Guest blueadams Report post Posted July 1, 2009 Sounds like no Hossa, no Samuelsson, no Kopecky, no Conklin and one of the following three defensemen will be traded after camp - lilija, lebda, meech. The roster doesn't look all that solid, but with 4-5 million to play with, we'll add at least one forward, as Abdelkader is probably going to be starting out in grand rapids. Third line is looking a little weak, isn't it? Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary Franzen-Filppula-Holmstrom Hudler-Helm-Leino Maltby-Draper-Abdelkader? Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Lilija/Lebda/Meech Osgood Howard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted July 1, 2009 The roster doesn't look all that solid, but with 4-5 million to play with, we'll add at least one forward, as Abdelkader is probably going to be starting out in grand rapids. Third line is looking a little weak, isn't it? Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary Franzen-Filppula-Holmstrom Hudler-Helm-Leino Maltby-Draper-Abdelkader? Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Lilija/Lebda/Meech Osgood Howard The back end is pretty easy to figure out. Up front however is a little tricky. This is all I'm set on for now: Pav-Z-? Mule-Fil-? ?-Helm-? ?-Drapes-Malts Babs has to spread out the weak skaters a little. Two strong skaters with one not so strong. Pav-Z-Homer Mule-Fil-Leino Huds-Helm-Cleary ?-Drapes-Malts Leino on the second line is a shock to some, but not to me. It seems as if Babs likes him more than Huds, perhaps because he's a little bigger and he works better down low on the cycle. I don't want to put Cleary on the third line. But again, two strong skaters with one not so strong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted July 1, 2009 The back end is pretty easy to figure out. Up front however is a little tricky. This is all I'm set on for now: Pav-Z-? Mule-Fil-? ?-Helm-? ?-Drapes-Malts Babs has to spread out the weak skaters a little. Two strong skaters with one not so strong. Pav-Z-Homer Mule-Fil-Leino Huds-Helm-Cleary ?-Drapes-Malts Leino on the second line is a shock to some, but not to me. It seems as if Babs likes him more than Huds, perhaps because he's a little bigger and he works better down low on the cycle. I don't want to put Cleary on the third line. But again, two strong skaters with one not so strong. Keep Cleary with Pavs and Z. We need to foster that chemistry and keep that line knit tight all year. The instant chemistry between ZDH was a huge asset in the 07-08 playoffs- allowing Babs to throw them out there and have them click regardless of who had had playing together the last few games. I'd love to see ZDC develop the same chemistry. That means Cleary needs to keep playing with Zetterberg and Datsyuk so he can anticipate their plays like Holmstrom does. Keep Leino on the second line to see how much offense he can help create. Hudler immediately makes the third line dangerous and Holmstrom with fewer minutes should be able to get back into his groove in front of the net. Helm is fast enough to keep the line dangerous even with two slow ass dudes plodding along with him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Finnish Wing 110 Report post Posted July 1, 2009 Hopefully Flip can now prove he's a top 6 forward even without Hossa. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
