Hudler vs. Flip vs. Sammy vs. Cleary

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Well, points can be made for all 3 to sit or play.

Hudler

Not a proven playoff performer, but who is at his age? He does score in streaks and a hot streak going into the playoffs is an absolutely great thing to have. He has the skill to play the PowerPlay and he is not a big a defensive liability as he was in the first half of the season. But Babcock does not favor him. ODDS: 4 to 1 he plays.

Flip

Has flashes of passing and puck-handling brilliance ala Pavel. Has some size and can play the corners well and make the pass to the front of the net. Babs has a boner for him and hasn't shut up about him since the preseason. Plus, he and Pavel have a GREAT chemistry and that may ensure him a spot in the next few games. ODDS: 3 to 1 he plays.

Cleary

PK specialist. Never quits. ODDS: 1 to 1 he plays.

Sammy

Just back from injury, has some kinks to work out. Shoots WAY to much (obvious) and cannot pass for crap. But the wrist shot is deadly and can accept a pass better than most. Plus, now he plays the point on the PP and that may be a reason for Babs to keep him around. But I would prefer he sit. ODDS: 2 to 1 he plays.

DARK HORSE

Kopecky

Can he make it back for the playoffs. He has size, hits anything that moves, and may be the best person to put with Huds and Flip for a deadly energy line with grit and speed.

PS- 1000th post.

[kozac 10]

Hudler or Filpula will be sitting, depending on who has the hot hand going into the playoffs. As much as i wish for the opposite, Samuelson will be in the line-up and Cleary is pretty much a regular.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

Sammy and cleary are regulars in the playoffs ... i think hudler flip will be switching roles depending whats our situation ... i would think if offensively we need help and were down in the series we would see hudler ... if were winning the series then i think we would probably see flip since his more defensive minded

Edited March 26, 2007 by KrazyGangsta

[timsummers 0]

i sure hope its sammy that will be sitting. He brings nothing that the other 3 dont already bring, but with more energy.

[Schneids_is_awesome 0]

Sammy and cleary are regulars in the playoffs ... i think hudler flip will be switching roles depending whats our situation ... i would think if offensively we need help and were down in the series we would see hudler ... if were winning the series then i think we would probably see flip since his more defensive minded

Exactly...Flip and Rex are awesome players, but Cleary and unfortunately Sammy will get the nod over both of them. I love Cleary because of his work ethic and I hate Sammy for his, but regardless they will be considered regulars. As a result, Flip or Rex will start the playoffs. If Babcock sees that the selected one isn't performing well, he'll replace him with the other. In the end, it is nice to have an option going into the playoffs knowing that there will be a player on the sideline (no, not Lilja) that can step in and perform.

[zetterbergfuturemvp 0]

i sure hope its sammy that will be sitting. He brings nothing that the other 3 dont already bring, but with more energy.

agreed

he shoots way too much its laughable , jiri hudler at least can shoot elsewhere besides the chest and corners of the rink and has playmaking abilities ......hollland has to find a taker for samuelson in the off season, we gotta get rid of his 1.2 for the next 2 seasons

[WingsZR2 1]

It would be great if Sammy was told to sit out the playoffs, unless we run into a swiss cheese goalie that lets every shot bounce off his chest and trickle into the goal.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Flip

Has flashes of passing and puck-handling brilliance ala Pavel. Has some size and can play the corners well and make the pass to the front of the net. Babs has a boner for him and hasn't shut up about him since the preseason. Plus, he and Pavel have a GREAT chemistry and that may ensure him a spot in the next few games. ODDS: 3 to 1 he plays.

Sammy

Just back from injury, has some kinks to work out. Shoots WAY to much (obvious) and cannot pass for crap. But the wrist shot is deadly and can accept a pass better than most. Plus, now he plays the point on the PP and that may be a reason for Babs to keep him around. But I would prefer he sit. ODDS: 2 to 1 he plays.

PS- 1000th post.

Brilliant milestone post!

If I had my way Samuelsson would definitely be the one to sit as he offers less than the two rookies IMO.

[Mors 201]

Samuelsson should sit...don't even really have to think about it at this point.

[theman19 47]

yeah,..isn't kopesky comming back for the playoffs?

[rick zombo 3,739]

exhausted subject matter.

but, sit sammuelson until one of the rookies seem like they can't handle it.

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

It is plan and simple Samy is not producing, Kope will be just back from injury Huds and Flip have been playing strong hockey pretty much game in and game out Samy and Kope should sit

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

Cleary is the only sure one who won't sit. Between Hudler, Flip and Samuelsson I would prefer it be samuelsson. His season stats have been far from impressive (not horrible, but not great). It is time Babcock stopped looking at what samuelsson did last season and see who the better players are now: hudler & flip.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Why is Cleary even mentioned in this thread? He's not an option to sit. At all.

Sammy all the way. I was even reading in M-Live today that since Rex and Flip have been so good the past few months that Sammy MAY be an option.

[NEEDMOREGRIT 12]

Sammy should sit, and why do you say he has a deadly wrist shot?Did you mean deadly to Red Wings?

[Louisville 112]

Milive:

March 26, Detroit News: Babcock is excited about the Wings taking on Anaheim, Nashville and Dallas in consecutive games this week beginning tonight against the Ducks.

"It's a really good week for us," Babcock said. "It's near the end of the season, and we have three premier teams, all well coached, with good players and who are going to play hard."

Babcock, on the recent play of Jiri Hudler and Valtteri Filppula : "They can count, and they do the math. They know Z (Zetterberg) is coming back, and someone isn't going to play. They're making the case for it not being one of them, and I like that.

"They're sending the message that 'You'll be sitting, and we aren't.' "

Edited March 26, 2007 by Louisville

[Airborn 0]

Here is an interesting quote from Babcock talking about Hudler and Filppula battling for playoff spots...

They can count, and they do the math. They know Z (Zetterberg) is coming back, and someone isn't going to play. They're making the case for it not being one of them, and I like that

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A.../703260350/1128

Edited March 26, 2007 by Airborn

[poxer 0]

Its going to come down to who's hot between Filp and Hudler. But they are both doing so well right now.

[jpfalcon09 0]

Sammy said today that he would like to play on the point during the powerplay. I guess he feels that if he's going to take 60-footers, they might as well have a chance to get a bounce or something freaky and go in. Methinks he is also trying to bargain for a reason to stay in the lineup with Hudler's and Flip's recent strong play.

[Mila 0]

Sammy should sit, and why do you say he has a deadly wrist shot?Did you mean deadly to Red Wings?

Yeah, Sammy's wristers and his shooting 6,98 % are really deadly for the Wings.

Hudls has 15,96 % and Flipper 13,70 %

[Kp-Wings 3]

I like this situation. It might give Samulesson some actual incentive to start playing harder, knowing he'll more than likely be sat.

Still, I'd rather see Hudler and Flip in the lineup.

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

Sammy said today that he would like to play on the point during the powerplay. I guess he feels that if he's going to take 60-footers, they might as well have a chance to get a bounce or something freaky and go in. Methinks he is also trying to bargain for a reason to stay in the lineup with Hudler's and Flip's recent strong play.

OMG... I saw samuelsson on the point during the Blues game. I almost died! He and his wristers do not belong on the point of a power play!

[Bluedevils_13 0]

Along with Lids and Dats, Hudler has been one of our most consistent players sence Hank has been out. He has really picked it up lately defense wise too IMO.

[RyanBarnes! 293]

Hudler < Filppula

Samuelsson < Cleary

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Sammy should sit, and why do you say he has a deadly wrist shot?Did you mean deadly to Red Wings?

I should have explained it better. When a wrist shot is necessary, it is deadly. He has good aim and velocity when he is in CLOSE.