And in general, that's part of what I hate about being a Wings fan under Babcock. Kopecky, Samuelsson, Quincey, Filppula, Hudler, Weiss, etc have all either a) looked significantly better elsewhere or b) had their best seasons outside of Detroit. Meanwhile, nearly everyone we bring into this squad seems to look worse.
You can't just short-sightedly blame the coach.
When we have been a stacked team for years, there's LIMITED MINUTES for lower line players, because we have superstars in front of them with big minutes.
Like Hudler would never had 1st line minutes at Detroit. He would always produced less in here. He got 1st line minutes and 1st PP role from Calgary - and produces more! What a surprice.
But where is his team now? Out of the playoffs and will be every year during his best years there. Because in big picture he is a 2nd line talent, who is unavailable to carry a winning team. Now playing 1st line role in a losing team.
That's why we let these secondary guys walk when they are starting to want the big payday. And replace them with the next wave with cheaper guys.
Just common sense, that's cap management.
Kopecky? He bolted for Hawks with his buddy Hossa, and what has been his career high? 15 goals and 42 points at his career-peak as 29-year-old. Did we really lose something significant? Holland replaced him signing Bertuzzi back from Anaheim to play that same role. Kopecky has scored 132 points and 54 goals since leaving the Wings. Bertuzzi has scored 141 points and 56 goals, even missing more games for injuries. Both are declining now. We did lose nothing, we would be replacing Kopecky now with Sheahan for next season (just like we are replacing Bertuzzi for Sheahan), if he would have stayed.
Quincey? Did well just like Hudler in two losing and rebuilding organizations (Avs and Kings), when getting 1st PP time. He was still bad defensively in those teams. Production came through the PP and that was the only difference.
Samuelsson? Shined with the Sedins. There's a long list who have shined with Sedins. Again, bigger role in a different team. He was a better fit with them, because Daniel can play net-front and Sammy be the "sniper." Maybe we should have tried him with Zetterberg and Datsyuk? But then Zeta or Dats should be the net-front and that's a moron plan. We had different plan to go with a team Legend Holmström with them.
Weiss? Has struggled with us and is a player that has shined (just like Hudler) at 1st line role in a losing team. But, and a big but. We signed him to center the 2nd line, when Filppula walked. The idea in theory was good. Plan B. Only his injury situation has turned this to look a mess.
Only debatable thing is this Filppula leaving us. Holland offered a life-time contract, but he wanted to walk.
So why did he leave? Guys are yelling that it was because of Babcock never trusted him enough and only because of that. Maybe there something in that, but not everything. I could say that it's just the "problem" that we have Zetterberg and Datsyuk in this team. Left-handed playmakers playing at same center position, who'll block Filppula all the time from his preferred position. I think, when Datsyuk did his 3-year extension, after that Filppula was as good as gone. He knew that for next four seasons (when both Zeta and Dats are still here) he will never see a 1st PP role or a 1st line center role, like he has now in different organization. He fits well for needs at Tampa. Players are enough smart to see those things where they could be a better fit and do decisions.
So it's not the Babcock thing. It's the existence of our better superstars and coincidence that Filppula and Hudler just became same kind of secondary players. Blaim Zetterberg and Datsyuk being here, if you want to blaim someone. That's my logic.
