silkyjohnson13

Like i've said a lot lately, i pretty much view these two as equals. Even though their actual games differ, i view them as basically bringing the same overall value to the table. If i had to say one has been better than the other this season, it has to be Pav. Outside of the first month or so when Z was shot out of a cannon, i think that Pav has been the best forward on the team. The way his overall game has grown since his rookie season has been phenominal. And right now he's easily playing the best hockey that we've ever seen from him. We've always seen the pure talent that was there, but now we're seeing a player who is taking advantage of it and wanting to be the man who grabs the bull by the horns. With that being said, Hank is right there too. But i would have to give Pav the edge right now if i was forced to. We are very, very fortunate to have these two here right now.

If it's like last year, then the 1st game(s) will be played on Wednesday, Thursday, and/or Friday night - the 9th, 10th, and/or 11th. I'm pretty sure last season it was spread out funny like that(over 3 days). Didn't the Wing's play on Thursday night and then Saturday afternoon to kick things off last postseason?

Looks good (and realistic) to me. I figured that one of them would for sure play that 3rd line checking role with Drapes. Franzen is the better shutdown type guy and Cleary has more offensive ability, so it would defently make sense. I just questioned whether Babcock was going to leave the Franzen-Z-Sammy line together and let Cleary play on that checking role(both due to his success with Draper last postseason along with his ability or lack there of to play his offensive game due to being gone for so long + the faceguard).

Filppula is already one of the better puck carrying forwards on this team. Even with Franzen likely locking up that 2nd unit fronting position, i'd imagine that Cleary will still be on this unit. He has simply shown too much ability to put the puck in the net, especially in tough areas to be left off. Add on the fact that he is useful in retreiving the puck along the boards, is patient and strong with the puck, and can provide a 2nd player willing to go to the net. Simply put, Cleary provides too much versitility to be left off - unless of course his face guard gives him too much trouble. Filppula-Franzen-Cleary Kronwall-Samuelsson/Stuart Hudler is not going to play the point on the pp, and Franzen and Cleary are virtual locks(once again, assuming Cleary is able.) That means it's between him and Filppula (and possibly Samuelsson if Babcock puts Stuart on the point). And at this point, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see Filppula get the nod to begin with.

Here's the question i pose to you: Do you really think that Mike Babcock is going to consistently roll 4 lines? Simply from observing the way he's ran things for the past year or so, i'm going to have guess no, he isn't. And in that case, you simply cannot have a guy like Franzen, who is clearly a Top 9 forward - whether it be in a checking or scoring role - playing on a line with Kopecky and Drake, who are likely 4th line players in the playoffs. If i had i to guess, one of either Cleary or Franzen will be on the 3rd/checking line with Draper. Also, I know that it would seem fantastic to put the grind line together, but do you really think that Darren McCarty(if he even makes the lineup) is going to get 3rd line minutes? We are talking about a guy who hasn't seen NHL action in a long time. I do agree with your defence, but in the case that Stuart doesn't start the playoffs i'd imagine Lilja or Chelios will move up to the 4th slot and Lebda will fill out the 3rd pair. If Datsyuk and Zetterberg remain seperated to begin the playoffs, i think we'll see this: Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Zetterberg-Samuelsson Cleary-Draper-Maltby Drake-Kopecky-Hudler/McCarty A couple things of note: - Franzen and Cleary are the swing players. Both of them can effectively play in either a scoring or a 3rd line/checking role. I have to imagine that one of them will defently be paired up with Draper on that 3rd line, while the other will remain on the 2nd line. - I do believe that you're going to see the Top 9 forwards on the Top 3 lines. I don't think it's going to be spread out - as we simply don't have the overall depth to do so. The top 8 forwards are locks to begin the playoffs: 13, 40, 11, 96, 51, 39, 37, 33. The 9th spot, which will be reserved for a player on that 3rd line with Draper might be a little in the air, but i think Maltby will win it over the likes of Drake and Kopecky.

Lidstrom is so far ahead of anybody else right now that he's still going to win in a landslide.

Oh, totally. With Holland at GM, we really don't have anything to look forward to as Wing's fans. He'll never do anything exciting in attempt to improve the team.

No thanks on Huselius. He shows some good talent and flashes great offensive instincts, but he's not good defensively and he disappears too often. For me: Cleary and Filppula come to mind. I'd have to take a look at a list of UFA's to get a better idea of who'd be available. But the first goal is to sign Cleary and Filppula, along with Zetteberg, then see where we stand financially. Then we can decide who to bring in and how much room to leave.

Maybe i'm mistaken but i could have swore last game that Filppula was playing with Datsyuk and Franzen was with Z. Also, Maltby-Draper-Drake were playing a lot together last game... and Hudler and Kopecky were on the 4th line together, with Hartigan.

The guy who will be playing center doesn't necessarily have to take faceoffs. Just last season Zetterberg and Datsyuk were making such a switch (i believe Z had a banged up wrist and couldn't take draws but was continuing to play center). Babcock really likes playing Franzen at center if he can. When Cleary gets back he wil likely replace Franzen on one of the top-2 lines, and Franzen will likely join Drapes on the checking line. Drapes would obviously take the draws but don't be surprised if you actually see Franzen playing center. I would really love the idea of playing a Draper-Franzen-Cleary line in the playoffs, but i think Cleary (or possibly Franzen) will be needed on one of the top-2 scoring lines. Babcock doesn't trust Hudler on one of the top-2 lines and and you defently ain't going to see anybody like Kopecky, Maltby, or Drake/McCarty there. So from that stand point, i'm almost positive that the top-2 lines will consist of Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Filppula, Samuelsson, and Cleary (possibly Franzen). How they'll be assembled simply depends on whether Pav and Z will be together - which could likely depend whether we're at home or away. The 3rd line will thus contain Draper, Franzen (unless him and Cleary switch), and one of Maltby, Kopecky, Hudler, Drake, McCarty. If i had to guess it'd be Maltby. Thus, the 4th line would contain three of Kopecky, Hudler, Drake, or McCarty. (Downey isn't going to see much if any action come playoff time - pure fighters carry little value during the playoffs). The more i hear the more i think McCarty really might be able to get playing time. It would make sense that he could basically replace Drake/Downey, bringing energy, physical play, and the willingness to drop the gloves. I do wonder whether Babcock will keep both Drake and McCarty in the lineup (assuming McCarty can pull the comeback off), thus leaving off Hudler. Although it might make sense from a physical standpoint two bench Hudler, i'd personally rather leave Hudler in to see 4th line duty and give some type of scoring ability to that line. That's another reason why i will not be surprised if McCarty were to replace Drake and Downey. Neither of those guys has the ability to put the puck in the net. Downey rarely ever touches the puck and watching Drake attempt to handle the puck is tough on the eyes. So if i were to make a final guess (when Pav and Z are together): Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Cleary-Filppula-Samuelsson Draper-Franzen-Maltby Hudler-Kopecky-McCarty/Drake Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Chelios-Lilja Lebda Hasek Osgood

I knew i wasn't the only one who picked up on that... Man, was he ever ripping Detroit in that game. Every time he talked it was something about Detroit looking terrible. A few months ago he might have well just handed Detroit the Cup. Your typical case of getting too high and too low.

I'm more interested in the line combinations. I can't say that i'm terribly disappointed that we didn't get a forward, but i was really liking the prospects of putting something together like: Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Filppula-Acquisition-Samuelsson Draper-Franzen-Cleary Maltby-Kopecky/Hudler/Drake/McCarty/Downey But now, it's going to look a little different and i can't quite figure out what to expect. I'm hoping that Pav and Z will see significant time together at even strength, but it might be a little harder to do now. I think we'll see them together at home for the most part at least. Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Cleary-Filppula-Samuelsson Draper-Franzen-Maltby Kopecky/Hudler/Drake/McCarty/Downey In certain road games: Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Cleary-Zetterberg-Samuelsson Draper-Franzen-Maltby etc... Draper will likely be paired with either Franzen or Cleary on the 3rd/checking line, i really like how Clearly played with Drapes at times last postseason but i'd imagine Babs would put him on the 2nd line since he's more of a scoring threat than Franzen.

All i have to say is, what'd i tell you? A ton of you were tossing Filppula's name around like he was of equal value as Hudler. Anybody looking from a GM point of view would have seen this would be obvious. Guys that were throwing Filppula and Franzens name around simply were not using a logical thought process.

Simply put, that is the mindset of a fan. That is why Filppula to Atlanta is nothing more than an internet rumor. Kenny Holland doesn't have the mindset of a fan and thus you will see no deal involving Filppula. Once again, with Datsyuk and Zetterberg already on the roster, $7mil a year could add up to much more value as different pieces than in one player - and Kenny Holland knows that. He doesn't think like a fan.