Babs on the ZDH Line: "We'll go away from it"

[Guest DetroitIan]

The 2nd line is "broke". As soon as Franzen is healthy, they're gonna fix it.

Obviously it's not "broke" enough to cause us to be uncsuccessful. And that's the bottom line. Success and winning. And right now, that's what the Red Wings are doing. Hank and Pavel need to stay together for the time being. It's about the success of the TEAM. Not singling out one line. Our second line will be fine.

[Guest RedWingsFever]

Obviously it's not "broke" enough to cause us to be uncsuccessful. And that's the bottom line. Success and winning. And right now, that's what the Red Wings are doing. Hank and Pavel need to stay together for the time being. It's about the success of the TEAM. Not singling out one line. Our second line will be fine.

Exactly.

[norrisnick 1]

Obviously it's not "broke" enough to cause us to be uncsuccessful. And that's the bottom line. Success and winning. And right now, that's what the Red Wings are doing. Hank and Pavel need to stay together for the time being. It's about the success of the TEAM. Not singling out one line. Our second line will be fine.

Exactly. Which is why HZD is being broken up.

[Guest DetroitIan]

Exactly. Which is why HZD is being broken up.

See there's a difference. Im not singling out one line. Im saying I think we should keep it all the same right now. As in, the entire team. Our second line will come together. It's just a matter of time before they start to click. In the mean time, the Red Wings have one of the best recrods in the league already. And the ZDH line basically captains our success. Until we start losing and playing like crap, there is NOTHING TO FIX.

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

See there's a difference. Im not singling out one line. Im saying I think we should keep it all the same right now. As in, the entire team. Our second line will come together. It's just a matter of time before they start to click. In the mean time, the Red Wings have one of the best recrods in the league already. And the ZDH line basically captains our success. Until we start losing and playing like crap, there is NOTHING TO FIX.

It's called preventive maintenance. Babs understands that in the playoffs you need more than one line to win games. Until the Wings acquire a legit second line scoring threat, they are a one line team. Do the other 3 lines contribute? Sure, but you can't count on guys like Draper, Flip, Rex, and Sammy to come through for you on a regular basis. The Wings are one sniper away from being a really scary team. It's not to say that they aren't a good team, that they can't win games, or that the guys outside of ZDH can't score. But seriously, looking at the Wings lineup, even when everyone is healthy, no one jumps out at you other than ZDH and says "yeah, he can hurt you on any given night." All you see are a bunch of guys who, on a good night, might be able to do some damage.

[Flip-check 6]

In the mean time, the Red Wings have one of the best recrods in the league already. And the ZDH line basically captains our success. Until we start losing and playing like crap, there is NOTHING TO FIX.

We do have things to fix.

Again, let me reiterate for anyone reading this: The regular season means nothing. It is an 82 game schedule of preparation for the playoffs. That is what the regular season schedule is, to the Wings.

And we don't have a second line. We wouldn't need to split up Zetterberg and Datsyuk if we did.

[RedLightGoesOn 81]

Its a good idea to get away from a one-line team, but this one line was the most productive line last season.... Its good for a failsafe, but when we split this line up last year against the ducks during the playoffs we won 5-0. That should be a good indicator.

[Kp-Wings 3]

I don't understand his line of thinking. Those two have more chemistry then anyone in the league, and yet he wants to break them up and put them with s***ty, unproductive players like Hudler and Filppula?

I don't believe in this so called "spreading out the scoring" that people talk about with those two, because it doesn't work. Z or Datsyuk are not going to automatically make those lameasses on the 2nd line play any better. If anything, Z and Datsyuk will probably play worse. Those guys on the 2nd line don't even belong in the NHL with the way their playing.

This would have all been avoided if Holland would have done the right thing and signed somebody for the 2nd line during the offseason. His plan of "playing the kids" has basically blown up in the teams face, because their all playing terrible hockey despite getting more ice time.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Obviously it's not "broke" enough to cause us to be uncsuccessful. And that's the bottom line. Success and winning. And right now, that's what the Red Wings are doing. Hank and Pavel need to stay together for the time being. It's about the success of the TEAM. Not singling out one line. Our second line will be fine.

How exactly will the second line be fine?

[Guest Jeremy88]

Babcock has got one of the best top lines in the league...personally I'd say Detroit and Ottawa are tied for the best top line in the NHL...Idk why he would split it up. The first 2 games this year they were split, and we didn't produce any 5 on 5 scoring really. Our 3rd and 4th lines are good, it's our 2nd line that can't score, so give hudler, filppula, and sammy more time to prove themselves, and keep the Dats/Z/Homer line together! It's the best line in the league

[norrisnick 1]

I don't understand his line of thinking. Those two have more chemistry then anyone in the league, and yet he wants to break them up and put them with s***ty, unproductive players like Hudler and Filppula?

I don't believe in this so called "spreading out the scoring" that people talk about with those two, because it doesn't work. Z or Datsyuk are not going to automatically make those lameasses on the 2nd line play any better. If anything, Z and Datsyuk will probably play worse. Those guys on the 2nd line don't even belong in the NHL with the way their playing.

This would have all been avoided if Holland would have done the right thing and signed somebody for the 2nd line during the offseason. His plan of "playing the kids" has basically blown up in the teams face, because their all playing terrible hockey despite getting more ice time.

Take everything Kp said, turn it around, and that's what I think.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Well maybe if Holland could land another top six winger to play with Filpulla/Hudler and maybe Franzen on the 2nd line, Babcock could keep ZDH together.

Edited October 26, 2007 by rick zombo

[Spinner 6]

I just wonder if we keep D and Z together and put Homer on the 2nd line, if that will open up scoring chances for the 2nd line. Homer does have a way of frustrating the other teams.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

I just wonder if we keep D and Z together and put Homer on the 2nd line, if that will open up scoring chances for the 2nd line. Homer does have a way of frustrating the other teams.

homer's so successful because he plays with zetterberg and datsyuk. he's not going to raise the game of flip and rex, he's more a complimentary guy that fits in exceptionally well with datsyuk and zetterberg, but he's not going to make anybody better. homer's never been known as a scorer until he played with dats and z.

[LIDDYGIBBY5 1]

Maybe the answer isn't breaking up Dats and Z, maybe we should throw Homer on a line with Filpulla and Sammy. We all know how many unscreened wristers Sammy just hurls towards the net. IMO anyone could produce on the Z&D line, we might as well put Cleary or Ellis up there and let Homer help out the 2nd line.

I love the idea of Cleary playing with Dats and Z. Not to mention Homer screening for Sammy. I couldn't agree with you more on this one. Plus, the way Babs switches up lines during the game, it is very possible to see the the ZDH line out there for a few shifts a game and on the PP. It's not like if the line gets broken up that they can't play together from time to time.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Originally, I was against the idea of splitting them up, but after reading some of the posts about needing 2nd line scoring in the playoffs, I'm beginning to change my mind. Yeah, we're winning right now, and we have the best line in the league with Hank leading the league in scoring, but how's that going to help us in the playoffs? If we play the Ducks, for instance, they'll just put that checking line on us, and we'll be screwed after that 5 on 5. We need to find a way to get Hudler and Fillpulla scoring, somehow. They haven't shown that they can do anything playing together, so maybe they need to be split up.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Everybodys so concerned about losing games in the post-season. Do you honestly think we're gonna sit on our hands and not address the 2nd line issue at the deadline? The Wings could go with DZH for the entire time up until the deadline. That gives the Wings a good 6 weeks to create chemistry on the 2nd lines, or among the top 6. Thats the benefit of the Deadline being moved up.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Everybodys so concerned about losing games in the post-season. Do you honestly think we're gonna sit on our hands and not address the 2nd line issue at the deadline? The Wings could go with DZH for the entire time up until the deadline. That gives the Wings a good 6 weeks to create chemistry on the 2nd lines, or among the top 6. Thats the benefit of the Deadline being moved up.

That's assuming they'll be able to land someone at the deadline. I'm sure they'll definitely be trying, but actually winning the bidding war is another story.

[Guest DetroitIan]

How exactly will the second line be fine?

Well, looks to me like the second line has scored both of our goals so far. I said they will eventually click. And they will. Not to mention getting Drake and Franzen back soon. Our team has been great with Dats and Z together. It would be foolish to seperate them right now. All we do is win. And until that stops, there is nothing to worry about. Plain and simple.

[Flip-check 6]

Well, looks to me like the second line has scored both of our goals so far.

All we do is win. And until that stops, there is nothing to worry about. Plain and simple.

So you're seriously arguing that because Filppula made a couple good plays in the first period of one game, we are Officially now a team with two solid scoring lines?

Now I get it. Andreas Lilja is going to be our sniper beside Flip too?

I like how "until something breaks, we don't need to think about the future" is a genuine statement. It's a great motto... until you find that you're at game 4 in a series down 3-1, because "there [was] nothing to worry about."

Edited October 27, 2007 by Flip-check

[Guest DetroitIan]

So you're seriously arguing that because Filppula made a couple good plays in the first period of one game, we are Officially now a team with two solid scoring lines?

Now I get it. Andreas Lilja is going to be our sniper beside Flip too?

No, Im seriously arguing the exact same thing I agrued WELL before this game started. The 2nd line's success tonight is just a capper to my argument that the second line will be fine. And that we consistantly win with the lines we have. No point in tweaking anything yet. So easy there tiger.

[Flip-check 6]

The 2nd line's success tonight is just a capper to my argument that the second line will be fine. And that we consistantly win with the lines we have. No point in tweaking anything yet. So easy there tiger.

I'm easy.

I just find that you're incredibly early in your "I knew it" assessment. Talk about it in ten games when Flip and Hudler are working well together, because that is a more significant amount of time.

[Guest DetroitIan]

I'm easy.

I just find that you're incredibly early in your "I knew it" assessment. Talk about it in ten games when Flip and Hudler are working well together, because that is a more significant amount of time.

Never said "I knew it". In fact, I even said, they still need time. Hense my sentence, "I said they will eventually click, and they will," WILL as in they havent yet. So really man, you're just arguing with yourself here.

[CdnWingsFanEh 2]

I think Babcock's idea is to split up the line now so that he can TRY to get (find?) some chemistry out of the other lines, while the season is still early. He realizes that should the need arise, he can reunite ZDH at any time. This is the best time for him to tinker with line combinations, and get the players to mesh with other players. When you're in the p/o's, and your best line keeps getting shut down, it's nice to know there's another line combination that might produce points as well. What if (I hate the what if game, but...) there is another combination out there that will produce nearly as much? Like the one suggested above Sammy, Homer, Flip/Rex? With Cleary up with Z and D? Maybe something like that might work. This is the best time to find out, rather than in game 4 of the p/o's...

Go wings!

edit (spelling)

Edited October 27, 2007 by CdnWingsFanEh

[Flip-check 6]

Never said "I knew it". In fact, I even said, they still need time. Hense my sentence, "I said they will eventually click, and they will," WILL as in they havent yet. So really man, you're just arguing with yourself here.

And they haven't started yet either.

I'm not picking one with you, I'm just saying when they start playing well together we have ourselves something of a second line. Our success in the first period was all Filppula, so we need all three of them to start playing well.