What do we think about Bertuzzi replacing Holmstrom on the ZDH line?

[Matt 1,049]

Not against West Conf. defense like Anaheim and Calgary. They are bigger and stronger than Z and that does count for something. I am always thinking Z and Dats will come out of the corners with the puck, but with Pronger and Phaneuf right next to them I believe their chances diminish.

You're still selling him short. The chances for *anyone* in the Western Conference digging in the corner with those players will have "diminished chances" to win that battle. I'm steadfastly confident in the ability of Zetterberg -- who's a beast in protecting the puck -- to win his fair share of battles.

My point is that putting a skill player with grinders is not a totally unacceptable idea in the playoffs as opposed to your view that all the skill players should play on the same line and run the defense ragged.

You're reading too much into it. I don't see the sense in putting your skill players on a line with a potential slug just so he can have someone do the dirty work but won't necessarily finish a play. In the case of the Wings, that top line is/was just plain dominant when they were together. It posesses two forwards that routinely go into the corners and either come out with the puck or are able to chip it to a linemate.

Plus, having the two on the line doesn't necessarily mean you've got your eggs all in one basket -- that's why Bertuzzi and Calder were acquired at the deadline. Zetterberg and Datsyuk create space for eachother because they're *on* the same line and the defense can't simply key on them. When paired together they see plays a step ahead of anyone else. Why mess with that combination? Didn't we learn that lessen Oct-Dec.?

Even if it were a case where Anaheim would plug Pronger and Neidermayer as a pairing agains the ZDH line, you *still* have to deal with the prospects of a physically imposing line of Calder-Lang-Bertuzzi.

Bottom line is, you spread these guys out and you're diluting the impact of your top two lines and making it easier, for example, to rotate out Pronger and Neidermayer repeatedly on opposite shifts if that need actually ever arrived.

It might not work if the D is bigger and stronger than all the skill players (Z, Dats, Hudler, Flip). It makes it much easier to shut down the scoring if all the goals come from one line.

It won't. Hence the deadline deals.

Do you think San Jose worries about this and will consider breaking up the Cheechoo-Thornton-Michalek line because of that concern?

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

You're still selling him short. The chances for *anyone* in the Western Conference digging in the corner with those players will have "diminished chances" to win that battle. I'm steadfastly confident in the ability of Zetterberg -- who's a beast in protecting the puck -- to win his fair share of battles.

You're reading too much into it. I don't see the sense in putting your skill players on a line with a potential slug just so he can have someone do the dirty work but won't necessarily finish a play. In the case of the Wings, that top line is/was just plain dominant when they were together. It posesses two forwards that routinely go into the corners and either come out with the puck or are able to chip it to a linemate.

Plus, having the two on the line doesn't necessarily mean you've got your eggs all in one basket -- that's why Bertuzzi and Calder were acquired at the deadline. Zetterberg and Datsyuk create space for eachother because they're *on* the same line and the defense can't simply key on them. When paired together they see plays a step ahead of anyone else. Why mess with that combination? Didn't we learn that lessen Oct-Dec.?

Even if it were a case where Anaheim would plug Pronger and Neidermayer as a pairing agains the ZDH line, you *still* have to deal with the prospects of a physically imposing line of Calder-Lang-Bertuzzi.

Bottom line is, you spread these guys out and you're diluting the impact of your top two lines and making it easier, for example, to rotate out Pronger and Neidermayer repeatedly on opposite shifts if that need actually ever arrived.

It won't. Hence the deadline deals.

Do you think San Jose worries about this and will consider breaking up the Cheechoo-Thornton-Michalek line because of that concern?

All I am saying is that if the only hot line we have is the DZH line, then Babs better split them up and hope for chemistry from the 2nd line with Pavel or Z between Calder and Bert.

[Matt 1,049]

All I am saying is that if the only hot line we have is the DZH line, then Babs better split them up and hope for chemistry from the 2nd line with Pavel or Z between Calder and Bert.

I'd prefer to tinker with lines 2-4 before breaking up the successful top line.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

I'd prefer to tinker with lines 2-4 before breaking up the successful top line.

i don't like the idea of bert and lang on the same line. two big guys that have a tendency to get lazy (lang much more so than bertuzzi) and take bad penalties. i like the idea of spreading our size around. i think lang will work better with a workhorse (calder) and a shiftly little playmaker (hudler) than to stack all of our skilled size on one line. imagine how much bert will open the ice up for zetterberg and datsyuk. z and datsyuk are safer with him up there too. although the homer z dats line was producing like crazy, z and dats were getting knocked all over the place (which will only pick up in the playoffs). bertuzzi could potentially fill in for homer's scoring (and imo exceed it) and give some on ice protection for the little guys. lang seems to work pretty well with calder and hudler as they kind of pick up his slack and make up for his weeknesses and allow him to do what he can do under the right circumstances. i don't think bertuzzi would do that. just my opinion.

[Guest Crymson]

I'd prefer to tinker with lines 2-4 before breaking up the successful top line.

Yuppers. I'd like to think that people actually remember how Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Holmstrom played until they were put together--ESPECIALLY Zetterberg and Datsyuk--but it appears that the light reflecting off of shiny new Bertuzzi is blinding them.

Also, as you and I have both said and I'll say again--a coach will not break up a guaranteed incredibly successful scoring line in order to gain the CHANCE to spread the scoring around. That would be nonsensical.

Edited March 28, 2007 by Crymson

[dicksmack 33]

The Hank/Dats/Homer line was effective in the regular season--I think for the playoffs, though, to beat the trap, having the option for a Pavel/Bert/? line to dump and chase would be very effective. Having Bertuzzi bearing down on a guy on the dump in tends to make the retrieving D think about his health rather than the next pass. And then with Datsyuk being the puck stealing machine that he is makes it that much more deadly. I'm getting pretty jazzed up just thinking about it!

[Offsides 21]

The Hank/Dats/Homer line was effective in the regular season--I think for the playoffs, though, to beat the trap, having the option for a Pavel/Bert/? line to dump and chase would be very effective. Having Bertuzzi bearing down on a guy on the dump in tends to make the retrieving D think about his health rather than the next pass. And then with Datsyuk being the puck stealing machine that he is makes it that much more deadly. I'm getting pretty jazzed up just thinking about it!

Bert/Pavs/(Flip/Homer)

Z/Lang/Huds

Calder/Cleary/(Flip/Homer)

That is pretty good. If the Pavs/Z/Homer line is not clicking in the playoffs I'd like to see something like this...tweaked a bit...I'd have to think about it some more to complete it.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Bert/Pavs/(Flip/Homer)

Z/Lang/Huds

Calder/Cleary/(Flip/Homer)

That is pretty good. If the Pavs/Z/Homer line is not clicking in the playoffs I'd like to see something like this...tweaked a bit...I'd have to think about it some more to complete it.

Calder , Cleary and Filp , that line would be amazingly fast.

Edited March 28, 2007 by Detroit # 1 Fan

[Guest Crymson]

Bert/Pavs/(Flip/Homer)

Z/Lang/Huds

Calder/Cleary/(Flip/Homer)

That is pretty good. If the Pavs/Z/Homer line is not clicking in the playoffs I'd like to see something like this...tweaked a bit...I'd have to think about it some more to complete it.

If the line changes you have been referring to are IF ZDH doesn't work, then of course I agree. However, I laugh at any notion that they won't start the playoffs together, and I laugh hysterically at any notion that, if they return to their former level of success, they will be broken up to "spread the scoring around."

Edited March 28, 2007 by Crymson

[Bluedevils_13 0]

Lines I like w/ The D&Z line.....

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Cleary-Lang-Calder

Bertuzzi-Filppula-Hudler/Calder

Maltby-Draper-Franzen

I wouldn't mind switching Cleary off the Lang line. Earlier in the year I loved it when Hudler was with Draper and Maltby because he gave them that extra scoring touch on that line, and they got him the puck alot.

without D&Z line.....

Filppula-Zetterberg-Holmstrom

Hudler-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi

Franzen-Lang-Calder

Malts-Drapes-Cleary

Throughout the year I have always though( this even goes back to pre-season) that Dats has had great chemistry with Hudler, and Z with Flip, but not so much the other way around. Plus when they were first together Franz-Lang-Calder were awesome and showed obvious chemistry.

Even a line like Maltby-Lang-Bertuzzi I could see clicking very well. A Cleary-Zetterberg-Calder line would definatly have alot of energy, and would have the ability to play a good dump and chase.

Edited March 28, 2007 by Bluedevils_13

[Guest Crymson]

The Hank/Dats/Homer line was effective in the regular season--I think for the playoffs, though, to beat the trap, having the option for a Pavel/Bert/? line to dump and chase would be very effective. Having Bertuzzi bearing down on a guy on the dump in tends to make the retrieving D think about his health rather than the next pass. And then with Datsyuk being the puck stealing machine that he is makes it that much more deadly. I'm getting pretty jazzed up just thinking about it!

Sorry to break it to you, buddy, but we'll be playing the same teams in the playoffs as we played most of the regular season.

We've played Anaheim with that line. We've beaten the snot out of Nashville with that line on one occasion. We've trashed Calgary with that line, beaten Minnesota, etc.

[grsbmd 0]

As long as he can develop chemistry, I think Bertuzzi would be fine on that line. Datsyuk and Zetterberg really just need a finisher to play on their line.

I was reminiscing today about this. Imagine the 2007 Datsyuk and Zetterberg on a line with the 2002 Brett Hull. He was so good even Devereaux could set him up to score. Just think what D and Z could do.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Sorry to break it to you, buddy, but we'll be playing the same teams in the playoffs as we played most of the regular season.

We've played Anaheim with that line. We've beaten the snot out of Nashville with that line on one occasion. We've trashed Calgary with that line, beaten Minnesota, etc.

i do believe he's alluding to the tendeny of teams tightening up defensively and amping up their physical play during the playoffs, not that we haven't played these teams before.

As long as he can develop chemistry, I think Bertuzzi would be fine on that line. Datsyuk and Zetterberg really just need a finisher to play on their line.

I was reminiscing today about this. Imagine the 2007 Datsyuk and Zetterberg on a line with the 2002 Brett Hull. He was so good even Devereaux could set him up to score. Just think what D and Z could do.

they were a line for 03-04 before zetterberg got hurt. hull had a great shot and was great at finding space, but he was lazy.

[Offsides 21]

If the line changes you have been referring to are IF ZDH doesn't work, then of course I agree. However, I laugh at any notion that they won't start the playoffs together, and I laugh hysterically at any notion that, if they return to their former level of success, they will be broken up to "spread the scoring around."

I honestly only put that 'if ZDH doesn't work' line in there so you wouldn't repeat the same thing for the 30th time, but it didn't work.

Do you always have to be so condescending to people? There really is no reason to put that whole last part in. We all know that you think that no one would ever break up the best line in scoring. I think you are a smart person, I really do, but you come off as a condescending jerk in almost all of your posts if you disagree with someone.

Also, at this point I'd just like to see Zetterberg playing at all. Very often what worked in the regular season DOES NOT work in the playoffs so I'm sure there will be line juggling.

[dicksmack 33]

i do believe he's alluding to the tendeny of teams tightening up defensively and amping up their physical play during the playoffs, not that we haven't played these teams before.

Yeah, exactly. The Wings have been bounced out of the playoffs the last couple of years by the trap, physical play and superb shot blocking and goaltending. Having Bertuzzi opens up so many strategic options for us.

[Viperar 16]

best lines right there

as said before lang will never be bumped past second line...keep dreaming guys

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

as said before lang will never be bumped past second line...keep dreaming guys

Yeah, I'd say this much is pretty set in stone:

Pavel-Hank-Homer

???-Lang-??? (Hudler, Calder, Bertuzzi)

Maltby-Draper-??? (Cleary, Franzen)

???-Flip-??? (Sammy, Anyone Else)

[Barrie 900]

I'm ok if Babs breakups the Hank-Dats-Homer line. I think Bertuzzi on Datsyuk's line is a good idea. Who's going to want to pound Datsyuk with Bertuzzi on the ice?

I think Zetterberg is ok without Bertuzzi. He showed last year he can hold his own.

I don't think we need to have set lines. I hope Babs mixes it up in the playoffs and gives our opponents a different look.

[Guest Crymson]

I honestly only put that 'if ZDH doesn't work' line in there so you wouldn't repeat the same thing for the 30th time, but it didn't work.

Do you always have to be so condescending to people? There really is no reason to put that whole last part in. We all know that you think that no one would ever break up the best line in scoring. I think you are a smart person, I really do, but you come off as a condescending jerk in almost all of your posts if you disagree with someone.

Defense mechanism.

Also, at this point I'd just like to see Zetterberg playing at all. Very often what worked in the regular season DOES NOT work in the playoffs so I'm sure there will be line juggling.

Agreed. We'll have to see.

Yeah, I'd say this much is pretty set in stone:

Pavel-Hank-Homer

???-Lang-??? (Hudler, Calder, Bertuzzi)

Maltby-Draper-??? (Cleary, Franzen)

???-Flip-??? (Sammy, Anyone Else)

I really don't think I've ever disagreed with you. lol