Wombat 26 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Hudler has played center since his youth at every level except the NHL. So he obviously knows how to take a faceoff. By contrast, Franzen had not played a shift of center until his draft year, when he was converted from wing to center on his Swedish league team because of his size and defensive play. Hudler's faceoff percentage this season is 55%, fourth best among Detroit regulars. Hossa, who has take approximately the same number of faceoffs, is 23%, which is last among Detroit regulars. Are you still sure that Hudler doesn't know how to take a faceoff and therefore should not play center at the NHL level? Hudler is the second best playmaking forward the Wings have. He should be centering Hossa and another scorer on the second line. Leino fits perfectly here. Filppula should be centering the third line, whose primary role should be defensive but which should also be a capable scoring threat. Franzen and Samuelsson fit perfectly with this role. And then a fourth line made up of any three of Cleary, Helm, Kopecky, Draper, and Maltby is a capable checking line with speed, grit, and physical presence. Hudler has only taken 20 faceoffs according to espn.com... so his 55% winning rate isn't that significant if he's only taking about 1 faceoff every 3 games. He's taken roughly .5 percent of the team's faceoffs. And why compare him to Hossa's stats? Hossa isn't a center either. Right now Kronwall has a 100% faceoff win percentage... so clearly there are things other than faceoff % (especially with players with very low numbers of faceoffs) that make a center. I do agree that Hudler is a very good playmaking forward for the Wings. But that does not mean he should be a center. He's doing a great job playmaking from the wing. In the offensive zone the Wings cycle a great deal so all the forwards move around to set up plays. The center however has extra defensive responsibilities and right now, Hudler is not great at that part of the game. Overall, having this many pieces is a great problem to have! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
This Is Bida 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 my god... you guys are forgetting the biggest thing... Flip will be traded for picks (to clear up cap space) before the deadline Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
This Is Bida 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Hudler has only taken 20 faceoffs according to espn.com... so his 55% winning rate isn't that significant if he's only taking about 1 faceoff every 3 games. He's taken roughly .5 percent of the team's faceoffs. And why compare him to Hossa's stats? Hossa isn't a center either. Right now Kronwall has a 100% faceoff win percentage... so clearly there are things other than faceoff % (especially with players with very low numbers of faceoffs) that make a center. I do agree that Hudler is a very good playmaking forward for the Wings. But that does not mean he should be a center. He's doing a great job playmaking from the wing. In the offensive zone the Wings cycle a great deal so all the forwards move around to set up plays. The center however has extra defensive responsibilities and right now, Hudler is not great at that part of the game. Overall, having this many pieces is a great problem to have! Thank you! This is why stats can be very manipulative, and thank you for not getting blinded by stat numbers. Like you said, Kronwall is 100% so maybe he should center our second line! The guys proved his own point. He said that Huds had taken just as many draws as Hossa. That right there just goes to show you how FAR from a true center Hudler is. You can hope and pray for Huds to be a center all you want, but if the Wings haven't made him into one yet, he's not going to be by the time the playoffs roll around. With that said, do I think they need to do SOMETHING with the 2nd line? Absolutely! Franzen and Hossa do not mesh together at all. Hossa needs a set up man and Franzen is obviously not that. Flip has just looked lost all season. He can't score and his passing seems really sad for a center. I did think that Huds and Hossa had GREAT chemistry so they need to somehow put that back together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest lilja4mvp Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Hudler has played center since his youth at every level except the NHL. So he obviously knows how to take a faceoff. By contrast, Franzen had not played a shift of center until his draft year, when he was converted from wing to center on his Swedish league team because of his size and defensive play. Hudler's faceoff percentage this season is 55%, fourth best among Detroit regulars. Hossa, who has take approximately the same number of faceoffs, is 23%, which is last among Detroit regulars. Are you still sure that Hudler doesn't know how to take a faceoff and therefore should not play center at the NHL level? Hudler is the second best playmaking forward the Wings have. He should be centering Hossa and another scorer on the second line. Leino fits perfectly here. Filppula should be centering the third line, whose primary role should be defensive but which should also be a capable scoring threat. Franzen and Samuelsson fit perfectly with this role. And then a fourth line made up of any three of Cleary, Helm, Kopecky, Draper, and Maltby is a capable checking line with speed, grit, and physical presence. you are delusional Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FinRedWing 172 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Of course they will have playoff spots,we're going for the Cup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bluedevils_13 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Lines I wwas rockin out on nhl 09 yesterday, worked out pretty good, not saying we should do them though. Filppula-Datsyuk-Cleary Samuelson-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Hossa-Hudler-Franzen Helm-Draper-Maltby. It is definitely going to be interesting to see who Babs decides sits in the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shaman 713 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 definately retarded to not use huds in a game to get helm in, huds is 1000x what helm is, he may not be 'gritty' but helm's up side is nothing compared to hudlers' upside. If anyone is going to set is kopecky or maltby, someone who is more likely to have more downside then helm does. In the playoffs while shutdown forwards are great, you can also never have enough scoring. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 (edited) Filpula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Zetterberg-Hossa Cleary-Helm-Neil Leino/Maltby-Draper-Hudler My 09 lines, and could happen. Though Kopecky and Samuelsson being gone in favor or Neil probably wont happen, but dont kill my dreams. Edited February 23, 2009 by Detroit # 1 Fan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,232 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Helm is the man. Leino is shaping up to be the man of the future. I approve. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ComradeWasabi 109 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 I would personally love to see: D-Z-H Franzen-Filppula-Hossa Hudler-Draper-Cleary Leino-Helm-Samuelsson Teach helm to go to the front of the net and you have four potential scoring lines. Sorry Malts and Kopecky. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 My ideal lines would look like this if we could add Neil ZDH - Can't Touch them, it's tried and true. Leino-Filppula-Hossa - 2 set up people and a pure goal scorer. Leino can play in front of the net. Hudler-Helm-Franzen - Helm to forecheck and get the puck, hudler/franzen to finish also franzen in the front of the net. This line would put good pressure. Neil-Draper-Samuelsson/Kopecky/Maltby - Great 4th line imo, psychical, speedy, and a little scoring touch. Yes I'm not impressed with Samuelsson. No, you won't change my mind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 (edited) My ideal lines would look like this if we could add Neil ZDH - Can't Touch them, it's tried and true. Leino-Filppula-Hossa - 2 set up people and a pure goal scorer. Leino can play in front of the net. Hudler-Helm-Franzen - Helm to forecheck and get the puck, hudler/franzen to finish also franzen in the front of the net. This line would put good pressure. Neil-Draper-Samuelsson/Kopecky/Maltby - Great 4th line imo, psychical, speedy, and a little scoring touch. Yes I'm not impressed with Samuelsson. No, you won't change my mind. Glad I'm not the only one who put Neil in there roster, and didnt have Sammy as a regular! Edit: Woahhh, forgetting Dano however?! Edited February 24, 2009 by Detroit # 1 Fan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 Glad I'm not the only one who put Neil in there roster, and didnt have Sammy as a regular! Edit: Woahhh, forgetting Dano however?! Oh wow how the hell did I do that? Oh well easy fix. ZDH Leino-Flip-Hossa Hudler-Helm-Franzen Neil-Draper-Cleary That's scary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
