Discussion: Road to the 2014 Playoffs (23 Consecutive Playoff Appearances!)

[Frk It]

Or whatever. Ha!

Yes, it was quite a roller coaster year. I'm just glad to say we get to watch more playoff hockey. Best time of year!

Hm, new playoff avatar idea?

Hahahah

 

[RedWingsForPresident]

Franzen looks creepy as hell in this

 

[The Zermanator]

St. James article about the kids, some glowing praise by Babcock.

http://www.freep.com/article/201404...ports05?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

"Our team is way better because we've got kids and they've won jobs and they're going to keep jobs," Babcock said. "We're way quicker and way harder, we're a more physical team. I like us."

No one is in doubt the kids have saved the season."No question," Babcock said, "we couldn't have done it without them. They came here, but they took jobs. They're not going anywhere. They're real good players that keep getting better and they're going to be part of us for a long time."

 

[Mehar]

Congrats to the Red Wings. An incredible streak and it is a testament to the great people in that organization these past couple of decades. I remember a lot of people saying in the pre-cap era that Detroit got into the playoffs due to their high payroll each year. Well what about now? Good scouting and good hockey people in the organization produce good results year in and year out. Well done Detroit

 

[Chance on Chance]

St. James article about the kids, some glowing praise by Babcock.

http://www.freep.com/article/201404...ports05?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Now Babs is gonna be in love with young players and in 3 or 4 years we'll be complaining for some veteran leadership

 

[TheOtherOne]

St. James article about the kids, some glowing praise by Babcock.

http://www.freep.com/article/201404...ports05?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Oh God, I can just see it, 16 years from now Babcock refusing to bench 40 year old Nyquist with our 39 year playoff streak on the line...

 

[OmniSens]

Omni has joined the Detroit playoff bandwagon. GO ALFIE!

 

[SoupNazi]

Omni has joined the Detroit playoff bandwagon. GO ALFIE!

In that signature of yours, I appoint you best avatar winner 2x. Welcome aboard!

 

[Flowah]

St. James article about the kids, some glowing praise by Babcock.

http://www.freep.com/article/201404...ports05?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I love it.

Finally we're seeing what nearly all of us were clamoring for a couple years now. Youth brings speed, excitement, hunger, passion. And it's infectious. Good for all the older guys who've been down that path so often maybe they're not as pumped up. And of course the vets are there to calm everyone when it's needed. A good mix is always the best course of action.

 

[WesNichols14]

Omni has joined the Detroit playoff bandwagon. GO ALFIE!

Glad to have ya.

 

[chances14]

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

St. James article about the kids, some glowing praise by Babcock.

http://www.freep.com/article/201404...ports05?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Man. At the beginning of the season, I never would have dreamed that Babcock would say something like that.

 

[Frk It]

St. James article about the kids, some glowing praise by Babcock.

http://www.freep.com/article/201404...ports05?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

That article makes it sound like all these guys are fixtures.

It seems like it is implying Jurco has earned a spot, and will be on the team moving forward.

Though maybe I'm wrong.

 

[InjuredChoker]

Jeff Marek ‏@JeffMarek 2 min
"The analytics we use are gut analytics" - Wings GM Ken Holland on #MvsW moments ago

dat explains a lot.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

That article makes it sound like all these guys are fixtures.

It seems like it is implying Jurco has earned a spot, and will be on the team moving forward.

Though maybe I'm wrong.

I think Babcock is going to want to keep Jurco. Big, fast, physical. Goes to the front of the net.

Kenny is gonna have to pry him out of Babs' cold, dead hands.

 

[silkyjohnson50]

Jurco is NHL ready, but I still wouldn't cry if he starts next year in the AHL. Just to get some more puck time. Because he's already basically what Babcock dreams/believes Abdelkader is. Which is awesome, but he's got the ability to grow into so much more with his skill and IQ.

I really can't remember the last time we had a prospect like him. Not from a ceiling standpoint, but from a stylistic standpoint. Big, lengthy, and fast, highly skilled, but learning to play the NHL game by playing in the dirty areas. I love this kids' future.

 

[14ari13]

St. James article about the kids, some glowing praise by Babcock.

http://www.freep.com/article/201404...ports05?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

"There's all this talk about the young guys being helpful here," Sheahan said. "We've got to give lots of credit to the older guys in showing us the ropes and playing with leadership. It's been a lot of fun."

This is interesting.

 

[lilidk]

Jurco is NHL ready, but I still wouldn't cry if he starts next year in the AHL. Just to get some more puck time. Because he's already basically what Babcock dreams/believes Abdelkader is. Which is awesome, but he's got the ability to grow into so much more with his skill and IQ.

I really can't remember the last time we had a prospect like him. Not from a ceiling standpoint, but from a stylistic standpoint. Big, lengthy, and fast, highly skilled, but learning to play the NHL game by playing in the dirty areas. I love this kids' future.

I don't think he will start in the AHL . Jurco looks solid even in the 3rd line . I disagree with DRW prospect rating . He is , in my opinion #1 prospect

 

[Crymson]

St. James article about the kids, some glowing praise by Babcock.

http://www.freep.com/article/201404...ports05?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Typically stupid journalism by St. James, who refers to the thoroughly ineffective line of Alfredsson, Helm, and Jurco--a line whose formation, in the first place, broke up the extremely effective Kid Line that, after 30 seconds reunited, tied the game last night--as "capable of giving opponents fits." She also seemed to think that this "domino effect" that blended the lines (actually Babcock making ill-advised changes) was a positive thing, despite the fact that the new lines sucked.

She's an awful writer.

 

[Konnan511]

This is interesting.

What'd you expect #15 to say? "Yah, it was all us." It would have been funny if he did, though.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Man. At the beginning of the season, I never would have dreamed that Babcock would say something like that.

Last night's postgame interview was one of the most open and upbeat ones I've seen from Babs. Really seemed like a weight had dropped off his shoulders. Babs is stubborn but there are reasons he's so successful. Throwing the kid line back together for an offensive zone faceoff against Crosby clinched the playoffs. He knows what's up.

 

[Bench]

dat explains a lot.

Like their excellent draft record in the later rounds?

That article makes it sound like all these guys are fixtures.

It seems like it is implying Jurco has earned a spot, and will be on the team moving forward.

Though maybe I'm wrong.

I think so. He's been great and while the dangling doesn't have a place in Babcock's book, he's doing the physical part of the game up to code. He's a young physical player with mitts. That's really exciting.

 

[14ari13]

What'd you expect #15 to say? "Yah, it was all us." It would have been funny if he did, though.

I like the part he gives the credit to the veterans.

 

[InjuredChoker]

Like their excellent draft record in the later rounds?

it wasn't necessarily a knock against him. both good and bad.

 

[ap3x]

Last night's postgame interview was one of the most open and upbeat ones I've seen from Babs. Really seemed like a weight had dropped off his shoulders. Babs is stubborn but there are reasons he's so successful. Throwing the kid line back together for an offensive zone faceoff against Crosby clinched the playoffs. He knows what's up.

He went for a huge challenge there, splitting up the kids line most of the game and counting on a quick score just after getting it back together.
Not even speaking of Abby on the 1st line...