Come on babs put Z and Dats back together!

[pockets 9]

Z/D/Cleary

Mule/Flip/Hoss

Leino/Helm/Hudler

Homer/Drapes/Kop

Malts

the only thing that would worry me is the 3rd line in away games besides Helm im not to sure of leinos and huds d

[egroen 384]

You are not keeping Hossa and Filppula AND Hudler -- there is no possible way (unless you start trading guys with no-trade clauses - good luck with that).

So, the only way we see Flip and Huds both on the team next year is if Hossa is gone -- which is not the end of the world.

Hudler can handle centering the 2nd line -- here's why:

1) He is playing with two defensively responsible wingers -- Franzen and Hossa

2) He is playing with two big, fast, physical wingers who can make room for him

3) Short of Datsyuk, he is probably the best passer on the team -- ideal for Franzen and Hossa

4) He also has a wicked shot, will pot goals and rebounds from Mule and Hoss

5) Ever single time I have seen him play with Hossa, they score

Filppula would do fine there as well -- but I think Hudler is a better fit (for those wingers) and would do better at it.

If Flip is traded, you have Helm and Draper as the remaining centers.

If Flip is here and Hossa is gone, you have a lot of flexibility to toy with lines.

[Guest REDWINGSFTW]

yeh datsyuk and zetterbergs line cud easily put up a goal or 2 a game in the playoffs, which is sometimes all u need, and our other lines wud prolly at least score 1.

[RedWingedKitten 9]

Some of you really need to factor in the cap. If you put Hossa in somewhere, you need to take someone out. I value Franzen > Hossa, but I have a hard time seeing him sign for four million a year. That being said, we do have Ken Holland running this, and that makes me feel much better about this whole situation.

And yes, Babcock should put Z man and D on the same line in 2010... that line lead us to a cup in 08.

[Zetts 236]

I'd love D and Z back together, regardless of what happens with Hossa. It seemed like they just got split up because Babcock/management/whoever didn't like the idea of the shiny new toy Hossa not playing with another superstar.

I mean, we'd just won the cup with them together, I can't think of any legitimate reason to have split them up.

[MadMan Mark 0]

Remember Holland is running things. . . with that said, IF Lidstrom is finished after next year, Holmer not back, and Maltby done, you have to think this all figures in to how Hossa gets his money (about $10M according to my cap figures). If Hossa signs, for whatever the price tag, we keep a 40 goal scorer. If he doesn't sign, we keep players that helped us win a Cup in 2008. Win-win for the Wings. The "D" is all signed for next year, now let's get the scoring machine working again.

Also, keep in mind that if some team offers Hudler an obscene Dustin Penner contract, Wings get compensated with draft picks. . . many players locked up in long-term deals AND draft picks, talk about your highway robbery.

Hudler is good in the Wings system, just like Sammy excelled. . . I don't see them having the same success elsewhere. Anyone remember Martin LaPointe? Where is he now? How about Sergei Federov after he left Detroit?

[eva unit zero 271]

Remember Holland is running things. . . with that said, IF Lidstrom is finished after next year, Holmer not back, and Maltby done, you have to think this all figures in to how Hossa gets his money (about $10M according to my cap figures). If Hossa signs, for whatever the price tag, we keep a 40 goal scorer. If he doesn't sign, we keep players that helped us win a Cup in 2008. Win-win for the Wings. The "D" is all signed for next year, now let's get the scoring machine working again.

Also, keep in mind that if some team offers Hudler an obscene Dustin Penner contract, Wings get compensated with draft picks. . . many players locked up in long-term deals AND draft picks, talk about your highway robbery.

Hudler is good in the Wings system, just like Sammy excelled. . . I don't see them having the same success elsewhere. Anyone remember Martin LaPointe? Where is he now? How about Sergei Federov after he left Detroit?

Lapointe was producing because of who he played with. Fedorov is still producing decent numbers NOW, so that's a bad example. Hudler has a s***-ton of offensive skill and creates offensive chances out of nothing; this is why he can score so many points with so little ice time. Sammy pretty much only has his defensive play and his shot, which does get him some points but unless he gets himself the puck and gets in position, or has someone to get him the puck, he's not getting a lot of points; this is why Sammy is always used with a skilled playmaker at even strength and on the point on the PP; because he is a decent backchecker and has a heavy, fairly accurate slapshot that can easily turn into goals with a good screen. Sammy also has a good wrister that gains him some goals when he has chances to use it. Sammy could probably be converted to an offense-first defenseman fairly easily, actually. But Hudler will produce no matter where you put him or who he plays with; the Hudler/Draper/Maltby line proved that beyond any argument. Sammy is the kind of guy who has flaws and needs the right players with him to reach his full usefulness, just like a skilled playmaker who is very slow and can't score goals on his own. That's the kind of guy who would thrive with a Samuelsson type, but flounder if he were put with guys who don't have very good finishing skills. Hudler creates offense and can be a playmaker, or if necessary he will drive the net and can score goals on his own. Very good offensive talent, possibly elite in the future. Regardless of where he is playing or who with.