If Draper's in, who's out?

[yzefan 2]

With Draper returning for game 3 ( fingers crossed) who would you like to see get taken out of the line up?

Me personally.. would be happy to see kopecky watching from the bench.. what do YOU think?

[Guest MrSandMan]

I say give Kops a little rest and play Helm. Mr.Helm was great yesterday,,,,

One thing is for sure, we have a bright future ahead of us.

I really hope Drapes and Ralfi are ready to go...only if they are healthy.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Put Draper on Helm's wing. Sit Maltby.

You get two faceoff guys................

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

Draper/Helm and Malts.

I think Malts is being overlooked.. He's being a s*** stirrer out there every s***. He'll be drawing alot of penalties the longer this series goes on.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Draper/Helm and Malts.

I think Malts is being overlooked.. He's being a s*** stirrer out there every s***. He'll be drawing alot of penalties the longer this series goes on.

I agree, ever since his healthy scratch earlier this season, it's really been a wake-up call to malts and he's played pretty well, Kopecky, however, since his little outburst near the end of the season, has been terrible - poor balance, losing the puck, not playing physical enough - as soon as Drapes is healthy again, he needs to come in, in Kopecky's place

[Vladifan 680]

I agree, ever since his healthy scratch earlier this season, it's really been a wake-up call to malts and he's played pretty well, Kopecky, however, since his little outburst near the end of the season, has been terrible - poor balance, losing the puck, not playing physical enough - as soon as Drapes is healthy again, he needs to come in, in Kopecky's place

Hokay, that's three of us at least. Malts has been playing aggressively and with heart. Not saying Kopecky isn't but I'd love to see the re-uniting of Drapes (get well, pleeeze?), Malts and Helm. Talk about an energy line...!

[NGKEIB 32]

The one advantage Kopecky does have over anyone else on that line is his size. Granted, he shouldn't use it as he should, but still... I'd love to see Kopecky try and stir things up more and get into a fight with Pronger or someone. Not that I think he would win, but that it would be good to have Pronger in the box for a while (same goes for Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan). And he did spray Hiller with ice, which pissed off the Ducks. All the same, Maltby has been playing quite well really, and is starting to annoy some Ducks. As for Helm, there were times in the last game when he looked like the best player on the ice (after Osgood), and it would be ridiculous to make him sit.

So, basically what Steve said.

Helm-Draper-Maltby. Faceoffs should be won.

[NKYWingsFan 4]

He's being a s*** stirrer out there every s***.

That's a good amount of s***.

[Mike 0]

Helm-Draper-Maltby. Kopecky has done nothing but turnover the puck, take poor shots and fall on his ass constantly.

[Green Wing 26]

Yeah Helm Draper Maltby.

Kopecky could be ten feet tall and he'd still hit like a puff pastry. And I don't like his positioning, hockey sense or turnovers either.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Yeah Helm Draper Maltby.

Kopecky could be ten feet tall and he'd still hit like a puff pastry. And I don't like his positioning, hockey sense or turnovers either.

I honestly would rather us not re-sign him in the off season, I think the Kopecky experiment has played out and we've all seen what he will be as an NHL'er.

Personally, I would rather have Abdelkader be in before him depth chart wise in a checking role, and obviously Leino in a shooting/play-making role...

[DMAC 25 18]

I say give Kops a little rest and play Helm. Mr.Helm was great yesterday,,,,

One thing is for sure, we have a bright future ahead of us.

I really hope Drapes and Ralfi are ready to go...only if they are healthy.

too bad they wernt ready for game two, not saying that it for sure would have happened but if ralfi was back the ducks might not have scored 4 goals. just sayin

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Kopecky. Maltby at least has been somewhat useful on the fourth line and he kills penalties. Kopecky doesn't provide anything to this team. It's time for him to sit if Draper can play.

[zaxx 0]

I agree with most on here, keep Matls in the line up. When Helm, Kop, and Malts were on the ice in game 2 helm would through a hit, kops would get into position but Matlby would grab the puck, help grind it out and seem to add a calming presence on the ice. His experience was a big factor in the success of that line. Now if only Helm would have scored!

[Echolalia 2,961]

I'd rather Kopecky in the lineup and sit Maltby. Malts is good at stirring s*** up, like someone else noted, but that's about it. Kopecky at the very least created a couple scoring opportunities in the last game. He also isn't afraid to throw a big hit out there, despite having trouble staying on his feet for when he is hit.

[redwashington2000 42]

Draps and Leino for Kopi and Malts, plus Rafi and Lils for Lebda and Celi. Problem solved

[stevkrause 1,247]

Draps and Leino for Kopi and Malts, plus Rafi and Lils for Lebda and Celi. Problem solved

yea, in a perfect world where they're healthy...

[Wombat 26]

there is absolutely no way that Babcock will bench Helm. It will be either Kopy or Maltby. I would prefer to give Maltby a chance to roll with Draper in the playoffs at first. If he doesn't keep up the intensity and provide grit, throw Kopy right back in.

I think the other interesting thing to think about is if/when Draper gets back, Babcock can more easily alter the lines with the addition of another quality centerman. He could reunite the ZDH line, going with something like:

ZDH

Franzen/Flip/Hossa

Huds/Helm/Cleary

Maltby/Draper/Sammy

[stevkrause 1,247]

there is absolutely no way that Babcock will bench Helm. It will be either Kopy or Maltby. I would prefer to give Maltby a chance to roll with Draper in the playoffs at first. If he doesn't keep up the intensity and provide grit, throw Kopy right back in.

I think the other interesting thing to think about is if/when Draper gets back, Babcock can more easily alter the lines with the addition of another quality centerman. He could reunite the ZDH line, going with something like:

ZDH

Franzen/Flip/Hossa

Huds/Helm/Cleary

Maltby/Draper/Sammy

especially with how well Flip has been playing, I think this makes perfect sense

[Wombat 26]

especially with how well Flip has been playing, I think this makes perfect sense

Thanks for pointing that out... I forgot to say that was part of my rationale for doing so. I've been really impressed with Flip, even if it's not resulting in tons of goals/points. My one fear of doing this line rearrangement is stacking the best defensive forwards (Z and Dats) on the same line when the Ducks have the right of last change at the Ponda... they can easily avoid those guys. But it would give the Ducks a line they would have to check with care, plus still have a deadly 2nd line.

[Reds4Life 51]

Sit that Kopecky bum.

[T.OWingsFan 7]

Kopecky or Maltby. Both are ineffective. Helm and Drapes is one hell of a fast line. Can cause alot of damage.

[uk_redwing 495]

ZDH

Franzen/Flip/Hossa

Huds/Helm/Cleary

Maltby/Draper/Sammy

I would prefer to keep Helm on the 4th line, purely because of the invaluable energy he provides when he goes running everything in sight like a little bulldog.

And to answer the question of this thread, we all knew at the beginning of the season a certain H should be in instead of a certain K. K is lazy and sucks.

Edited May 4, 2009 by uk_redwing

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Sit that Kopecky bum.

Why?

I can sense that he's right on the verge of fighting Pronger and beating the living daylights out of him.

[esteef 2,679]

I'd rather Kopecky in the lineup and sit Maltby. Malts is good at stirring s*** up, like someone else noted, but that's about it. Kopecky at the very least created a couple scoring opportunities in the last game. He also isn't afraid to throw a big hit out there, despite having trouble staying on his feet for when he is hit.

I agree. It pains me to say it but Kopecky has at least been noticeable so far. Finishing some checks (especially against Pronger!), had a couple of pretty good scoring chances, and at least he "might" drop the gloves if necessary, we all know what Maltby will do. Maltby is superior defensively though so it's still a tough call.

Sit Maltby and see how it goes.

esteef