Babcock speaks about line combos

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Gotta love a chick that drools over line combos.

[norrisnick 1]

Hopefully on a line with Zette and Franzen, Hudler can have a breakout year offensively.

I dont care for the third line, Your putting a speedy playmaker on a line with 2 grinders. Your paying Flipper 3m to center a couple checking forwards, Your not going to get anymore production out of him unless you put him with some skilled forwards. It's a waste of capspace and talent to have him on the third line with cleary and sammy.

Maltby - Draper - Kopecky

I assume will be the 4th line? Not bad, If Kopecky plays the way he did towards the end of last year, It'll be a solid defensive line..

Who will be the 13th forward is teh real question.

You talking about Samuelsson? Because you certainly can't be talking about Filppula who set a career high in assists last season with 17.

Fil, like Cleary and Samuelsson, is a 2nd/3rd line tweener. Can play on a 2nd line in a pinch or on a two-way checking line. The three of them combined make a great 3rd line but would be a weak 2nd. Thankfully on the Wings they'll be a 3rd.

[eva unit zero 271]

I wonder how Cleary's face feels about playing on the same line as Sammy?

Seriously, though, I'm surprised with the line combos. I don't ever remember Hudler being a regular with Zetterberg, and Hossa is a right winger by trade, so he'll have to switch over to left wing, which I hope doesn't affect him negatively.

Holmstrom has played left wing before; more than likely he switches back over. Not like the side matters for him anyway as he just camps out in the crease.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I think these lines will only be together for the first couple weeks of the season. Everything's fresh and new right now, and we already know that our team is a capable cup winner, so now is the time to experiment with lines and whatnot. I am fairly confident that before the season is over we will also see a number of other line combos just for the heck of it, and come playoff time, of course the best chemistry will win.

But in all honesty, this season's Wings are just Babs' new toy that he gets to play with for 8 months.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Come on, give us some 4th line hints! Tell me Downey is on the team, and not Kopecky.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Awesome lines.

Its about time Hudler got his ass on the 2nd line, and Babcock couldn't have put him with a better pair. Hudler sees the ice so well in the offensive zone, that I have no reservations about him being to handle any tricky passes that Hank might dish out, and Franzen is there for the screen.

Datsyuk with Hossa was predictable. All-Star playmaker gets an All-Star natural winger. And of course, Holmstrom there for the screen as well. Also a great shut-down line with the Selke winner and Hossa to match-up against any teams top line if need be.

And the third line. Again, perfect. Filppula is right where he should be. Chris Drury Lite. We're too stacked to have Flip anywhere else and it would behoove him (yes, I said behoove) to be centering his own line. Not to mention he's with other forwards of similar playing style and offensive capabilities. He'll likely be a late bloomer offensively, so Babs might as well ease him into that aspect of the game while we have the depth to play the waiting game.

The fourth line can clean up fine, as usual.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I really don't like these lines...at all. Ok, maybe just the 2nd line. I think Cleary should be a 2nd liner. He's put up more goals than Fil and Hudler and in less games. Plus he's had back to back 20 goal seasons and is a good puck mover. I'd like the 3rd line if it was Hudler- Fil- Sammy. It's gonna be weird not seeing Hank in the 1st line. At least it adds to our depth.

Why should Cleary be a 2nd liner? Cause he puts up more goals than Flip and Hudler? Thats exactly why he shouldn't be on the 2nd line. Franzen and Hank are both much better goal scorers, and frankly, when it comes to the outright shot, Hudler's is much better. Cleary has versatility going for him in that he can get the deflections, make the dekes, and hit the slappers or high wristers, but fact of the matter is, hes simply not that great of any of those. As the old Bell Tire girl used to say, Jack of all trades, master of none. Hudler has the better wrister, and its evident in comparing the two that Hudler sees the ice much better than Cleary does offensively speaking. Hudler knows that part of the game. Cleary knows grinding versatility. One of those is much better suited for 2nd line duty, and one is much more suited for checking line duty. Thankfully, Babs knows what hes doing and called it right.

[#19=Legend 29]

I always knew Babs was a crazy man, he was hunting Lions!

[Z and D for the C 712]

Awesome, but he better put ZDH(ossa) on the PP!

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED

Our best playmaker with our best Goal Scoarer

A deadly second line where Hudler can worry about scoring goals not backchecking

and a fast and defensivly responsible line mad eup of 20 g forwards.

[Bluedevils_13 0]

I don't want to break up Lids and Raffi, but a....

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Lidstrom-Hossa

Franzen-Filppula-Hudler

Kronwall-Rafalski

Looks pretty tempting to me.

[norrisnick 1]

I don't want to break up Lids and Raffi, but a....

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Lidstrom-Hossa

Franzen-Filppula-Hudler

Kronwall-Rafalski

Looks pretty tempting to me.

Holland did not spend $6M/yr for a right-handed pointman to play on the 2nd PP unit. Righty/lefty is incredibly important for the way we want to operate our powerplays. Back when we had Schneider all we could really do is bomb away. With Raf the overall puckmovement is unbelievable out there.

Babcock should, and likely will, run his ES 5-man units out there for powerplays. It just makes perfect sense to do so as talent wise they're each as good as most 1st units out there.

[Bluedevils_13 0]

Hossa plays on the RW though. I'm just afraid we aren't gettign a whole lot from the Sammy/Kronner combo. Neither of those guys have much of a shot, getting Rafalski out there could change some things. Like you said though that just really won't happen though, just something fun to think about.

Here's a fun factoid I just learned from HockeyDB: Hossa, Cleary, and Lilja all played on the same Swedish team during the lockout.

Edited August 29, 2008 by Bluedevils_13

[Doggy 130]

Kronwall actually has a pretty good shot. He just hasn't had a chance to display it in Detroit.

[VM1138 1,921]

On paper this team should demolish everyone except the absolute deepest teams in the league.

I am so freaking excited.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Hossa plays on the RW though. I'm just afraid we aren't gettign a whole lot from the Sammy/Kronner combo. Neither of those guys have much of a shot, getting Rafalski out there could change some things. Like you said though that just really won't happen though, just something fun to think about.

Here's a fun factoid I just learned from HockeyDB: Hossa, Cleary, and Lilja all played on the same Swedish team during the lockout.

They're on the second pairing because once again you have a RH and LH shot on the backend (as you do with the first unit), giving your PP more options and better puck movement. On top of that, both those guys have great offensive instincts, thus they'll be able to move the puck up front to FZH with more ease than Stuart.

The backends of Lids-Raf for the first unit and Kronwall-Sammy for the second are perfect for the teams needs.

[Turretin 0]

They're on the second pairing because once again you have a RH and LH shot on the backend (as you do with the first unit), giving your PP more options and better puck movement. On top of that, both those guys have great offensive instincts, thus they'll be able to move the puck up front to FZH with more ease than Stuart.

The backends of Lids-Raf for the first unit and Kronwall-Sammy for the second are perfect for the teams needs.

Babcock primarily used Stuart with Kronwall in the playoffs for powerplays. My guess is that he is planning on doing that again. Like NN alluded to, Babcock may be looking to use his powerplay lineups full time.

[chrisdetroit 189]

Hopefully on a line with Zette and Franzen, Hudler can have a breakout year offensively.

I dont care for the third line, Your putting a speedy playmaker on a line with 2 grinders. Your paying Flipper 3m to center a couple checking forwards, Your not going to get anymore production out of him unless you put him with some skilled forwards. It's a waste of capspace and talent to have him on the third line with cleary and sammy.

Maltby - Draper - Kopecky

I assume will be the 4th line? Not bad, If Kopecky plays the way he did towards the end of last year, It'll be a solid defensive line..

Who will be the 13th forward is teh real question.

I agree. Flip should be on the 2nd line rather than Huds. But it is a great problem to have

[Opie 308]

Babcock primarily used Stuart with Kronwall in the playoffs for powerplays. My guess is that he is planning on doing that again. Like NN alluded to, Babcock may be looking to use his powerplay lineups full time.

For some reason I seem to recall Sammy on the 2nd pp more than Stuart????

I could be wrong though.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Babcock primarily used Stuart with Kronwall in the playoffs for powerplays. My guess is that he is planning on doing that again. Like NN alluded to, Babcock may be looking to use his powerplay lineups full time.

No he didn't.....as I said, the second defensive unit predominantly featured Kronwall alongside Sammy. The numbers even show that:

Playoffs

Kronwall PP TOI: 64:17

Sammy PP TOI: 56:43

Stuart PP TOI: 13:51

Sidenote: NN was referring to the guys up front more so than the backend. He even stated in his post that the only individual this would affect would be Sammy since he might be gassed if his line followed the 2nd PP unit.

[Shutemdown 23]

Not only am I very excited to see Datsyuk and Hossa on a line together, I'm actually really excited to see Franzen playing on a line with Zetterberg. I think that it will help Franzen to continue scoring like he was (maybe not exactly to the same extent), but having him on a line like that will only increase his productivity.

The only other real question / concern I've had all along is... what happened to Darren Helm?

I know he was brought up come playoff time last year, and I know that he wasn't a solid, gaurunteed spot on the roster, but does anyone else think that the kid REALLY earned a spot last year? Of our whole team, Helm was one of the main players I would get excited about when they touched the puck. That kid was a GREAT fit on our team. I know he'll flourish whether he's in GR or playing in the line-up, I just wish we were able to give him a spot right out the gate. Not only did he bring some much-needed speed, tempo, and drive to the team, but I feel he deserves it. He worked his ass off during the playoffs and really helped in our run to glory. Of all the players on our team, he was one of maybe 5 players on our team that never seemed to slow up or give up, and was playing HARD hockey from the second he touched the ice to the second he was leaving it. He really gave 110%. I can only hope this kid continues to get playing time... he's awesome.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Babcock primarily used Stuart with Kronwall in the playoffs for powerplays. My guess is that he is planning on doing that again. Like NN alluded to, Babcock may be looking to use his powerplay lineups full time.

For some reason I seem to recall Sammy on the 2nd pp more than Stuart????

I could be wrong though.

You're not wrong Opie. The numbers I posted above show Sammy was on the second pairing with Kronwall.

[Slave 31]

what about leino?

not sure why but i got a feeling sammy might get traded before the start of the season, hope i am wrong cuz as much as people bag on him the only downside i see with him is that he is streaky as a mofo.

[egroen 384]

I agree. Flip should be on the 2nd line rather than Huds.

I'm thrilled to finally see Babcock acknowledge Hudler should be on the second line. He is a better scorer and playmaker than Filppula, and partnered with two excellent defensive players (Zetterberg and Franzen) he can really focus on offense.

[Opie 308]

egroen,

The only thing that is a little deceiving about that post is that Babs expects everyone on all 4 lines to focus on D, that may be why Huds ends up on the 4th line so much (not that the 4th line doesn't play d, but they have a lot less minutes).

What made this team a champion was every forwards commitment to defense, Huds will still have to focus on his own end a lot especially with increased minutes.