No youre not wrong, no where near a homer statement, i agree im tired of the bashing especially from fans, but they care about the team and so they are entitled to feel the way they want. I just think the biggest problem isnt that we arent good, but we didnt make any improvements over the offseason where as just about every other team has, so if we baaaaarely slid into the playoffs last year and got smoked first round ... how can we expect anything better this year...?
the absolute only possibilities of this would lie in pav and Z being healthy a whole season, franzen being more consistent, and howie have a rebound year.. that and/or making a GOOD trade, which isnt very likely..
so i think well make it, but i also think itll be very similar to last year, we BARELY make it, and then get bounced first round.
- digitalbath
Since the lockout (and Lidstrom retiring) they have had the most man games lost to injury in the league. Most are pointing to them barely making the playoffs/early exits out of the playoffs -- but most other teams wouldn't have made the postseason to begin with if they had suffered the amount of injuries (let alone to whom).
Questions that come to mind, can they stay healthy? Followed by- will Tatar and Nyquist continue where they were or will they have sophomore slumps?; will Smith and DD continue to grow and possibly "breakout" this season?; will Howard have a bounce back season?; Weiss? Is it possible for Helm to stay healthy and if so, what all can he bring? The list of questions could go on. That's why I think so many are predicting/saying that the Wings record will be broke- there are too many unanswered questions about this team, with basically the same roster.
Everyone can speculate and make their predictions, but no one will really know until they play the games.
I don't know what this team is capable of, but I will enjoy watching them show us all- one way or another. Hockey season is back, what's not to enjoy?
Maybe it's the "homer" in me, but I think they will end up surprising some. IF they do, i think it will be down played, it's the Wings comments etc. -- meaning if the Wings miss the postseason it will be a storyline (they knew/predicted the downfall was coming etc) and if they do make the postseason, it won't be.