krsmith17

I'm completely fine with Jurco being on the 3rd line. I never said he HAS to be on the 2nd line, that's just where I'd like to see him. I'd rather balance through the top 9, so just because he hasn't proven to be better than other options available, he's still there in my hypothetical lineup. Both Larkin and Sheahan have proven more than Jurco at this point, doesn't mean they HAVE to be above him in the lineup...

Kids' not going anywhere...

Define "good opportunity"... He has played 2 games, averaging under 11 minutes per night and zero time on the power-play, not saying he should be getting PP minutes, but still, not much of an opportunity to do anything... Again, people need to stop viewing lines as top 6 and bottom 6, it should be top 9. You can't just cram all your best players on two lines, you need to have chemistry and balance... Larkin isn't going to improve in the faceoffs playing on the wing. He needs to get experience as a centerman at the NHL level. He's had his bad games and some good games, but he's been improving. He was our best player in the faceoffs last game at 60%.

Making an impact, as in putting up points? Nope, not yet. Making an impact, as in providing space for his line mates and digging pucks out of the corners? Absolutely. Jurco hasn't been given a real chance on a scoring line in over a year. He's gotten a game here and there and if he didn't produce immediately it would be, back to the 4th line, or back to the press box. Give him a legit shot and he'll prove a lot of doubters wrong... Upset that he's not in Grand Rapids? Yeah, I wish our future number one center would fail... Give me a f***ing break... I'm not opposed to Larkin playing second line, providing it's at center and that would mean Pav and Hank would be reunited. I'm okay with that, but I'd prefer to see Nyquist with Zetterberg and Tatar with Datsyuk. Jacksoni, Blashill has shown that he likes to spread out the minutes fairly evenly throughout all 4 lines when he's able to, so Larkin on the "3rd line" wouldn't affect his minutes too much. And he's not going anywhere. No way he gets demoted at this point.

Somebody did say something about producing, just not you... That was in response to kip. Sorry, for whatever reason I'm still unable to quote people...

That's not "gifting him" that role, it's giving him an opportunity. An opportunity in which I think he could run with. Like I said, he is a top 9 player right now, I'd just put him up there because in my opinion he is better suited there. And at the same time Larkin would be better suited centering his own line.

A player doesn't necessarily need to be putting up points for them to be productive in a top line role for me. I could care less if Abdelkader puts up 20 points or 50 points on the top line as long as he's doing his job and providing time and space for Zetterberg and Nyquist to do their thing. Same goes for Jurco. People think of he's not producing he's useless. He's far from it in my opinion. The points will come for Jurco, but until they do, he'd still providing an element to whatever line he's on.

The entire Griffins squad is off to a tough start, that has absolutely nothing to do with Athanasiou. I'll bet he will be hovering at or near a point per game by the end of the season. I agree that you shouldn't base opinions solely on preseason, but they do factor in. Jurco is a top 9 player, and he will develop into a "top 6" player... "I guarantee it"...

zombo, Tatar and Jurco looked great together in preseason and Jurco was a huge reason Tatar and Richards looked so good together in those couple games. You're right though, Jurco can't play hockey at all... I agree kip, I just don't want to see Jurco sitting anymore, and as much of a fan I am of Helm, his style of play is definitely more suited for a 4th line role than Jurco.

Nyquist - Zetterberg - Abdelkader should be a staple. I think Nyquist is better when playing with Z, and Larkin should be centering his own line. Kip, I agree with you that each line should have a bigger body that can do the majority of the grunt work so I'd like to hear your take on my lines. What's the problem with having Sheahan being that guy on the 3rd line? I could see him doing well in an Abdelkader type role, he's a big body, good in the corners, and is pretty good in front of the net. He's also not very strong in the faceoff circles (has never finished a season above 50% and is currently at 45.9%). We all know that we have too many centers. Why not try Sheahan over on the wing? He looked pretty good there in preseason...

You're trying to squeeze all of our top players into the top 6 regardless of natural position and skillset. I'm looking at chemistry and balance and trying to build 3 competitive lines. I don't see it as top 6 and bottom 6, I see it as top 9. That top line has been great for a couple years now. Tatar and Jurco play very well together, and put Datsyuk between them and it could be lethal. Larkin should center his own line and he has worked quite well with Pulkkinen. Sheahan can do the grunt work on that line, much like Abby and Jurco on the other two lines. Also, Jurco is expected to be in the lineup tomorrow night, so to "guarantee" he will "still be a healthy scratch" is a bit off...

Again, Larkin should be playing center. You have a problem with Sheahan playing on the wing because he's a natural center, but no problem with our future number one center playing on the wing?... Really?

Sheahan played wing in preseason and he looked very good. I don't necessarily want Riley on the wing, but with Larkin up, we have too many centers so somebody has to move over. And in my opinion that somebody should not be our future number one center. Larkin should start getting acclimated to center in the NHL on the second or third line against lesser competition. That "midget" is currently tied for the team lead in goals and has played some of his best hockey centered by Larkin in both preseason and in limited time so far in the regular season... You may not like the line, and in all likelihood it won't happen, but on paper it looks very solid.

Which is where he should be when Datsyuk returns... Larkin should be playing center in my opinion, and as well as he's played, no way he's above Zetterberg or Dastyuk. So the only way he's in the second slot is if he Pav and Hank are on the same line. I wouldn't break up that top line, and that second line is one I've wanted to see for some time now... People get way too caught up in labeling lines. I see that as three solid scoring lines. As long as Larkin is in the top 9 with capable wingers, why does it matter if he's on the "third line"?...

Care to elaborate?... No idea what a personality change or Mike Babcock has anything to do with my previous post...

When Datsyuk is back, I'd like to see... Nyquist - Zetterberg - Abdelkader Tatar - Datsyuk - Jurco Sheahan - Larkin - Pulkkinen Helm - Glendening - Miller / Ferraro When Green and Quincey are back, I'd like to see... DeKeyser - Green Kronwall - Ericsson Smith - Quincey

I wouldn't mind seeing Jensen get the call. Although, I think both Ouellet and Marchenko are still ahead of him in the pecking order (I disagree with). As for Tangradi and Bertuzzi, I'd say no to both. I'd absolutely take Tangradi over Andersson, but I'd take Jurco over both, no question. Put Jurco in the middle 6, and Glendening back at 4th line center. Bertuzzi isn't ready, he needs a full season down in Grand Rapids. No need to rush the kid.

Andersson brings absolutely nothing other than decent defensive ability. Emmerton >>> Andersson. Glendening may eventually be capable of more, but for now, he is best suited for 4th line center. He's a great shutdown 4th line PK guy, Andersson is not. Jurco would be a much better option on that second line. I agree with most that Tatar and Pulkkinen should not be on the same line together. Tatar and Jurco have a ton of chemistry together and they looked great together in preseason.

I really don't like those defense pairings. I hate the idea of Kronwall and Green together, and just as much Ericsson and Smith together...

Wheelchairsuperhero, 100% F*** Andersson. Can we please just waive this guy already so he's no longer an option to put in the lineup?... Why not have Glendening in his usual 4th line center spot and Jurco up with Sheahan and Helm? Or better yet, up with Tatar and Larkin and move Pulkkinen down with Sheahan and Helm...

To be fair, you also don't need to be big to win puck battles. It doesn't hurt, but it's not a necessity. Tenacity goes a long way in coming out of the corners with pucks. Helm is a good digger / puck hound, and in the same way, I believe Athanasiou will be good at that as well. AA is relatively big (6'2", 200lbs) and doesn't shy away from the physical play. In saying that, I don't think he's quite ready. Give him another year in Grand Rapids and he will be ready to go to start next season in Detroit.

Yeah, I'd agree with that. But not that Larkin is necessarily better on the wing than Sheahan or Richards, although he probably is, but more so that Larkin isn't that strong in the faceoff circle at the NHL level yet. Although, he is our future number one center, so I would like to see him start getting comfortable down the middle with the Wings. I don't mind if he hovers around 40-45% in the dots, as long as he continues to improve, which I'm sure he will...

I'd rather see Larkin taken off that top line than Abdelkader. Nyquist should move up with Hank and Abby, and Larkin should center his own line... Nyquist - Zetterberg - Abdelkader Tatar - Larkin - Jurco Sheahan - Richards - Pulkkinen Helm - Glendening - Ferraro

We started out 3-0 and everyone was on a high. "Even when this team doesn't play it's best hockey, they still find a way to win. Cup or bust"... Then we went 0-3 and everyone is ready to jump. "This team suck, worst Red Wings team I've ever seen. Tank It!"... Typical LGW... If we had gone win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, I think everyone would be okay, but we lost our last 3 and all of a sudden, we aren't a playoff team?... The team as a whole isn't playing the greatest, but blaming the same individual players game after game is stupid... The team needs to get their s*** together and theirs not a doubt in my mind that they will. These losses are not solely on Blashill, Ericsson, Quincey, Kindl, Smith, Richards, Miller, Jurco, or whoever else is today's LGW whipping boy...

Watching the Griffins game against the Checkers while I'm waiting for the Wings game to start and its 1-1 after the first. Mantha has been dominant, by far the best player on the ice. He drew two penalties by keeping his feet moving / driving the net and scored a goal on the second power-play. Typical Mantha goal, snipe from the slot on a great behind the back, no look pass from Callahan. He had a rough year last year after that broken leg, but he's looked great in training camp and that has translated down in GR. He only has a goal and an assist in 4 games and 1 period, but he's played lights out. I bet he plays at a point per game pace for the rest of the season and is a full time Red Wing next season.