2/21 GDT: Red Wings 2 at Wild 5

[Chase 0]

Helm needs another year hes close but not quite the energy player we need now (just as much a wing's roster issue as him not being 100% there), Meech and Howard need to be buried and traded before they are utterly worthless...

Well, let me say I'd take Helm over Maltby/Kopecky(however the f*** you spell it), maybe even Sammy any day of the week.

[Mike 0]

I'm not blaming all 4 on Howard, but seriously, he's playing like crap. Poor rebound control, poor positioning. He should have had 2 or 3 of the ones that got by.

Call up Larsson. Howard's had his chances in the Wheel the last few seasons, and simply doesn't have it at the NHL level.

Yeah, that last goal was pretty predictable. The second goal should never have gone in and Jimmy didn't come out and challenge on the breakaway. I like Jimmy, but he is not cut out for our team.

[eva unit zero 271]

I'm well aware of that. Rafalski is a 6 million dollar defenseman- that's not the way a d-man of his caliber is supposed to play that situation. He obviously didn't realize he'd be able to step inside on him like that but that's not the point. Rafalski f***ed it up and he knows it.

Rafalski knew there was a delayed penalty and didn't expect any Wild players to be busting their butts at top speed to get the puck when they were about to get a power play in 3 seconds. So Rafalski skated to get the puck, but didn't burn high octane like Bouchard.

[ShanahanMan 473]

Helm needs another year hes close but not quite the energy player we need now (just as much a wing's roster issue as him not being 100% there), Meech and Howard need to be buried and traded before they are utterly worthless...

Honestly, I'd take Helm 1000000000000000000000000000000000x over Kopecky any day. This is the ONLY good game Kopecky has had all season.

[Electrophile 3,554]

WE NEED YOU STEVE!! COME BACK!!!

Damn it, even at 42 with his f***ed-up knee he could probably finish better than these guys are tonight.

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

wow. awesome game. love the effort. these really have no desire to catch the sharks. pathetic ******* effort. and jimmy howard is slow as s***!

I have noticed that too the sharks lose and the wings lose. We are always going to be 3 points away from them.

[Mike 0]

For a future prospect things are not looking good for Howard. Even though the D has been bad he gives up a lot of rebounds.

Not just rebounds, but big rebounds. This could be a product of not playing in the NHL much, but if he gives up rebounds like this is GR then there is no way he would have been called up.

[Z and D for the C 712]

And has anyone seen Mule? How do you make someone that big invisible?

Except for his goals, he's pretty much always invisible.

[This Is Bida 0]

Well, I have one, whos the next Manny Legace?

ah-hahahahhahaha... thats hilarious!

Truthfully, I'm not saying all these goals have been Howards fault but this kid will NEVER be an NHL caliber goalie. Atleast not while he's in a Wings uniform. It's like Babcock said the other night... He sees all these young kids in goal:

Ryan Miller

Steve Mason

Jonathan Quick

Etc Etc... So why not give our young kid a shot and see what he's got.

Well sorry Babs, and all you hopeful Howard enthusiasts but Jimmy is just not NHL material.

Oh and I'm definitely not just basing this on tonights performance. Obviously these back-to-back home and away games kill us but it's not like he has even really made one GOOD solid save yet? We're going into the 3rd here. I'd gladly let Howard go next year. I wouldn't even want him as our back up.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Dude he made a mistake, that's all -- he's human, give him a break. My man has 49 points and is a +16, why shouldn't he get a pass from time to time? God knows everyone else on the team who screws up/plays well below par, does from people here.

It would be rough to play defense on a team that has little to no goaltending most nights (at least this season). I mean you have to be perfect, if not, well god knows you ain't getting bailed out by our net minder.

Gotta go -- Yzerman on!

I didn't say I'm going to lobby to have him traded. I just got pissed that he let a man walk around him. At this point this season it's very reasonable to be frustrated with Rafalski's defensive play.

I hope Babcock goes back to his defensive pairings from last game because this switch back to the Octoberish pairings just isn't working out.

[Mike 0]

I have noticed that too the sharks lose and the wings lose. We are always going to be 3 points away from them.

Well, the Sharks won so we should win too.

[fluffyvee 2]

well at least good game b/n van and tor

[Mike 0]

Canucks and Leafs all tied up at 2 a piece and are going to a shootout. Pretty good game. It's Sundin's first game back in Toronto too.

[edicius 3,269]

For a future prospect things are not looking good for Howard. Even though the D has been bad he gives up a lot of rebounds.

I've noticed that every time he's played a game for the Wings. I've never been able to watch him in Grand Rapids, but any time he's donned the Winged Wheel, his rebound control is totally non-existent.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

Bruins lost

[Shaman 713]

J Ho is not waiver exempt next year.... So yeah, give the man a shot to prove his worth.

Well, trade him now while we can get sth in return, hes never been consistent in the AHL and I dont think he will ever pan out as the goalie of the future we expected

Well, let me say I'd take Helm over Maltby/Kopecky(however the f*** you spell it), maybe even Sammy any day of the week.

To this and 100 other posts, I dont see helm doing anything Kopecky/Sammy dont, Sammy (though i am a vocal hater) a role player, and we dont know if Helm will out do Kopy in any regard, at this point id rather have Meech playing forward (since for some reason the wings love him and he'll be the bane of my fandom for years to come) and bring up Ericsson for now.

[EuroTwin 240]

Jesus H. Christ on a popsicle stick.

What in the hell happened while I was at work?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Rafalski knew there was a delayed penalty and didn't expect any Wild players to be busting their butts at top speed to get the puck when they were about to get a power play in 3 seconds. So Rafalski skated to get the puck, but didn't burn high octane like Bouchard.

Again, he made a mistake- I still don't see why my frustration is unreasonable in this.

[Statts 4]

ah-hahahahhahaha... thats hilarious!

Truthfully, I'm not saying all these goals have been Howards fault but this kid will NEVER be an NHL caliber goalie. Atleast not while he's in a Wings uniform. It's like Babcock said the other night... He sees all these young kids in goal:

Ryan Miller

Steve Mason

Jonathan Quick

Etc Etc... So why not give our young kid a shot and see what he's got.

Well sorry Babs, and all you hopeful Howard enthusiasts but Jimmy is just not NHL material.

Oh and I'm definitely not just basing this on tonights performance. Obviously these back-to-back home and away games kill us but it's not like he has even really made one GOOD solid save yet? We're going into the 3rd here. I'd gladly let Howard go next year. I wouldn't even want him as our back up.

Calling you out.

What are you basing this off then? Last time J Ho played in the NHL was last year, and he looked pretty good to me.

[puckloo39 5,686]

Our only goal of this game is going to be a garbage shot by Kopecky? Really? Way to make Backstrom's life easy, guys.

Better come out in the 4rd and act like you care tonight, at least.

[Third Man In 2,091]

You can single out whomever you like, but if you give up 4 goals in 2 periods and your entire offence consists of Kopecky, I'd say that's a pretty terrible team effort.

[fluffyvee 2]

You know, i dont really think that Howard is that bad, its just that he IS nervous playing with the Wings. Possibly if he could play a bunch of games, he would get better, but he truly looks out of his element playing with us.

[Electrophile 3,554]

Seriously, dress Yzerman for the 4rd. Either that or have him go into the lockerroom and yell at them.

[VM1138 1,921]

Just got home from work and I'm not surprised to see 4 goals allowed on Howard. I thought the general consensus as of a year or so ago was that he didn't have what it took and would never be an NHL-level, or at least an average NHL level goalie.

Larsson however...

EDIT: Jesus guys, I thought the game was over. I kept seeing people say we lost. It's 4-1 in the third. The Wings can come back from this.

Edited February 22, 2009 by VM1138

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

Well, trade him now while we can get sth in return, hes never been consistent in the AHL and I dont think he will ever pan out as the goalie of the future we expected

To this and 100 other posts, I dont see helm doing anything Kopecky/Sammy dont, Sammy (though i am a vocal hater) a role player, and we dont know if Helm will out do Kopy in any regard, at this point id rather have Meech playing forward (since for some reason the wings love him and he'll be the bane of my fandom for years to come) and bring up Ericsson for now.

What is his GAA in the AHL 2.5? If you are going to play in the NHL may want to lower that a bit.