Does this thread really need a poll?
No.
Dude, that 2009 was beat to hell by the Ducks and Blackhawks.
Lidstrom had friggin testicle surgery, Datsyuk was wrecked, Rafalski could barely skate.
It hurt like hell that they lost that year, but I wouldn't call them chokers. Well besides Hossa...
It's true the team's stars have never stayed healthy since 2008 though.
I absolutely hate hearing, "they just need more experience, they'll be ready in a few years, growing pains." Absolute bulls***.
What about Krug? What about Hamilton? What about Riley Smith? How come they don't need "just a bit more experience". These guys have just as much experience as our young guys and absolutely destroyed them.
It's not experience, it's talent and our team has very little. This is all Holland.
Hossa had to have shoulder surgery after the season that kept him out for first few months of the following season. Not really a choker when play with one shoulder.
maybe his injury got worse
We were a little bit more physical but A LOT more skilled. Samuelsson was at his best, Filppula and Hudler were good, Lidstrom and Rafalski were godly, Franzen was on fire and Holmstrom was still the best at his thing. None of them were very physical players. The good thing is we have young players that look to match or exceed the play of those forwards, but unless we pull a miracle we're not going to have a defense like that anytime soon.No. We played physical game back then and now this team is the softest in the NHL.
Does anyone else not think that Hossa over Franzen in the Boston series makes a big difference? Granted, our problem against Boston was us spending too much time in our zone, along with sloppy breakouts, which can largely be attributed to our crappy defense. But still, Hossa's speed, skill and two-way game would've made us more competitive against the Bruins.
Does anyone else not think that Hossa over Franzen in the Boston series makes a big difference? Granted, our problem against Boston was us spending too much time in our zone, along with sloppy breakouts, which can largely be attributed to our crappy defense. But still, Hossa's speed, skill and two-way game would've made us more competitive against the Bruins.
Still wouldn't have won.
Dear lord we need to just get over Hossa. It's been five freaking years.
This. It's amazing how hung up people are on Franzen vs. Hossa. No one ever stops to consider that maybe Hossa didn't want to sign a long-term deal with the wings. Maybe he felt his best opportunity to be on a cup contender for the rest of his career was with Chicago. It's not as simple as Holland choosing Mule over Hossa.Still wouldn't have won.
Dear lord we need to just get over Hossa. It's been five freaking years.
The real question is, "What this team better with Norris level Lidstrom and prime Zetterberg and Datsyuk?"
Uhh, yeah. It was a little better.
I do believe the decision Franzen over Hossa set the tone and will be one to be regretted for a long time.
Hossa will go down as the player with the much better career and far more talent and essentially when it comes down to it the decision for Franzen was based on his 08 playoff and Holland's preference for proven Wings over outsiders - and not an objective assessment of their quality.
This. It's amazing how hung up people are on Franzen vs. Hossa. No one ever stops to consider that maybe Hossa didn't want to sign a long-term deal with the wings. Maybe he felt his best opportunity to be on a cup contender for the rest of his career was with Chicago. It's not as simple as Holland choosing Mule over Hossa.
(1) Hossa was reportedly offered a contract after Franzen was signed; (2) there were always options to make both work cap wise if Holland needed too and (3) it also ignores the fact that Hossa was a free agent and could have simply decided that Chicago was a better career move.