Z and D for the C

Now that was a horrible call.

Fear the Franzpulla™.

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Huge defensive play there by Helmerson.

Legit call on Bertuzzi. Howard is a beast. Jennings this year? Also, that FSD Girl is ******* PERFECT.

mlive reports Zetterberg and Datsyuk starting together, with Hudler Flip Franzen as the second line: http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/10/well-rested_red_wings_looking.html REALLY looking for Flip to have a strong game centering the second line. He needs it after being held off the score sheet in games 1 & 2.

It's not that he was playing with less skilled teammates a lot, but simply players who were lazy. In 09-10 when he was out for 26 games or whatever it was, he had one of his best string of games playing with 3rd and 4th liners, but they worked hard.

Hi, I think Filppula is a good player.

newfy DON'T DO IT

From what I saw, he looked horrible. I think every single pass of his on Sunday's game was a turnover. Maybe he is just trying to hard, but he got nothing done. Completely unimpressed.

Realistically speaking, if the Wings make the Western finals I'll be happy. If players step up and play like they should (thinking Franzen, Filppula) we could have a powerhouse offense but I don't think our defense is going to be good enough to go further, barring a big mid-season trade. Uh, if we move East next year I think you can guarantee a Stanley Cup finals visit...

How should they?

Do you really have to create a new line thread EVERY ******* DAY? Jesus dude, get a grip. That said, my would-be lines... Zetterberg Datsyuk Cleary Franzen Filppula Nyquist Brunnstrom Helm Eaves Bertuzzi Abdelkader Holmstrom Emmerton/Miller

He wasn't bad tonight at all. Also, if anyone is wondering, Nyquist is a beast. Secondly, Hudler had a horrible game. I have zero hope for him. If we can't get Nyquist on the team, give him Hudler's spot and get rid of Hudler. Sorry Eva. Also also, I thought Filppula was a beast tonight, despite the fact he didn't have any points. Although in his defense, he had to play with Hudler a lot.

If Babs puts Z and Pav together, I say try him on the second line with Filppula and Franzen. If it works, it would work really well. You could always move him down if it doesn't. But frankly I'd rather have him on the second line than Bertuzzi.

Let's be logical and honesty here in talking about when Fil "should have" have his breakout season. In 06-07 is was a rookie. 07-08 he almost scored 20 goals, maybe not a legit breakout season, but for a 2nd year player, that's pretty good. It was definitely a big step up from his rookie season. In 08-09 he was demoted with the signing of Hossa, and in 09-10 he was out for half the season, yet still had some extremely impressive stretches of play, despite playing with 4th liners for a good period of time when he got back from his injury. The only real disappointing was last season.

Sorry, it's not the beginning of the season without this thread. Mere weeks away from the opener, people. :D

Didn't he wear 15 once? No idea what I was getting that.

Filppula Zetterberg Franzen line is looking pretty good.

Did Helm change his number this year? Brunnstrom is wearing 15. Helm was 15 last year, wasn't he?

I don't even think it has to do with passing/shooting (only), but his aggressiveness in general. When he is fired up, he can take over a game. That's not an exaggeration, we've seen it at least a few times before. He has the talent and he has the skills. What he needs is a killer mentality and for him to keep it on the whole season. Z is right, he is a team guy first, and that is why he doesn't put up huge numbers.

:siren: if... he make the Wings...put in Datsyuk line..he goin score 35 gols.. :siren:

All I'm saying is that when Z cut his hair, he didn't seem to have the same edge with the long hair.

His goal was pretty nice too. Batted out of the air from the circle on a shot from the opposite point. Announcers were pretty impressed.

The stream really is that far behind? So I'll get to watch the Filppula Goal?!?!