khele2k2 0 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 I think the biggest questions are our former first line and our backup goalie. Part of the reason Osgood has been so great in the playoffs is from his added rest thanks to playing half the regular season rather than most of it. Will Howard pan out? If not, Osgood may have problems in next year's playoffs. Next year the top line will undoubtedly be Franzen, Zetterberg and Cleary. So what about Holmer and Pav? Do you put Hudler on that line? He's become a better scorer and might fit, but he's not much of a corners guy. This is assuming arbitration favors us (based on the economy). Here's my projected lineup: Franzen Zetterberg Cleary Holmstrom Datsyuk Hudler Helm Filppula Leino Maltby Draper Meech Lidstrom Rafalski Kronwall Stuart Ericsson Lilja/Lebda Osgood Howard I think you have to at least try to give Howard similar playing time to what Conklin received. If he blows it, then you move on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superman54 91 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Reunite the Eurotwins Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Franzen - Filppula - Cleary Hudler - Helm - Leino Maltby - Draper - Abdelkader (If he plays) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tommingthepuck96 1 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Uhhh i cant see filppula getting third line minutes another year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmubronco420 25 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Reunite the Eurotwins Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Franzen - Filppula - Cleary Hudler - Helm - Leino Maltby - Draper - Abdelkader (If he plays) i really like the look of that lineup, that third line would be one of the best in the NHL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown_Ryan 119 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 I think the biggest questions are our former first line and our backup goalie. Part of the reason Osgood has been so great in the playoffs is from his added rest thanks to playing half the regular season rather than most of it. Will Howard pan out? If not, Osgood may have problems in next year's playoffs. Next year the top line will undoubtedly be Franzen, Zetterberg and Cleary. So what about Holmer and Pav? Do you put Hudler on that line? He's become a better scorer and might fit, but he's not much of a corners guy. This is assuming arbitration favors us (based on the economy). Here's my projected lineup: Franzen Zetterberg Cleary Holmstrom Datsyuk Hudler Helm Filppula Leino Maltby Draper Meech Lidstrom Rafalski Kronwall Stuart Ericsson Lilja/Lebda Osgood Howard I think you have to at least try to give Howard similar playing time to what Conklin received. If he blows it, then you move on. Well With the fact being that Hudler could go to Arbitration...We could lose him and Kenny said hes trading a Dman so..... Lilja is prolly gone? trade value is better for a D man that is a big guy.. not little Lebda. Difficult to tell ...but we shall see.. No matter what the line up Wings finish the 4th seed in the west....out in round one! so....the line up hardly matters IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thunderpriest 8 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 (edited) Cleary won't supplant Homer on the top line. Unfortunately, Babs will likely split up Dats & Z........which I hate. (Without Hossa or Sammy, he'll want to bolster the 2nd line, but I'd never split the Euro-twins.) Here is how I believe our roster will shape up, and where I'd play the personnel: Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom Hudler, Filppula, Franzen Leino, Helm, Cleary Maltby, Draper, Abdelkader Lidstrom, Rafalski Kronwall, Stuart Ericsson, Lilja Osgood Howard Alternatively (if Dats & Z MUST be separated): Filppula, Datsyuk, Holmstrom Cleary, Zetterberg, Franzen Leino, Hudler, Helm Maltby, Draper, Abby Edited July 3, 2009 by Thunderpriest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest lnvincible Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Cleary won't supplant Homer on the top line. Unfortunately, Babs will likely split up Dats & Z........which I hate. IWithout Hossa or Sammy, he'll want to bolster the 2nd line, but I'd nebver split the Euro-twins.) Here is how I believe our roster will shape up, and where I'd play the personnel: Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom Hudler, Filppula, Franzen Leino, Helm, Cleary Maltby, Draper, Abdelkader Lidstrom, Rafalski Kronwall, Stuart Ericsson, Lilja Osgood Howard Alternatively (if Dats & Z MUST be separated): Filppula, Datsyuk, Holmstrom Cleary, Zetterberg, Franzen Leino, Hudler, Helm Maltby, Draper, Abby Im excitied to see what Leino can do Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary Franzen-Filppula-Leino Hudler-Helm-Abdelkader (or homer if we sign a 4th line grinder and abby stays in the ahl) Homer-Draper-Maltby Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Lilja/Lebda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Norm_Maracle For Vezina 0 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Well With the fact being that Hudler could go to Arbitration...We could lose him and Kenny said hes trading a Dman so..... Lilja is prolly gone? trade value is better for a D man that is a big guy.. not little Lebda. Difficult to tell ...but we shall see.. No matter what the line up Wings finish the 4th seed in the west....out in round one! so....the line up hardly matters IMO. thats probably why no one listens to you when you speak Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winged_Wheeler 3 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Here you go- Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary Leino-Filppula-Franzen Hudler-Helm-Abdelkader Maltby-Draper-Holmstrom Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detoxified 0 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Line 1 - Holmstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg Line 2 - Cleary, Filppula, Franzen Line 3 - Leino, Helm, Hudler Line 4 - Maltby, Draper, Abdelkader D Line 1 - Lidstrom, Rafalski D Line 2 - Stuart, Kronwall D Line 3 - Ericsson, Lebda(or Kindl) Goalie - Osgood Goalie - Howard I think Lilja is done for his career. I'd like to see Kindl, Ritola and Haydar get called up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown_Ryan 119 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 (edited) thats probably why no one listens to you when you speak Why? because of my opinion? I never said it was fact. Just a outside look is all.... Not trying to be negative either... Just saying Im not HUGELY confident in this look of a team with Howard as a back up.... We Watch the wings year in and Year out... hoping to see them hoist the cup. Do YOU think it can be done with this roster? Seriously...? If so your ALOT more optimistic than I am.. thats all i meant by that statement..... Edited July 3, 2009 by Hockeytown_Ryan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Here you go- Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary Leino-Filppula-Franzen Hudler-Helm-Abdelkader Maltby-Draper-Holmstrom glad you agree with me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
khele2k2 0 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary Franzen-Filppula-Leino Hudler-Helm-Abdelkader (or homer if we sign a 4th line grinder and abby stays in the ahl) Homer-Draper-Maltby Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Lilja/Lebda This makes sense because there's no doubt Holmer and Lilja's futures are up in the air, due to injury. I like Filppula as a second-liner, though I find it almost impossible to believe Leino will be a top 6 guy unless he explodes out of the gate. Also, I like Meech better than Abdelkader because of his Dandenault/Samuelsson-like ability to play both ways. Also, if they lost Hudler, I'd like to see them either keep that space open in case Howard doesn't pan out or get one of the many grind-line type of defensive forwards that are surfacing around the league. Both Anaheim and Pittsburgh had a line like this. Shut-down forwards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rick zombo 3,739 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 If Abby stays in the NHL he has to play on the 3rd line,. He won't rot on the 4th. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casey 145 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 Do YOU think it can be done with this roster? Seriously...? Yes, yes I do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit Dan 0 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 Here is how I believe our roster will shape up, and where I'd play the personnel: Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom Hudler, Filppula, Franzen Leino, Helm, Cleary Maltby, Draper, Abdelkader Lidstrom, Rafalski Kronwall, Stuart Ericsson, Lilja Osgood Howard I like this lineup, with the possible exception of Lebda for Lilja. Hudler, Filppula, and Franzen would score a lot. The top line, of course, would be the best in the NHL. The third line would be strong on speed and Leino is a playmaker. Draper and Maltby were weak this year, and by playoff time we may again be looking for youngsters for on 4th line... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z Winged Dangler 2,082 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary Franzen-Filppula-Leino Hudler-Helm-Abdelkader (or homer if we sign a 4th line grinder and abby stays in the ahl) Homer-Draper-Maltby Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Lilja/Lebda i agree with these lines. and then the 4th line retires after next season! they just don't have IT anymore...unfortunately Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peleshob 0 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 I don't know how likely getting Huds back will be if arbitration goes through... if it does we'll likely have to move him for some picks. If that's the case I might go: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Leino-Filppula-Franzen Abdelkader-Helm-Cleary Oulahen-Draper-Maltby Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Lilja/Lebda Osgood Howard As a few people on the site have mentioned, Oulahen is very responsible defensively... not very physical, though. Low cap number, too. I think Cleary and Leino could be interchangeable, but I like the grit and energy of that 3rd line, plus I'm all for the Finnish combination. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winged_Wheeler 3 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 glad you agree with me. Yeah the defensive pairing are going to be the same, most likely. I like the second line, maybe some chemistry will come about with Leino and Filppula considering they're both from Finland. We also know how unstoppable Franzen is with Filppula. I am going to miss the Franzen-Filppula-Hossa line though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedFX 48 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 (edited) Well With the fact being that Hudler could go to Arbitration...We could lose him and Kenny said hes trading a Dman so..... Lilja is prolly gone? trade value is better for a D man that is a big guy.. not little Lebda. Difficult to tell ...but we shall see.. No matter what the line up Wings finish the 4th seed in the west....out in round one! so....the line up hardly matters IMO. Well that's a relief. Now I don't have to watch the season because I know how it'll end. Thanks bud! .......... Seriously, what's wrong with some of you people?? Chicago signs one player and all of a sudden everyone thinks the season's over. I'm not trying to sound cliched, but Jesus Tapdancing Christ! Have some faith in your freaking team!!!!!! Now as far as the line combos, there's alot of different combos Babs can use, and has used in the past. I think the health/skill of Holmstrom can really determine how the lines shake out. If he still looks solid, you can have him out front with Dats and Z. If his play drops significantly, I can see him drop all the way to the 4th line and see him as a PP specialist. I'd love to see an Abdelkader-Helm-Leino line (assuming Leino indeed signs and Abby is up), as they worked really well together early in the finals. It'll also be interesting to see how Oulahan plays into these combos as well. He'll start as the extra forward (assuming he's not waived or traded) but he might be able to play his way into the lineup at some point this season. Edited July 4, 2009 by RedFX Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary Franzen-Filppula-Leino Hudler-Helm-Abdelkader (or homer if we sign a 4th line grinder and abby stays in the ahl) Homer-Draper-Maltby That's probably how I'd do it. Though can Abdelkader play RW? I thought he got benched because he was too used to playing center for GR. Well... actually, I guess it was the finals and not the best time for experimenting, but the question remains. But if so then yeah I'd like that 3rd line. Abby isn't shy about providing a net front presence. Oh Homer on the 4th line. Has he finally come full circle since his start in 96-97? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheOwl 77 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 They'll still use Homer on the first power play with Dats and Z, or however they do it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedStormRising 7 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 Why? because of my opinion? I never said it was fact. Just a outside look is all.... Not trying to be negative either... Just saying Im not HUGELY confident in this look of a team with Howard as a back up.... We Watch the wings year in and Year out... hoping to see them hoist the cup. Do YOU think it can be done with this roster? Seriously...? If so your ALOT more optimistic than I am.. thats all i meant by that statement..... I'm with you dude... Unfortunately, I'm not expecting much next season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LIDDYGIBBY5 1 Report post Posted July 4, 2009 I know it is fun to project lines, but every Wings fan knows that when it comes to Mike Babcock and line combos, nothing is set. There will be so many different lines just through the first 20 games. That being said...... Datsyuk Hank Holmstrom Hudler Val Franzen Leino Helm Cleary Maltby Draper Abby Downey Lids Rafi Kronwall Stuart Ericson Lebda Meech Osgood Howard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
