Potential Playoff Starting Lineup

[stud_defenseman 1]

There has been a concern with many Wings fans that the team does not possess enough toughness. There has also been a concern that the Wings does not have enough secondary scoring. Is it possible to reconcile these two problems, or with the wing's current lineup is this an impossibility. What I would like to know is what would give the Wings the best possible lineup with these two problems in mind; scoring and grit. Atleast try to give some explanation for your lineup, please don't just list the players.

Here is my lineup...

Franzen - Zetts - Sammy

Hudler - Datsyuk - Homer

Kopecky - Filppula - Cleary

Maltby - Draper - McCarty / Drake / Downey

Even though I would have liked to I couldn't justify putting Downey or Drake into this lineup to take away a spot from Hudler / Kopecky / Sammy. Even though Hudler has not been great as late, I think his being benched a little while ago has scared him a little, and on a line with Datsyuk and Homer he is sure to produce accordingly. I'm sure people are upset with me putting Sammy on the top line with Huds on the second, but they have both shown to be able to produce a bit while being put alongside the likes of Zetts and Dats; I'm not sure you would get the same effect putting Downey or Drake up on those top lines. This also allows the team to put together a very good third line with a strong center in Flip and arguably their best right winger in Cleary.

Summary: Top two lines are fairly even and will score most of the goals, while the third line will definetly knock a bunch in as well.

In regards to toughness, the 4th line of course will be primarily responsible for stirring up s***, but each of the other lines will be tough enough to put up with the likes of even Anaheim's goons. Apart from Huds and Sammy, who are a couple of pansies, most of these guys can hold their own and will not likely get pushed around.

[Superman54 91]

dont we have alot of these threads already

[rwfan007 18]

change around sammy and cleary and I would take those lines. Hank and Danny looked good playing together last night when they were out there.

Edited March 27, 2008 by rwfan007

[Superman54 91]

I would rather have Cleary on the 2nd line then the 3rd

[Barrie 900]

Yea I'd put Cleary up a line, but Bab's will probably go with a few different line combos. Also, I'm expecting Mac/Drake/Downey to rotate depending on who's going good at the moment and our opponent.

How about the D?

[Kp-Wings 3]

Unless there are injuries, I seriously doubt Downey sees any playing time in the playoffs. He never plays during the 3rd period of a regular season game, so the chances of him playing in the playoffs are very slim. It's a shame, since I think the energy he provides is very helpful to the team, but... you know...

I think of those three guys, Drake will see ice time the most. Why? Kills penalties. I don't think he's very good at it, and since we already have Draper, Maltby, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Cleary, and Franzen to do that, we really don't need another PK guy, but I still have a feeling he'll be in most of the time.

[stud_defenseman 1]

Yea I'd put Cleary up a line, but Bab's will probably go with a few different line combos. Also, I'm expecting Mac/Drake/Downey to rotate depending on who's going good at the moment and our opponent.

How about the D?

This is going to be a bit of a problem as well. Lids - Rafalski, Kronwall - Stuart are a given, and I would think Cheli with all his playoff experience is guarenteed a spot, but its a toss up between lilja and lebda. It all depends who is playing better.

[Guest EL-MITT-DROPPER]

Zette-Dats-Homer

Cleary-Flipper-Franzen

Sammy-Draper-Drake

Maltby-Kopecky-Drake

*Downey*MAC*Hartigan*

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Why would anyone start this thread, and then put Hudler on their 2nd line? He doesn't have either scoring or toughness. In fact, he hasn't done too much of anything lately.

As for the proposal to put Sammy on the 1st line, I'll defer to every other poster.

[CopenhagenWing 38]

This is going to be a bit of a problem as well. Lids - Rafalski, Kronwall - Stuart are a given, and I would think Cheli with all his playoff experience is guarenteed a spot, but its a toss up between lilja and lebda. It all depends who is playing better.

I understand Lilja's the favourite whipping boy of many a Wings fan but he is more valuable to the team than Lebda is.

Lilja plays.

[Redwingsfan18 1]

My lineup is as follows;

Franzen - Zetts - Clears

Flipper - Datsyuk - Homer

Maltby - Draper - McCarty

Drake - Huds - Samantha

Kopecky / Downey for reserves

I don' think the lines really need explaining. I put Mac in the lineup over Downey because I think he'll provide more leadership and presence on the ice. I like Downey but I don't think he fits in unless guys start taking runs at our stars, then the next game he steps in.

I like that lineup for some reason. The first two lines score, the 3rd gets under your skin and the 4th should get limited ice time

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

My lineup is as follows;

Franzen - Zetts - Clears

Flipper - Datsyuk - Homer

Maltby - Draper - McCarty

Drake - Huds - Samantha

Kopecky / Downey for reserves

I don' think the lines really need explaining. I put Mac in the lineup over Downey because I think he'll provide more leadership and presence on the ice. I like Downey but I don't think he fits in unless guys start taking runs at our stars, then the next game he steps in.

I like that lineup for some reason. The first two lines score, the 3rd gets under your skin and the 4th should get limited ice time

No way Hudler deserves a roster spot right now over Downey. Hudler has done about as much offensively lately as Downey has, with no physicality to boot.

[Redwingsfan18 1]

No way Hudler deserves a roster spot right now over Downey. Hudler has done about as much offensively lately as Downey has, with no physicality to boot.

Maybe, but Babcock is going to play him over Downey. So thats why I put him there. Unfortunately this is what I think the linup will be, not what I want it to be lol

[Kp-Wings 3]

I understand Lilja's the favourite whipping boy of many a Wings fan but he is more valuable to the team than Lebda is.

Lilja plays.

It depends what version of Lilja you get. If you get the tough (well, as tough as he can get), physical, shot blocking version, then the Wings are in good shape, and Lilja can be really helpful. If you get the tenitive, non-physical, slow skating, mistake prone version, than... well... I think you know.

If Lilja came out to play every night, and didn't make such bad mistakes with the puck, he could be a really valuable defenseman, as he was during last seasons playoffs before Game 5 of the WCF. It wouldn't hurt if he fought once in a while, either, but that's just coming from a fight fan perspective.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

It depends what version of Lilja you get. If you get the tough (well, as tough as he can get), physical, shot blocking version, then the Wings are in good shape, and Lilja can be really helpful. If you get the tenitive, non-physical, slow skating, mistake prone version, than... well... I think you know.

If Lilja came out to play every night, and didn't make such bad mistakes with the puck, he could be a really valuable defenseman, as he was during last seasons playoffs before Game 5 of the WCF. It wouldn't hurt if he fought once in a while, either, but that's just coming from a fight fan perspective.

I think Holland and Babcock have instructed Lilja not to fight. At least that's the explanation I've formulated in my mind.

[Kp-Wings 3]

I think Holland and Babcock have instructed Lilja not to fight. At least that's the explanation I've formulated in my mind.

Yes, so it would seem...

Thing is, Lilja has never been a fighter on any team he's been on. Just look at his fight card. In 2003-2004, when was playing on Florida, he had a grand total of two fights. The year before that, he also only had two fights. In his entire career, he's only been in nine fights, unless you count pre-season, in which I think makes it about 11 or 12. Either way, it's not very many.

It's a shame, because he's a big guy that could be a great fighter. I don't think it'll ever happen, though.

Edited March 27, 2008 by Kp-Wings

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Yes, so it would seem...

Thing is, Lilja has never been a fighter on any team he's been on. Just look at his fight card. In 2003-2004, when was playing on Florida, he had a grand total of two fights. The year before that, he also only had two fights. In his entire career, he's only been in nine fights, unless you count pre-season, in which I think he has about 11 or 12. Either way, it's not very many.

It's a shame, because he's a big guy that could be a great fighter. I don't think it'll ever happen, though.

All I know is that this season he hasn't thrown a punch, yet he's unbeaten in 3 fights. To me that's the mark of a dominant fighter.

And if you want to know what happens when he throws punches, just ask Patrick Sharp's face.

[BeatDown20 0]

God I wish Lilja would play more physical, but what can you do..

The lineup.. hmm.

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Samuelson-Filpula-Cleary

Hudler-Franzen-Kopecky

Maltby-Draper-McCarty

will probably be the way the lines are, unless we play Anaheim, in which case they would probably be.

Cleary-Zetterberg-Franzen

Filpula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Maltby-Draper-McCarty

Drake-Kopecky-Downey

I'd much rather the 2nd, bigger, stronger, and just as able to score.

The only difference on defence would be, Lilja plays against Anaheim, Lebda plays against the rest of the west. You need size when your playing size, if we get a Vancouver or a Dallas in the 1st round, you wont need Lilja.

[Shaman 713]

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Mule-Filpula-Cleary

Hudler-Samuelson-Kopecky

Maltby-Draper-McCarty

But personally i think putting Samuelson (or the second coming of lang, as i have dubbed him) on the third line is still too high, hes been lack luster this whole season, cant score, skate, hell, i think id even take lang over him at this point...

And I dont see the point of all the Hudler bashing, hes not doing that badly given the minutes he gets, again see Sammy as my example, he plays on the top line, but Hudler has 1 more goal and is tied in points with him, but hes the goat and everyone thinks he isnt playing well, id love to hear an explanation for that...

Edited March 27, 2008 by Shaman464

[zombiewing 3]

just a hunch...i think that babcock will not roll the 4 lines like we have in the past.

we are post cba. we can roll 3 potent lines plus a very limited 4th line.

I have mixed emotions about this-we would wear down easier, but we would not have such a drop off in talent.

yes, I remember fondly the days of having Larionov and Luc on the 4th line.

for what it is worth, everyone else is having the same debacle. And with the competition so close, even having mediocrity on the ice for a few minutes can be deadly. The idea of having The Shrimp on the ice in a game 7 scares the tar outta me.

I take comfort in having the best top 4 d this side of the cba.

[Shaman 713]

just a hunch...i think that babcock will not roll the 4 lines like we have in the past.

we are post cba. we can roll 3 potent lines plus a very limited 4th line.

I have mixed emotions about this-we would wear down easier, but we would not have such a drop off in talent.

yes, I remember fondly the days of having Larionov and Luc on the 4th line.

for what it is worth, everyone else is having the same debacle. And with the competition so close, even having mediocrity on the ice for a few minutes can be deadly. The idea of having The Shrimp on the ice in a game 7 scares the tar outta me.

I take comfort in having the best top 4 d this side of the cba.

But better then having a very tired 3rd line 7 mins into the 3rd overtime of that same game 7...

[zombiewing 3]

But better then having a very tired 3rd line 7 mins into the 3rd overtime of that same game 7...

true

but i think that the 4th line will see less time than in prior playoffs.

wear the other team down, then spring huddles on them....gggrrrrrrrr

[daniel1 32]

My lineup is as follows;

Franzen - Zetts - Clears

Flipper - Datsyuk - Homer

Maltby - Draper - McCarty

Drake - Huds - Samantha

Kopecky / Downey for reserves

I don' think the lines really need explaining. I put Mac in the lineup over Downey because I think he'll provide more leadership and presence on the ice. I like Downey but I don't think he fits in unless guys start taking runs at our stars, then the next game he steps in.

I like that lineup for some reason. The first two lines score, the 3rd gets under your skin and the 4th should get limited ice time

Ya i like your thinking with the first two lines. I think those 6 players have earned to have the bulk of the ice time in the playoffs. I would play Kopecky up with Draper and Sammy though; I think the odds of Kopy scoring a goal are way better than Drake and an increased role is only going to make Kopy better, while it would just make Drake tired (at his age he's not getting any better, lol) My fourth line would be Maltby - Hudler - McCarty/Draper. If Mac isn't in game shape and looks at all slow out there then as much as I love him, I would replace him with the Drake in a heartbeat. I would keep Hudler on the fourth line till he earned his way off it and then switch him and Samantha around.

Franzen - Zetts - Clears

Flipper - Datsyuk - Homer

Samantha - Draper - Kopecky

Maltby - Huds - McCarty/Drake

Downey

The D is a lot easier; Lids/Rafi and Stuart/Kronner get 80% of the ice time. Cheli/Lilja can kill penalties and Lebda can watch and learn how to play the body and actually check people from the press box. Note: Meech is ahead of Lebda on my depth chart and goes in for anyone who gets banged up before Lebda has to give up his pretzel and press box seat.