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Best possible red wing lineup come playoff time?

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Just a general observation, there a lot of posts featuring lines with no real centerman. Leino, Hudler, Samuelsson? I don't think I've ever seen any of them play center. I could be wrong, maybe Hudler has played some center, he's listed as a center on NHL09. We basically have 5 natural centers (6 if you count Franzen but he doesn't play center much anymore) and a lot of wingers that can play with any line combination. Again, this is not pointed at any particular post or posts, just a general observation.

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http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...pecky_play.html

"Babcock said he plans to have Draper center the third line in the playoffs, flanked by Dan Cleary and somebody else."

I had a feeling that Draper would center the third line. I'm thinking that somebody else is Sammy. Though, if they're looking to fill Dallas Drake's spot and want a tenacious skater who can finish simple checks (though not kamikaze like) then I actually think Helm would be good on Draper's left wing. But then who is the center for the 4th line? Kopy? A line of Huds-Kopy-Samuelsson doesn't sound too bad. At least in theory. If that's not it then maybe Kopy goes on Draper's left and Helm centers the fourth line like last year.

Pav-Z-Homer

Mule-Fil-Hoss

Helmer-Drapes-Bear

Huds-Kopy-Sammy

I just don't see where Leino fits in for this year's run. I can't say I fully disagree with leaving him off because they have enough skill. And Babs already said that Leino has a long ways to go to be consistent defensively. Unfair or not, that'll probably be the deciding factor for him.

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Just a general observation, there a lot of posts featuring lines with no real centerman. Leino, Hudler, Samuelsson? I don't think I've ever seen any of them play center. I could be wrong, maybe Hudler has played some center, he's listed as a center on NHL09. We basically have 5 natural centers (6 if you count Franzen but he doesn't play center much anymore) and a lot of wingers that can play with any line combination. Again, this is not pointed at any particular post or posts, just a general observation.

Natural centers on the Detroit roster currently, if you include Helm:

Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Hudler, Filppula, Draper, Kopecky, Helm.

-Zetterberg we all know the story there.

-Dats has played mostly center in his career.

-Hudler played only center until after he was drafted, and was drafted as the center with the most pure skill in his draft year but was expected to drop out of the top ten due to size. In Grand Rapids at one point he played on a line with Kopecky where the team's coach would sometimes have Hudler centering it and sometimes have Kopecky centering it. He was converted mainly to wing after he was put on the roster full-time due primarily to his size.

-Filppula has played mostly center, while playing some wing.

-Draper has played some wing in the past in his prime to be placed on one of the top two lines, but moving him away from center is rarely justifiable due to the fact he is one of the top five faceoff men in the NHL.

-Kopecky has played primarily wing since the AHL due to his chemistry there with Hudler, who played more center on that line, and his need to improve his faceoff abilities. Kopecky also possesses a big body and is willing to hit often, which will get him in the lineup as a checking winger as the Wings have a logjam at center. Kopecky is an offensively talented player who is still recovering from a severe knee injury, so that may also affect his ability to play center as easily as he can play wing.

-Helm's willingess and ability to hit often and well will get him in the lineup, much like Kopecky. The logjam at center will get Helm moved to wing also, as it has in the past.

As for Franzen, however, he is not a natural center. Franzen was converted to center in the Swedish league.

After he joined the Red Wings, he converted back to wing due to Detroit's logjam at center. This despite his recently displayed skill at taking faceoffs.

Now, whether you think a player has to be a natural center to play center, despite the fact Franzen is good on faceoffs and can play center, that is up to you. I personally think "natural" is not a requirement.

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He was converted mainly to wing after he was put on the roster full-time due primarily to his size.

And also his poorer defensive game and skating ability. He has worked hard at both and improved greatly in both areas, but he's still the worst skater and defensive player of the bunch you mentioned. The center has the most defensive responsibility and his impressive offensive skills will take a backseat to that.

-Draper has played some wing in the past in his prime to be placed on one of the top two lines, but moving him away from center is rarely justifiable due to the fact he is one of the top five faceoff men in the NHL.

Yeah, I remember when Mike had him playing wing with Pavel and Shanny down the stretch in '06 and into the playoffs, which was pretty much a mess. :P

As far as faceoffs are concerned, he could easy take draws and move to wing if need be, but he'll start at center anyways.

Edited by Heroes of Hockeytown

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All I have to say after wading through all those different line combos is that we are scary deep...we are going to have 2-3 players who may be sitting out every night that could start on the top 3 lines of any other team in the league !!

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I don't mind Draper controlling the 3rd line, as long as he has some energetic folks beside him. Last year it was his line who I found shared the most problems. I remember during the playoffs how it was usually in our zone when him and his lineups were out there. Draper with some young guns should work though, given the amount of energy the kids have, and can create for Drapes.

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I like most of the lines and there are some interesting combo's here, except for 1 thing. Hossa and Franzen to me on the same line do not work as well together as they have on other combos. We also have 3 players who do very well in front of the net in Homer, Franzen and Cleary, Leino has also shown the ability to do this as well and I think splitting Z and Dats puts more solid and dangerous line possibilities than the Z-D-H and Mule-Fli-Hoss lines.

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Yeah, I remember when Mike had him playing wing with Pavel and Shanny down the stretch in '06 and into the playoffs, which was pretty much a mess. :P

As far as faceoffs are concerned, he could easy take draws and move to wing if need be, but he'll start at center anyways.

The comment I made on Draper had more to do with his 20 goal season playing on Fedorov's wing.

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As of right now...

ZDH

Hossa-Hudler-Filppula

Cleary-Samuelsson-Leino

Helm-Draper-Kopecky/Downey

Maltby, McCarty, and remainder of Kopecky/Downey as backup forwards.

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Ericsson-Lilja

Chelios, Meech, Lebda as backup D

Conklin, Osgood.

You would bench the leader in scoring from last years playoffs? No room for Mule?

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Now, whether you think a player has to be a natural center to play center, despite the fact Franzen is good on faceoffs and can play center, that is up to you. I personally think "natural" is not a requirement.

Thank you for that information, I wasn't aware that Hudler played center at GR, I was basing that on what I've observed during his time with the Wings. Also, I don't necessarily think you have to be a natural centerman to play center, I was just pointing out that usually the line combos have someone at center who normally plays there. It just seemed that people were throwing any 3 forwards together and calling it a line. My point was that with the depth that the Wings have up the middle, it doesn't seem likely that Babcock is going to put someone at center who isn't used to playing center in the current system. The main thing is faceoffs, and when you look at the numbers, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Draper, and Filppula have taken 86% of the faceoffs for the team this season, they seem the most likely to be centering lines come playoff time, with Helm being the next most likely candidate if they decide to put any 2 of those 4 on a line together.

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