Babcock Begins To Reveal Playoff Lines

[detroitsportsman05 1]

http://www.freep.com/article/20090306/SPOR...opecky+charging

"Draper has five points and is plus-3 in his past five games. Babcock said he plans to use Draper to center the third line, with Dan Cleary as one winger, in the playoffs."

So....

________-_________-__________

________-_________-__________

________-Draper-Cleary

________-_________-__________

Have at the rest LGWers

NOTE: i know there are other topics on the playoff lineups...but this is from Babcock himself, i figured it deserved its own spot. Move if i am wrong.

[Jarret_G 0]

http://www.freep.com/article/20090306/SPOR...opecky+charging

"Draper has five points and is plus-3 in his past five games. Babcock said he plans to use Draper to center the third line, with Dan Cleary as one winger, in the playoffs."

So....

________-_________-__________

________-_________-__________

________-Draper-Cleary

________-_________-__________

Have at the rest LGWers

NOTE: i know there are other topics on the playoff lineups...but this is from Babcock himself, i figured it deserved its own spot. Move if i am wrong.

I think the biggest thing about that article is Babcock's last quote on Ericcson, "Good. Big E, he's going to be here for 15 years."

Also, Kopecky has finally been playing to his potential in the last few games with the absence of Hossa...hope he keeps it up

Edited March 6, 2009 by Jarret_G

[StevieY9802 6]

My guess for lines as of right now if everyones healthy?

Dats - Hank - Homer (Z's really come on back with Pavel)

Franzen - Fil - Hossa

Cleary - Drapes - Malts

Hudler - Kopecky or Helm - Sammy

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

My guess for lines as of right now if everyones healthy?

Dats - Hank - Homer (Z's really come on back with Pavel)

Franzen - Fil - Hossa

Cleary - Drapes - Malts

Hudler - Kopecky or Helm - Sammy

A fourth line of Hudler-Helm-Sammy brings tears to my eyes. That's beyond money, and I'll take that line against any other 4th line in the game.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

My guess for lines as of right now if everyones healthy?

Dats - Hank - Homer (Z's really come on back with Pavel)

Franzen - Fil - Hossa

Cleary - Drapes - Malts

Hudler - Kopecky or Helm - Sammy

Close, but...

Dats - Hank - Homer

Franzen - Fil - Hossa

Cleary - Drapes - Sammy

Hudler - Helm - Kopecky

(Leino/Maltby)

[StevieY9802 6]

Close, but...

Dats - Hank - Homer

Franzen - Fil - Hossa

Cleary - Drapes - Sammy

Hudler - Helm - Kopecky

(Leino/Maltby)

Maltby won't get benched. I can promise that. Watched this team for too long to know that.

[VM1138 1,921]

What about Leino, I thought Babs said he would be in the lineup at some point?

Anyway, I like any line with Hudler and Helm on it. Sammy can't hit the broad side of a barn but he's solid defensively most of the time.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Maltby won't get benched. I can promise that. Watched this team for too long to know that.

Who then? Helm is a lock to centre the 4th line so it comes down to Hudler or Kopecky. Hudler sees regular PP time and was great in our Cup run whilst Kopecky is hitting career best form and is seeing time on the PK. You can't scratch either of these guys for Maltby.

[superstarsingh 23]

[quote name='StevieY9802' date

[superstarsingh 23]

My guess for lines as of right now if everyones healthy?

Dats - Hank - Homer (Z's really come on back with Pavel)

Franzen - Fil - Hossa

Cleary - Drapes - Malts

Hudler - Kopecky or Helm - Sammy

That sounds about right.

[StevieY9802 6]

Who then? Helm is a lock to centre the 4th line so it comes down to Hudler or Kopecky. Hudler sees regular PP time and was great in our Cup run whilst Kopecky is hitting career best form and is seeing time on the PK. You can't scratch either of these guys for Maltby.

It would be Helm or Kopecky I think. They seem to really like Maltby for his PK and him and Drapes work well together. Maybe they finally do sit him for Kopecky or Helm but based on what I've watched for years I don't see it happening.

[Mors 201]

I seriously doubt that Babock is going to bench Draper or Maltby in the playoffs. Helm is definitely in. Leino is also very likely based on Babock's previous comments. You can see where this is going...

[Opie 308]

A fourth line of Hudler-Helm-Sammy brings tears to my eyes. That's beyond money, and I'll take that line against any other 4th line in the game.

I agree guys that have proven they can play on the second line, and one guy that for all intense and purposes looks like a solid 3rd line center.

I would take that 4th line any day of the week!

[Guest MrSandMan]

I hold no regards to PO lineups that are announced or speculated. Nothing is in stone.. we all know Babcock will shuffle the lines as he sees fit. I wouldn't be surprised if we see Draper centering the 3rd line for 2 shifts before a new change is made.

That's the beauty of hockey.

[Frozen-Man 144]

A fourth line of Hudler-Helm-Sammy brings tears to my eyes. That's beyond money, and I'll take that line against any other 4th line in the game.

That is an incredible 4th line and that's still leaving Leino out of the line-up. It's crazy the options that Babs has.

[T-Ruff 47]

Maltby won't get benched. I can promise that. Watched this team for too long to know that.

Did he not get benched last playoffs in a few games?

Edited March 6, 2009 by T-Ruff

[Guest mindfly]

Leino has gotta be on the team in the playoffs, simple as that, bench maltby and kopecky

[ben_usmc 253]

they are not going to sit Kopecky especially while he is breaking out. I don't know but most likely Helm/Leino will be sitting until someone proves they shouldn't be in the line up

[T-Ruff 47]

Did he not get benched last playoffs in a few games?

I looked it up:

only game 2 vs Avs, and game 2 and game 3 vs Preds he was listed as healthy scratch, but there was about 6 other times in between those that list as scratched due to "hamstring" so who knows....

In any event, I don't think Babcock will have a problem benching Maltby in the playoffs (nor should he), and IMO there are better line-ups we can ice....

[Chunkylover 26]

It's as difficult to guess the best top-six combinations as it is to guess the bottom six.

Line 1A: Datsyuk - Holmstrom - Hossa

Datsyuk can click with anyone, and he'll probably produce the most with Hossa. Holmstrom will always be on his line. Dynamite offense and stingy defense.

Line 1B: Zetterberg - Franzen - Filppula

This line can be good, if Z and Mule can stay healthy and Fil starts shooting. In any event Z is good on the boards, Fil can feed the Mule, the rest should write itself. All three are regular penalty killers.

Checking Line: Draper - Samuelsson - Cleary

This line oozes defensive competence speed and grit (at least Detroit-caliber grit). Good forecheckers and can pitch in a goal every other game.

Energy/Checking Line: Helm - Hudler - Maltby

These guys all saw some time together on this line last season. Maltby and Helm were good energy guys. Hudler can make anyone a goal-scorer against the oppositions depth lines.

Kopecky - Leino

The Wings will lose a few games through the playoff run. Kopy and Leino are inexperienced and that keeps them from starting. This also depends on who our opponent is. If it's a big tough team Kopy is in, if it's a speed/skill opponent Leino is in.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I thought I remembered reading somewhere from either Babs or Holland that veterans may be scratched in this year's playoffs for younger players (ie Helm, Leino, Ericcson, etc).

I'm actually fairly confident Maltby won't be playing in every playoff game.

[Chunkylover 26]

I'm actually fairly confident Maltby won't be playing in every playoff game.

Probably not. He was a healthy scratch for a few games last season. I think he'll start, and if his line is a liability in a win, or if the team loses, he'll be rotated out.

If we play a team like Calgary Kopecky will probably dress because of his size, if Columbus, it'll probably be Leino - Helm - Hudler.

[Guest Shoreline]

We'll see if this is the case in 4-6 weeks. To me no sense in speculating now.

Edited March 6, 2009 by Shoreline

[StevieY9802 6]

Did he not get benched last playoffs in a few games?

yeah he was out the entire playoffs before game 1 against Dallas. That was his first game back. Sounded like he was ready late in the Avs series but probably didn't get put back in since the series wasn't in doubt. And I'm not saying Babs should be scared to bench him I just think he will play. Mac got benched for him when they got to the finals and Franzen came back. And I don't really care because I trust Babcock for who he plays. There is a reason he's the coach and has a Cup and not me

Edited March 6, 2009 by StevieY9802

[Glubki 17]

If we play a team like Calgary Kopecky will probably dress because of his size, if Columbus, it'll probably be Leino - Helm - Hudler.

This is my thought as well - Leino can score but I'm not sure how well he would do in tight checking hockey with limited space against teams like San Jose and Calgary. He is still a bit raw on his wheels - Helm is a good skater and has proven he can play at that level.