Letting too many in

The Detroit Red Wings have lost 8-0 to the Predators and 8-2 to the Blue Jackets in the past week. These goals that they have let in have come way too easy. The goaltending has been average this year. Chris Osgood has let in some soft goals, and Ty Conklin is a career backup. And while this is a major factor to their recent play, the defense as a whole is really to blame.

Nicklas Lidstrom is reliable and dependable, but the rest of the defensemen this year have been playing up and down all year long. At times you think they are trustworthy in their own end, and won't give up the puck, but then there are times like this past week that guys like Brian Rafalski, Brad Stuart, and Brett Lebda have cost the Wings with their play. Rafalski and Stuart are getting too much money to be playing this poor. Mike Babcock has noticed, and has asked for Jonathan Ericcsson, their top prospect, to come up from Grand Rapids, and play on the blue line. Hopefully when the playoffs come around, Andreas Lilia, Nicklas Kronwall, and others mentioned can help out Lidstrom. Otherwise a repeat of winning the cup is unlikely.

Roster building on Friday

The Detroit Lions have a little money to spend if they want to on free agents starting Friday. If you've looked at the roster you can tell they are weak at the WR, OG, DT, LB, and CB positions. Some of the players will be added through the draft, but hopefully the Lions can land 1 and maybe even 2 starters in free agency.

The first guy I would look at is Mike Goff offensive guard from the San Diego Chargers. Now I don't know a lot about him but I've heard a good run blocker, and he's a veteran. He comes from a winning organization, but also know what it likes to play with a losing organization from his time with the Bengals. Adding him would give the Lions a Backus, Goff, Raiola, Peterman, and Cherilus offensive line, with the potential of adding a starting left tackle in the draft, moving Backus to guard, and letting Goff and Peterman battle it out for the other guard slot.

Detroit also needs some linebacking help. Really you only have 1 starter in Ernie Sims, and 2 other positions open. Hopefully another starting linebacker is added in the draft, but 3 free agents are intriguing. Mike Peterson from the Jaguars has been a solid player in the league for a few years now. He's had a couple of injuries, but would look nice as a middle linebacker on this team. Jonathan Vilma was a guy they looked at last year. He rebounded with a good year with the Saints, and though won't come cheap, would also solidify this unit. Finally Michael Boley was supposed to have a bright career in Atlanta, but after a poor year, the Lions could get him cheap, and still get a playmaker.

When was the last time you said the Lions needed a receiver? Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey, and Shaun McDonald were all receivers the Lions had over the past few years. However Calvin Johnson is the only one left, and outside of John Standelford, the Lions just don't have the bodies at the position. Veteran Bobby Engram had a rough year for the Seahawks, but is a veteran that could be paired with Johnson nicely. He's really the only proven receiver in the Lions price range, meaning they're out of the running for T.J. Housmandzadeh, Marvin Harrison, and Devery Henderson.

If the Lions shore up any of these positions in free agency it will take the pressure off of Martin Mayhew's 1st draft, even though it still is very important.

enough with the praise

I've always been a glass half full type of guy, but I'm even tired of the daily gushing coming from Lakeland. I like hearing about the pitchers who were hurt last year coming back healthy, and guys with bad mechanics now working with new pitching coach Rick Knapp, but until they face competition it doesn't mean anything. Spring Training is for new beginnings, and Jim Leyland and the Tigers disappointed the fans last year, so this year they have a huge hill to climb. The talent is there, Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, and Jeremy Bonderman are all guys who have it, they just have to come together as a team, like in 2006, and ignite the fans again. Like I said though, they haven't even played a Grapefruit League game yet, so beat reporters please don't go overboard.

What were you thinking?

When Joe Dumars made the big trade at the beginning of the season, I knew the main reason was to free up cap space for the next two free agent classes. I was intrigued by Allen Iverson, and his hunger to win a championship. I was ready for Rodney Stuckey to take a major step for this team. And I thought the Pistons were deeper than most teams in the Eastern Conference. However heading into the All Star break I never would have thought they were a .500 team, which they are playing like.

I can take losses against the good teams. When the Pistons play teams like the Celtics, Cavs, Magic, Lakers, and Spurs, they are going up against really good teams. But the Pistons have lost to some lousy teams this year. They are not developing the chemistry that they should have by now. Who's to blame? Michael Curry deserves a ton, the players are letting this happen on the court, but I am finally going to call Joe Dumars out. This is just a bad mix here. Iverson is what he is, and always has been, a ball hog. He over dribbles. Rasheed might as well just stay by the 3 point line, he's so attached to it. What was Dumars' plan this year? What did he think the players would do? Some of these young guys can't develop, like Amir Johnson and Aaron Afflalo, if you never play them consistently. Dumars needs to take over the reins. Find out what you have, and get ready for next year. If you're going to bank on some free agents, you better be sure, they fit.

changing my mind

Okay I thought I had the lines figured out that I wanted for the playoffs for the Red Wings. But after watching Ville Leino's 1st NHL goal, I have to tell you, I want to see more. They say he's a step slow, but he has skill. The thing when the playoffs come around is that you have to have enough grit, mixed in with skill to make a run for the cup. Some reports say Leino has been trying to add some grit to his game in Grand Rapids, I'll have to see for myself if it's enough to make a difference in the playoffs.

The problem the Wings have is that there are a few players on this team who haven't played good this season. Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Dan Cleary, Valterri Fillpula, Nicklas Kronwall, and Chris Osgood all have had sub par seasons. When deciding on playoff lines Draper is a must because of his faceoff percentage. The rest of those listed also need to be in the lineup with the hope that they pick up their play, everyone except Maltby. He just doesn't bring enough on the ice anymore.

Because the changes I'd like to see probably won't happen for the playoffs, I'll just repost the lines this team has to have next year, including some tough free agent decisions.

Fillpula Datsyuk Holmstrom

Franzen Zetterberg Hudler

Leino Helm Cleary

Kopecky Draper Abdelkader

Lidstrom Rafalski

Kronwall Stuart

Ericcson Lilia

Osgood

Howard

more red wing stablility

Henrik Zetterberg's contract for 12 years and 73 million dollars is another sign that Mike Illitch and Ken Holland form the best owner/general manager combo in all of sports. Now that Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Rafalski, Filppula, Cleary, Stuart and Kronwall all have long term deals, the Wings can just keep filling in the pieces around them, while still developing young players.

Zetterberg is a team leader, one of the top players in the league, and along with Datsyuk make players around them better. By splitting them up, Babcock gets to put other players with them so these players can hone their skills, but not have all the pressure on them. This year Babcock has mixed Marion Hossa at times with both of these guys. Now Hossa is a star in his own right, so you could put him with about anyone and he would shine. But other guys like Dan Cleary, Tomas Holmstrom, Johan Franzen, and Valterri Fillpula all see their games pick up when playing wing next to Zetterberg and Datsyuk. In my opinion I wish Fillpula could play with them all the time. He needs the experience, help, and confidence to take his game to another level. But for right now, he seems like the odd man out most of the time.

As the playoffs get near the Wings will have to finalize all 4 lines, so they will be able to roll them in the playoffs. The game changes during the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the Wings need the right mix.

Here are the lines I'd like to see.

Cleary Datsyuk Holmstrom

Hudler Zetterberg Hossa

Franzen Fillpula Samuelsson

Helm Draper Maltby

Franzen has now proved himself to be a star player in the league. Putting him on the 3rd line gives that line more confidence and since Fillpula is still a little gun shy shooting the puck, it makes sense to give him a true goal scorer like Franzen to put the puck in the net. Cleary can chase the puck in the corners on the top line, and the 2nd line are all dangerous snipers. Finally the 4th line will be used for energy. (How quick can Abdelkader replace Malty in the lineup?)

Tough decisions, but the strategy will hopefully give the Wings another cup.

my favorite local player

People might laugh when they read who my favorite local player is. This kid isn't the best on the floor, and he's not going to be an NBA player someday, but Zack Novak is fun to watch. He brings so many different things to the game, shooting, rebounding, passing, but his best skill is his hustle. If you watch a Michigan basketball game, I'm going to guarantee that you're going to see Zovak on the floor at some point of the game. At 6"4 Novak is undersized when he matches up against other teams small forwards, but he battles down low. He goes for rebounds like he's supposed to get the ball. He doesn't just try, he's determined. Novak's hustle and intensity keeps plays alive, and he is a major reason that Michigan has started out so good this season. Now at 14-6 I'm not sure with their remaining schedule if they can make the NCAA tournament, but if they do, the rest of the country will see what Michigan fans already know, this freshman can play!