the Wings definitely need that).