Finnish Wing

I think Helm and Abdelkader are pretty similiar except Abdelkader has better offensive potential. He hasn't been in that role in the NHL, but has showed it playing in GR. I'm not saying he's going to be an offensive force or even a solid second liner, but to say he has zero offensive skill is just wrong.

How did this thread turn into a Datsyuk vs. Zetterberg discussion? My argument: Zetterberg hasn't been as good without Datsyuk and as Datsyuk has been without Zetterberg.

Exactly.

Yeah, but that move is actually not so hard to save. When Ribeiro put the stick between his legs there was basically only one option there. Budaj just somehow didn't make the save. Malik's move actually pretty good, as he had decent speed and went to the backhand first. Goalie made his move and after that Malik pulled it between legs and in to the empty area in the back of the net. Ribeiro's move was something that we don't probably see ever again in a competitive game, but that was mostly because it's not effective.

Yeah, I got that now. I just kinda got confused while almost everyone were posting lines with d-men on them. It would have to Zetterberg or Datsyuk then. Datsyuk is a better set-up man and better defensively. Zetterberg is a better goal scorer and probably a better skater as well.

This team needs a goal scorer, even Babcock said that. I don't care if the guy is Canadian or Chinese as long as he's a real NHL calibre goal scorer.

If we can get players like Frolov trading Leino + picks + someone like Larsson I would be happy. Leino is a project. Frolov is already a complete package. I'm just hoping good things for Leino, but I was NEVER among those this pre-season who said he was going to score +20 goals or something like that this season. But I'm not bashing players just based on their nationality or playing style. edit: maybe I should change my avatar, so that everyone don't think I have some kinda man love for Leino.

Abdelkader has offensive skills, but that line is still ridiculous as a 3rd line.

No, I meant because he favours NA players and "tough" guys and probably thinks Lidstrom is a soft Euro as well.

Stop already with that Helm thing. What makes it even more ridiculous is that you have Kariya grinding on the 3rd line while Helm is on a scoring line. Tatar won't be here yet next season, and he isn't a 3rd line player either. I believe he'll be a great player for the team in the future, but not just yet. Eaves deserves more than 4th line minutes. He has been playing great and is offensive enough to be a 3rd line player. Stuart has been our best d-man this season, and I believe he continues that play, so no way he's on the 3rd pairing. I would like to see Stuart with Rafalski though this season, to get more balanced pairings. Lebda won't be on the team hopefully. He isn't a NHL calibre player and he has no future in this organization. I agree with you that we need an enforcer on the 4th line. Hopefully it's someone young enough to have a real future with this club. May probably retires after this season. I also agree with you that Holmstrom won't be here next season as he probably retires. But it's not like "he needs to go". He has proven that he's still an effective player for this team. But I still rather keep Cleary than him. Also, if were going to get someone like Hudler, Frolov or even Kovalchuk, there just isn't room in the top6 anymore. There may also be some changes at the goaltending department. Cleary-Datsyuk-"Frolov"/Bertuzzi(?) Franzen-Filppula-Zetterberg Abdelkader-Helm-Eaves Miller-Draper-"Boogaard" Lidstrom-Rafalski(?) Kronwall-Stuart Kindl-Ericsson Osgood(?) Howard That 3rd line would be kinda nice to see with that 3rd D pairing.

Or Holmstrom and Helm.

You're like the second coming of Jake Ryan. Everything I see you posting is about how Leino is lazy and sucks. It's just funny, that some guys' contribution to this forum is so one-sided. Saying the same thing x times doesn't change anything.

I think there already was a thread(s) about this.

You're so god damn stupid.

Bertuzzi has much better hands, can pass the puck and back check as well. He's also a bigger body than Holmstrom. Holmstrom just stands in front of the goal deflecting pucks. I'm not bashing either guy here, but I don't think they are same kinda players even if they are both "power forwards". I'm glad if Hudler comes back next season, but 3M would be the maximum to pay for him. Cleary-Datsyuk-Zetterberg Franzen-Filppula-Hudler Abdelkader-Helm-Eaves Miller-Draper-TOUGHGUY Doesn't look too bad.

You'd take Hudler over -85 Gretzky. edit: I think this team and especially Datsyuk needs Bertuzzi's size to make room for plays. Hudler with Datsyuk would just be spinning around, kinda like two Leinos without Filppula.

I don't see him doing very well playing D. He's good defensively, but that doesn't mean he's a good d-man. He's too small.

As said earlier: this is not last year. The whole team was better in every aspect. And Leino is younger now than Kopecky was last year. 20 months is almost 2 years.

Yeah, but the potential was the main point. Newbury won't develop nowhere near as much as Ritola does.

Just get Frolov and you don't have to get rid of guys like Filppula and Kindl.

LMAO, you just don't get the point do you?

must.... have... ENFORCEERS!

Isn't he Foppa?

Yeah, I think Lidstrom is the most complete and best all-around player in the team. He's got the size unlike Zetterberg and Datsyuk and he's good defensively. He's great offensively, has great shot and great pass. The only weak point would be that he may not be fast enough as forward.