How concerned are you with the #1 Line?

[datsyukiandeke 0]

not worried, cause if worse comes to worse, reunite DZH.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Not the tiniest bit concerned at all. People, always, always overreact to line combos and put way too much thought into them. Babcock has shown that he likes to juggle them almost as much as Scotty did. As FnuLaird pointed out, the shots were 42-15 in the Wings favor, so there isn't really much to complain about.

Well, I don't think i'm overreacting. As I stated, I didn't think this was a killer line before the season even started. All i'm saying is that if you look at Dats' wingers, i'm not convinced that Franzen is frankly good enough to be a top line point producer.

As for the line switching, I agree, that's why I noted that with the PP's and Hank playing with Dats it might not be an issue. That's why i'm more concerned with even strength production from this trio versus PP's and how well they play defensively, etc...

Here, maybe this will help some people understand why i'm not thrilled with the top line. (And please, if somebody tells me that Franzen is gonna be a 30+ goal scorer or they even think that, then they're either the most optimistic person on the planet or they are lying)

Look around the league

Gomez and Drury can have either Jagr, Straka or Shanny on their Wing.

Spezza has Heatley

Briere has Gagne

Roy has Vanek

Langkow has Iginla or/and Tanguay or Huselius

Staal has Cole or Williams or even Whitney

You can pretty much keep on going through the league and see a pattern. I wouldn't trade Holmstrom for anything and I love everything Franzen brings to the table but he simply is not the finisher that these guys are. Plus, Franzen not only isn't a pure sniper, he doesn't have game breaking speed.

I dunno, I just don't think this is going to work with two hard working guys on the same line as maybe the most talented guy in the league. Dats needs needs a winger who is nearly as talented as him IMO.

[bringback91 2]

.

Examples? Aside from Kozzie?

Well Kozzie was actually a good resign.

Did you see what they gave up for a rented Tkachuk?

Then guys like Bobby Holik, Uwe Krupp, Marc Savard, Patrik Stefan.

Players either let go or brought in that they should of tried to keep or tottaly suck. There's more where that came from. Your not trying to claim there a well managed organization are you?

*edit*- seemed like I was saying they gave up those guys for Tkachuk.

Edited October 4, 2007 by bringback91

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Not at all. Datsyuk will make Franzen a 30 goal scorer.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Not at all. Datsyuk will make Franzen a 30 goal scorer.

I hope that you're joking about Franzen scoring 30 goals. Just because he scored that great goal to beat Calgary doesn't mean that he's all of a sudden a scoring machine.

[Henkka 0]

Judging from last nights game, our "#1 line" looks to be Hanks line.

The icetimes from yesterday said the same.

Hudler - Zeta - Sammy

16mins - 25mins - 19 mins

Franzen - Dats - Homer

13mins - 22mins - 16mins

It was quite obvious that Zetterberg's line was the 1st line. Every guy in his line played more than guys in the Datsyuk's line.

Edited October 4, 2007 by Henkka

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Oh my god. ONE game and people are concerned about the 1st line?? Jesus, its not like theyre glued together. If it does become and issue - which Im not quite sure how you can be so worried after one game against a very good goaltender and a team with great team defense - then you put Hank with Datsyuk and Homer. I know people will bring up the "yeah but then teams will just use their top pairings against that line and we'll be screwed" bit. But give your head a shake and realize that that line WAS playing against top pairings when it was tearing it up. Theyre just that good. We have nothing to worry about.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

it is a little concerning to not have any pure goal scorers on the wing. hopefully hudler can step up but i really don't see franzen fitting the bill. homer's great though i wouldn't necessarily consider him a first liner (he's benefited tremendously from z and dats so his stats of late are inflated) unless he's paired with z and dats. it'd be great if grigs could get into shape and show he can make an impact because he has offensive talent like no other winger on the wings right now plus he has a bit of size and grit. i don't know, it'll be interesting. i think defense will save us because i don't expect a whole lot of offense five on five with the talent we have. we'll see.

[therock48880 14]

Not the tiniest bit concerned at all. People, always, always overreact to line combos and put way too much thought into them. Babcock has shown that he likes to juggle them almost as much as Scotty did. As FnuLaird pointed out, the shots were 42-15 in the Wings favor, so there isn't really much to complain about.

I look at it the other way. They had 42 shots, but how many of them came with a guy in front of the net or someone charging the net? Not many at all. A shot from the blueline with no screen isn't hard for a goalie to stop. The top line didn't concern me as much as the lack of people going to the net did. Even idiot Bertuzzi when his back was acting up went to the net and tried to deflect shots. Calder would do it too. There wasn't much of that last night (except homer, of course).

not worried, cause if worse comes to worse, reunite DZH.

Good point. I'd put the over/under at one month before that happens and I'm taking the under.

[lfd250 1]

The icetimes from yesterday said the same.

Hudler - Zeta - Sammy

16mins - 25mins - 19 mins

Franzen - Dats - Homer

13mins - 22mins - 16mins

It was quite obvious that Zetterberg's line was the 1st line. Every guy in his line played more than guys in the Datsyuk's line.

Agreed What makes Dats line #1?

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Agreed What makes Dats line #1?

because datsyuk is better than zetterberg. there's no arguing that.

[eva unit zero 271]

I'm not worried about our first line. Zetterberg is one of the elite players in the league, and Hudler and Sammy are solid scoring wingers.

I'm just wondering what a thread about our first line has to do with Datsyuk.

[auxlepli 17]

Not concerned at all. It's way too early.

[dicksmack 33]

Obviously, the wings don't have a first line.

[Dabura 12,232]

Having Holmstrom and Datsyuk on the line makes it the #1, IMO.

At least in spirit.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

I'm not worried about our first line. Zetterberg is one of the elite players in the league, and Hudler and Sammy are solid scoring wingers.

I'm just wondering what a thread about our first line has to do with Datsyuk.

Datsyuk = Zetterberg

Homer + Franzen > Sammy + Hudler

[betterREDthandead 58]

I look at it the other way. They had 42 shots, but how many of them came with a guy in front of the net or someone charging the net? Not many at all. A shot from the blueline with no screen isn't hard for a goalie to stop. The top line didn't concern me as much as the lack of people going to the net did. Even idiot Bertuzzi when his back was acting up went to the net and tried to deflect shots. Calder would do it too. There wasn't much of that last night (except homer, of course).

Oh, I dunno....I saw Datsyuk go hard to the net on more than one occasion. Zetterberg, too. Sammy had chances to head to the net but dipsy-doodled instead, which is to be expected as Sammy has no ability to make his own plays.

There were a lot of good scoring chances and if Bryzgalov wasn't as talented a goalie the Wings would've had the game well in hand at the second intermission.

[Johnny Diamonds 25]

I think Babcock will mix it up in other games. The Ducks are big, so he was trying to protect Dats with Homer and Franzen. I still think we need another top foward though.

[clutchngrab 12]

Concerned after one game? no... But there is a drop-off in talent after Dats and Z at forward. On the other hand, I really like the idea of building core chemistry with this team by bringing up Flip, Huds, Franzen and maybe Grigs. The more ice time these guys get the better for the Wings for this year, next and the year after. I believe good teams are built over years w/ good drafting and keeping core players. So I am good with the way things are for now, but I do believe this team needs and will get a good top 6 forward in order to go deep in the playoffs. I suspect Holland knows that too.

[Guest DetroitIan]

Concerned after one frickin game??? Ummm....no. Not at all.

[theman19 47]

because datsyuk is better than zetterberg. there's no arguing that.

i could,...but i won't. I'm sure if you push it far enough one of the forum police will do it for me.

Dats may be a better offensive player by a shade

but Z is miles above Dats defensively.

[therock48880 14]

Oh, I dunno....I saw Datsyuk go hard to the net on more than one occasion. Zetterberg, too. Sammy had chances to head to the net but dipsy-doodled instead, which is to be expected as Sammy has no ability to make his own plays.

There were a lot of good scoring chances and if Bryzgalov wasn't as talented a goalie the Wings would've had the game well in hand at the second intermission.

I was bored so I watched the game again last night, paying particular attention to the traffic in front of the net. I stand by my original statement. There was hardly any traffic in front of the net on most of the Wing's shots.

[stevkrause 1,247]

I'd still rather see Fillpulla on the 1st line instead of Franzen. That line was pretty good against Anaheim last year as soon as Babcock put them together.

I know he's a natural center, but I couldn't agree more that Flip should be on one of the top 2 lines...

Filpulla - Datsyuk - Holmstrom

Franzen - Zetterberg - Hudler

Cleary - Draper - Samuelsson

Drake - Kopecky - Maltby

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Concerned after one frickin game??? Ummm....no. Not at all.

Ian, you're such a ******. I guess you have every confidence that Franzen is going to be a 40 goal guy. Great, I hope you're right.

[union drone 0]

not worried, cause if worse comes to worse, reunite DZH.

Cue the Voltron theme music...

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Form blaaazing sword!!