Wings shake up front office...

[Fraserburn]

why does it matter where the players are from? to me, thats like saying "i dont like the NBA 'cause most of the players are black and i cant identify with them."

seems ignorant to me.

Its very ignorant, yet so very true
people do and always will identify with people more like themselves

[goblue80]

why does it matter where the players are from? to me, thats like saying "i dont like the NBA 'cause most of the players are black and i cant identify with them."

seems ignorant to me.

In this case it matters quite a bit. There are obvious different in styles of play with very few exceptions. European style is more of skill and not so much physical play while North American style was built on grittyness and toughness. Its not ignorant at all but what type of style were fans brought up on. The new and younger fan will have no problem embracing the new style where older fans like myself who were brought up on hockey thru the 70s and 80s now find this kind of style unwatchable.

[Ballbag88]

In this case it matters quite a bit. There are obvious different in styles of play with very few exceptions. European style is more of skill and not so much physical play while North American style was built on grittyness and toughness. Its not ignorant at all but what type of style were fans brought up on. The new and younger fan will have no problem embracing the new style where older fans like myself who were brought up on hockey thru the 70s and 80s now find this kind of style unwatchable.

fair enough. i understand the 'style of play' argument, but to just flat out not liking a team/player cause he's European IS ignorant. it seems even if you are an old school hockey fan, it'd be hard to not love a player like Zetterberg. pound for pound, he's as hard working and gritty as any North American player.

[goblue80]

fair enough. i understand the 'style of play' argument, but to just flat out not liking a team/player cause he's European IS ignorant. it seems even if you are an old school hockey fan, it'd be hard to not love a player like Zetterberg. he's as hard working and gritty as any North American player.

One of the most beloved Red Wings in the last 15 years was Vladamir Konstantinov and it was because of the style that he played. As far as Zetterberg is concerned hes a tremendous hockey player playing for a team that the fans cant indentify with for whatever reason. Like i said earlier for me its everybody is trying to the same things and hockey lost its balance with the skill and physicality difference. I have friends who tell me the exact same thing and when they go to a game there is absolutly no atmosphere or excitement in the building. So even though there is still 17 or 18 thousand fans in Joe Louis why is there no excitement in the building with guys like Zetterberg and Datsyuk?

[Ballbag88]

One of the most beloved Red Wings in the last 15 years was Vladamir Konstantinov and it was because of the style that he played. As far as Zetterberg is concerned hes a tremendous hockey player playing for a team that the fans cant indentify with for whatever reason. Like i said earlier for me its everybody is trying to the same things and hockey lost its balance with the skill and physicality difference. I have friends who tell me the exact same thing and when they go to a game there is absolutly no atmosphere or excitement in the building. So even though there is still 17 or 18 thousand fans in Joe Louis why is there no excitement in the building with guys like Zetterberg and Datsyuk?

well i can only speak for myself. i've been watching the Wings since the late '80's and i'm excited as ever about the team. there are 2 things i would point out to answer your question: 1) Illitch did not lower ticket prices after the lockout. i personally felt insulted by this. 2) what some have called 'Atlanta Braves Syndrome' w/ the Wings. too good for too long, people have gotten apathetic.

after that its things like the economy, the emergence of the Tigers, etc...

just my take.

[goblue80]

well i can only speak for myself. i've been watching the Wings since the late '80's and i'm excited as ever about the team. there are 2 things i would point out to answer your question: 1) Illitch did not lower ticket prices after the lockout. i personally felt insulted by this. 2) what some have called 'Atlanta Braves Syndrome' w/ the Wings. too good for too long, people have gotten apathetic.

after that its things like the economy, the emergence of the Tigers, etc...

just my take.

You have 2 very valid points with Ilitch and his greed and the Atlanta Brave syndrome. And to think Detroiters ripped Edmonton and there fans during the 80s on how apathetic they were towards the Oilers when they were winning all those cups.

[WingsFanMiah]

If you can't get excited watching Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Filppula, Hudler and other European players, then I don't understand how you can even like hockey. Those guys may be European, but they put on the Red & White and represent this city, and I respect that. They're here playing for us. I love it. I love having European players and I love the kind of game we play (puck possession style). For better or worse, it has worked for us most years.

The Wings were the first team to really begin drafting and building their core with Europeans (Fedorov, Konstantinov, Kozlov, Lidstrom, etc.). They set the trend that every team has since followed and/or modified.

IMO, the reason for the attendance issues are not inclusive to one concept. I think it's a combination of the emergence and success of other local teams (Tigers more specifically), the post-lockout group who distanced themselves from the game, the ticket prices vs. the local economy (yes, the Wings tickets aren't as bad as other teams, but for the area...they could be cheaper) and the fact that they have been so good for so long and that we've all witnessed anything can happen in the NHL playoffs. Another factor is that I believe the Wings do a piss-poor job when it comes to marketing. Which is why they created a position and filled it with someone who has been doing a good job at it (and is formerly from this area). The Wings need to do more fan-friendly type events at the Joe, they need to be more creative. Take a page from the Pistons and Tigers handbook when it comes to this area.

I just can't imagine coming home from playing a great road trip out west, or rattling off 9 wins and being the best team in pro-hockey, only to open the paper and read a column about how the fans in this town can't relate to you or identify with you because of your ethnic decent. It shouldn't even matter. These guys are laying it on the line for our Red Wings organization, night in and night out.

Some of my favorite players to watch in the NHL are European's. Almost every team has European players that are exciting to watch.

I don't think people felt this way with Sergei, Kozzy, Fetisov, Larionov, Konstantinov, etc. Those guys were just as important as Shannahan and Yzerman and other North American players on those cup teams.

And let's not forget, it was one of our Russian players (The Professor) who really started the whole March 26th brawl.

[Snotsipog]

Lets not forget that JLA is a horrible place to go see a game. Just the fact that it's so difficult to maneuver yourself through the concourse and the lines are so long for the bathroom makes me not want to go. Granted, it's probably not as bad this year with so many no-shows but I still hate that place.