Zetterbergs line

[This Is Bida 0]

TBH, I don't think people underestimate Dats' speed. The guy has created tons of turnovers and beaten plenty defenders only to have a clear one-on-one with the oppositions' goalie. However, you are right in saying that because of his vision and the fact that he's thinking the game so well that he doesn't showcase his speed as regularly as a guy like Draper or Cleary.

Thats funny you say that (not only because its the truth) but because when they were interviewing Hossa, they asked him what the difference between playing with Dats compared to Crosby was (or something along those lines). He said that Crosby was a strong skater that went full speed the whole time. Where as Dats doesn't always skate full speed so he can read the plays (which is does better than almost anyone in the NHL. Definitely a perk of learning from Larionov).

Funny thing is I've sometimes been called lazy cause I'm not always going at full-speed. I'm more emulating what Datsyuk does and reading the play. Best believe Dats is a faster skater than anyone on this board would EVER think.

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

NOTICE: Before anyone goes mental on me, I have nothing but the utmost respect for Datsyuk and truly believe he's one of the most important pieces of this team. What he's accomplished and the change he's made in his game this past season has truly made him irreplaceable and one of the top players in the world.

Not to mention he's +2.

its bad that we have to do this on this board.

anyways greenbay still sucks..go titans

[jawbreaker 0]

I also prefer Datsyuk, and one of the main reasons is his health.

Plus, we have seen that Dats can carry the team even when Hank is out.

I have watched only one game this season (against the Sens), and I saw that Dats just dominated when he was on the ice. At one time Spezza's line was stuck in their own zone for the long time. They totally out-played highly talked Spezza - Heatley duo. DHH were creating a lot of chances, playing some good defense.

As for Z line. They look solid at best, despite scoring two goals it wasn't that dominant as Dats' line. But in my opinion it's way to early for pressing panic button. It's only 3 games, 79 to go. We will be fine.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

its bad that we have to do this on this board.

anyways greenbay still sucks..go titans

Unfortunately it's because some members are so quick to hit the reply button and go off on someone when even a single comment of an entire post differs from their beliefs.

The Titans are the worst 5-0 team in the history of the NFL.

[norrisnick 1]

I think we're fine. Game 1 showed that we were just rusty. Game 2 we looked better and Game 3 the Datsyuk line looked fantastic.

Dats is generating offense

Homer is scoring

Hossa is doing what we thought he would. He isn't denting the twine but his defense is solid and his creativity is already paying dividends.

As for the 2nd line it may just take some time but they are fine IMO.

Z got a goal last night. Franzen had 2 in game 2. Franzen looks great so far. Z looks just a step off but that may be becuase he has these new linemates and he's either doing too much or he's just not found his groove. IMO, he's looked pretty fine so far.

Huddles has been so so on that line. Not really standing out for me.

The third line I think has been fantastic. Sammy looks sharp, he's creating and protecting the puck well. I think Sammy's stickhandling in tight quarters is extremely underrated. He's very good in tight and at making people miss. Cleary is being Cleary, skating hard and working hard and Flip is doing so as well and getting on the score sheet.

IMO, Huddles may never live up to the talent he has but its only been 3 games. And i'm not a hudler supporter. But without a doubt he has instincts and good hands. Mule creating space on that line and going to the net and Z anchoring the line should make for a great 2nd line. It just takes time.

By the way, where is Eva. Eva is the staunchest supporter of Z around here and pretty much the only guy I know who thinks without a doubt Z is better than Datsyuk. I wonder what he thinks of Dats getting the nod as the #1 center and playing with Hossa.

I've always thought Dats is better than Z and probably the best all around player in the game for what its worth.

I wonder what you think about our "#1" center getting fewer minutes than our "#2" center?

[datsyukiandeke 0]

stevie y said it best " just when you think one is better, the other does something that makes you unsure again" or something along those lines. although it has been proven that datsyuk can carry a line by himself consistently. i wonder what would happen if pav and hank switced lines? because i sometimes think pavs unorthodox vision and passing may not be best with hossa, and that hossa might gel better with Z.

[isbister 0]

Its way too early to start talking about trading Hudler and bringing people up and down. However, I do think Cleary has earned his chance on that 2nd line due to his hustle and grit he's been showing. I think Downey is going to get some time because of what he can provide physically but no one has really played bad. Give the boys some time to get there legs and timing together and this is going to be a fun season to watch.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

It's not accurate, nor fair, to call a spade a spade after just 3 games in an 80+ game season.

What about Hossa who hasn't scored yet? Kronwall, who I haven't seen lay any bone crunching hits yet in 3 games? Datsyuk for not scoring in 3 games?

It's only been 3 games...

When I used to play golf I had two rounds near each other one summer where I shot 80, yet a good score for me was typically around 90. Does that mean I should be a 10-handicap golfer? No. I had a stretch where I shot over 100 a few times in a row during a rough patch. Does that mean my golf handicap was around 30? No to that as well. I just had both a good brief run of games, as well as a bad run.

In basketball when I played as a kid at school or the playground, if I scored more than 5 points a night it was the equivalent to 40. My career high ever in a game was 12 points. Just 12. I rarely scored more than a bucket or two in limited minutes, but I was always the pain-in-the-rear kid who played in-your-face hard-nosed defense and brought energy (picture Dennis Rodman without the height, rebounding, black skin, hair dye, and cross-dressing ). I remember in a grade school tourney of a few games I had 10 points in a game and 12 points in a game. Does that mean I was a scorer all of a sudden in all the games I played when I was young? Nope. I was still always going to be about defense and hustle.

Just a minute amount of games with extremely good/bad stats or good/bad production isn't enough of a sample size to merit fair judgment of any player in a season with so many games regardless of if that player is a superstar or benchwarmer.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Clearys strength on the puck and his speed will help the Zetterberg line alot, Huds just cant do it. Put him on the 3rd or 4th line, until he gets stronger and faster, he just cant play any higher. It isnt a bad thing, he works hard, he's just not fact enough to play with Franzen and Zetterberg.

[Earthhuman 8]

It's not accurate, nor fair, to call a spade a spade after just 3 games in an 80+ game season.

What about Hossa who hasn't scored yet? Kronwall, who I haven't seen lay any bone crunching hits yet in 3 games? Datsyuk for not scoring in 3 games?

It's only been 3 games...

When I used to play golf I had two rounds near each other one summer where I shot 80, yet a good score for me was typically around 90. Does that mean I should be a 10-handicap golfer? No. I had a stretch where I shot over 100 a few times in a row during a rough patch. Does that mean my golf handicap was around 30? No to that as well. I just had both a good brief run of games, as well as a bad run.

In basketball when I played as a kid at school or the playground, if I scored more than 5 points a night it was the equivalent to 40. My career high ever in a game was 12 points. Just 12. I rarely scored more than a bucket or two in limited minutes, but I was always the pain-in-the-rear kid who played in-your-face hard-nosed defense and brought energy (picture Dennis Rodman without the height, rebounding, black skin, hair dye, and cross-dressing ). I remember in a grade school tourney of a few games I had 10 points in a game and 12 points in a game. Does that mean I was a scorer all of a sudden in all the games I played when I was young? Nope. I was still always going to be about defense and hustle.

Just a minute amount of games with extremely good/bad stats or good/bad production isn't enough of a sample size to merit fair judgment of any player in a season with so many games regardless of if that player is a superstar or benchwarmer.

On the other hand, Voros, Dubinsky, and Zherdev are going to have amazing seasons, after only 4 games.

[Lidstromrules16 7]

Am I the only one who thinks Z and Franz were bring Hudlers play down?

in all seriousness, I think Huds only problem is his strength/size. He gets pushed off easily from guys who are a lot bigger than him. You can tell his hockey sense is top line material, his size however, is not. I wish Huds had Sammy's body.

[eva unit zero 271]

The question about Hudler's role on Zetterberg's line is exactly how he fit on the line in terms of his role. When Hudler played on the third or fourth line, he was the guy offensively; he created all of the offense singlehandedly every rush down the ice. Now that he is playing on a scoring line, it's a different situation. Hudler is not used to playing with players who are just as capable as he is or moreso offensively, so his situation was an unfamiliar one.

I still say a Franzen/Hudler/Hossa or Cleary/Hudler/Hossa line would be worth experimenting with. Hudler and Hossa both have been having troubles that have stemmed from trying to force chemistry with their linemates, linemates who have existed with each other in roles where one was a two-wat forward serving as a playmaker and scorer and the other was a grinder and havoc-creater. The third player, Hossa or Hudler, has been used to being the offensive engine on his line in a certain manner and is now playing second fiddle in both cases, so is trying to find his role on the line as far as the line's chemistry.

Possible line combinations that could be put with my preferred experiment of 2/3) Franzen/Hudler/Hossa:

1) Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Holmstrom and 3) Cleary/Filppula/Samuelsson

1) Holmstrom/Zetterberg/Samuelsson and 2) Cleary/Datsyuk/Filppula

1) Filppula/Zetterberg/Holmstrom and 2) Cleary/Datsyuk/Samuelsson

[Dawgs 0]

So your trying to argue your point and result into personal attacks to make your stance even stronger?

My mother never made play dates with kids like you because if you did not get your way, you would take all the toys, get up, and leave.

Ha! Classic.

Not your argument but I was attacked first.

[Dawgs 0]

I guess coach is jumping the gun too eh?

"I haven't been as crazy about Z's (Zetterberg's) line since exhibition," Babcock said.

Guys have smart ass comments for Babcock?

Why must posters here jump on anyone they disagree with and try to belittle thier opinion? Its a reaction a 13 year old with self esteem issues has. If that 13 year old has nothing to refute a statement they resort to belittliment and name calling.

Ive played, coached and watched hockey for 40 years. I know for fact that stats dont tell the entire story, they are mostly window dressing. And it looks like Coach thinks like me. So rail away, tell me how stupid my opinions are and make yourself look like an idiot in the process. I thought this was a forum for reasonable discourse. Im tired of all the crappy subjects posted here and thought Id try to come up with an intelligent topic about play on the ice to discuss that didnt involve Hudlers tongue, the ad nauseum Sammy must go posts, the grit vs. style posts or the 53 pages on fake jerseys. I guess some of you just arent ready for that degree of difficulty.

Edited October 15, 2008 by Dawgs

[Guest mindfly]

Cleary is without doubt the best with Z & Mule, samuelsson and hudler for 3rd line okkk

[Majsheppard 203]

Hudler played well so far.

Babcock pisses me off sometimes, he gives Huds all of three games to prove himself and will hand his job to Samuelson who continues to prove himself a screw-up. I wonder if Franzen didn't score those two goal and Hudler did, would we be seeing Franzen get a demotion?

I wouldn't mind seeing cleary get a promotion, but Sammy?

Hudler played well on the third line in the playoffs when he was on it. So I am fine with that.

Sammy get on the fourth line and off the first PP and stay there will ya?

[egroen 384]

Hudler did play great in pre-season as well, with over a point per game. 3 regular season games does seem pretty early to bump him down.

I'm not terribly concerned, because he can produce at a good clip on the lower lines, but I am not too sure who on the team would be a better feeder to Zetterberg and Franzen.

Franzen/Hudler/Hossa

I would love to see this second line. Franzen can play center as well.

Edited October 15, 2008 by egroen

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I wonder what you think about our "#1" center getting fewer minutes than our "#2" center?

Hmmm.....32 second differential between them.

Datsyuk getting more average power play minutes, more average penalty killing minutes (wait, I thought Z was supposed to be the top PKer for us, not Dats)

They're averaging the same amount of shifts basically.

So what do I think? I think Z's line has a tendency to stay on the ice too long is what I think.

[ben_usmc 253]

Hudler played well so far.

Babcock pisses me off sometimes, he gives Huds all of three games to prove himself and will hand his job to Samuelson who continues to prove himself a screw-up. I wonder if Franzen didn't score those two goal and Hudler did, would we be seeing Franzen get a demotion?

I wouldn't mind seeing cleary get a promotion, but Sammy?

Hudler played well on the third line in the playoffs when he was on it. So I am fine with that.

Sammy get on the fourth line and off the first PP and stay there will ya?

How has Sammy screwed up where Hudler played well? Hudler has been completely invisible on the 2nd line, Sammy on the 3rd line has played great. I really don't have any idea how you could even say Sammy has been a screw up.