The FINAL ROSTER is SET...lines?

[titanium2 867]

milan lucic

I knew his name would come up. How about some others who don't have as much fanfare?

[newfy 695]

You know... What are we looking for when we want a "tough guy"? (No jokes, please). Obviously Kenny wants a verstaile tough guy; a guy who can play a good two-way game; perhaps hold his own in a fight. I'm thinking this supposed player would be a 2nd/3rd line tweener who can rack up let's say... 28 points in a year.

In all seriousness, who fits this description? Perhaps someone who is going to be a free agent soon. I'm just curious. What players are out there who resemble the middle ground between pro-enforcer and pro-skill?

Mark Bell could be that guy if the wings go out on a limb and sign him out of camp maybe. IMO he would look good in a winged wheel and brings alot of what this team likes and needs.

[South Dakota wings fan 7]

Leino will be on the 2nd line this season, he almost put up a point per game this year in the AHL and NHL, and homer probably will be moved down in favor of Cleary considering he's getting older, slowing down, and getting injured more consistently. On the power play i'd guess ZDH will be re-united though.

I tend to agree. Let Homer be a 4th line banger and then park in front of the net on the power play. Maybe that will help keep him healthy for the full season. Cleary is more than capable of playing on the first line and I think Villie will get the chance, ala Hudler, to prove he can play on the 2nd line with Flip and Mule.

[Thunderpriest 8]

Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

The usual suspects, provides a huge scoring threat as well as tremendous defence and shut down ability. Holmstrom might be declining but if healthy putting on a line with Dats and Hank could do wonders for him again.

Franzen - Filppula - Cleary

Filppula gets the chance to centre the 2nd line and for once he has pretty good line-mates who can certainly score. A nice blend of speed and toughness, with scoring ability of course.

Leino - Helm - Williams

I really like this line, Leino's craftyness, Helm's speed and physicality and Williams' scoring touch. A really young line also which could surprise. The only concern is defensively and they might take some time to gel.

Eaves - Draper - Maltby

I'm confident Eaves will eventually move up but he'll probably start on the 4th line while seeing occasional time on the PK.

This is exactly how I would line up the boys, with the exception of swapping Maltby & Eaves.

The 1st line was the most dominant in the game when Homer was healthy. And Pavs & Z should never, NEVER be split up. I don't eat Peanut Butter sandwiches & Jelly sandwiches separately. Some things just go better together.

The 2nd line looks tough. Fil & Mule developed some great chemistry, and Cleary should flourish there with them. Me likey.

3rd line looks promising. While not overjoyed with the signing of JWill, I can live with it as long as he remains on the third line. I love Helm's game....speed, grit & determination.....a template player under Babs. Hoping that Leino has a breakout year and competes with Cleary for 2nd line duty, but I'm not holding my breath. If that happens and Cleary plays third line, both lines end up being stronger.

4th line is as good a 4th line as any in the league. They aren't going to score a lot, but if they can be assigned a shutdown role against a 2nd/3rd line, then we improve defensively as a team.

What about defensive pairings? Those are fairly set, dependant upon Lilja's health.

As we know a defenseman will be traded before the start of the season, it will likely be Lebda, and I'm cool with that. If Lilja heals & can play, I'd be all for trading Lebda & Meech to free up more cap space, or to pick up a better prospect.

Lidstrom/Rafalski

Kronwall/Stuart

Ericsson/(Lilja-Lebda)

Meech?

[TNBT 3]

Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

The usual suspects, provides a huge scoring threat as well as tremendous defence and shut down ability. Holmstrom might be declining but if healthy putting on a line with Dats and Hank could do wonders for him again.

Franzen - Filppula - Cleary

Filppula gets the chance to centre the 2nd line and for once he has pretty good line-mates who can certainly score. A nice blend of speed and toughness, with scoring ability of course.

Leino - Helm - Williams

I really like this line, Leino's craftyness, Helm's speed and physicality and Williams' scoring touch. A really young line also which could surprise. The only concern is defensively and they might take some time to gel.

Eaves - Draper - Maltby

I'm confident Eaves will eventually move up but he'll probably start on the 4th line while seeing occasional time on the PK.

I like these lines better than about 99% of the others that have been posted in this thread. However, these lines only happen if we keep Datsyuk and Zetterberg together. If we split them and have them center the first two lines, then I think you have Filppula center the 3rd line to give us three dangerous lines offensively.

[Lidstrom for life 20]

This might be completely stupid and I know it won't happen but what if we split Draper and Maltby? They are both solid defensively but I feel like they might be better off playing with younger players than with each other. This would give us two good scoring lines and then make the bottom two lines fairly even.

Holmstrom-Zetterberg-Datsyuk

Frazen-Filpulla-Leino

Cleary-Draper-Williams

Maltby-Helm-Eaves

[Icesurfer 75]

I think Babs will do more mix and matching this year than any other year.... especially on the road where he likes to split Pav & Z. He has to find out if Leino will gel with Pav or Z. I think Homer is done on the first line... he is losing too much speed. Cleary can go to the net as good as anyone.

Leino-Datsyuk-Cleary

Filppula-Zetterberg-Franzen

Homer-Helm-Williams

Maltby-Draper-Eaves

Pav, Z, Helm & Draper are your best centers. Everyone in the list is in their natural position.... except Filppula is also a center. Fil & Pavel have never gelled together. Cleary, Franzen, Homer and Eaves are your net crashers. Cleary plays well with Pavel and he will pick up his scoring with Leino on that line .... Homer was a handicap on the first line last year. I think Leino and Pavel will gel together very well. But like I said Babs will be doing a lot of mix and matching even putting Eaves and Helm with Datsyuk. Datsyuk can make anyone else a better player.

Wings have 537,333.00 left for either a rookie or a goon. I look for the Wings to find a tough guy for around 500,000 as the 13th forward. If Lilja is on LTIR then the Wings can acquire a bigger shot blocking stay at home defenceman for 1.25 mil or less.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

This might be completely stupid and I know it won't happen but what if we split Draper and Maltby? They are both solid defensively but I feel like they might be better off playing with younger players than with each other. This would give us two good scoring lines and then make the bottom two lines fairly even.

Holmstrom-Zetterberg-Datsyuk

Frazen-Filpulla-Leino

Cleary-Draper-Williams

Maltby-Helm-Eaves

I'd rather split them, I think throw Cleary on the 2nd line and put Leino on the 3rd and you might get a nicer balance. Those lines dont look too bad, that 4th line could actually take the body, forecheck, and contribute a little bit.

[Swayze 81]

Fil & Pavel have never gelled together.

What are you talking about? Before Hossa was here, Pav and Filp used to be PK partners because they did great together.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Here are my NHL 09 lines, FWIW:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Cleary-Flip-Franzen

Eaves-Helm-Leino

Abdelkader/Williams-Draper-Maltby

Not what I would suggest in real life, but they work in the game. I go with two scoring lines, a shut down line, and a "let the other lines rest" line. But I try to keep one completely offensive player on each line to keep them a little dangerous in the offensive zone.

[titanium2 867]

Here are my NHL 09 lines, FWIW:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Cleary-Flip-Franzen

Eaves-Helm-Leino

Abdelkader/Williams-Draper-Maltby

Not what I would suggest in real life, but they work in the game. I go with two scoring lines, a shut down line, and a "let the other lines rest" line. But I try to keep one completely offensive player on each line to keep them a little dangerous in the offensive zone.

Not what you would suggest in real life? Why not? I really like those lines to start. I want good two way players on that third line and I think Cleary deserves to be in the top-6.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

J-Will wasn't signed to play on the fourth line, though. Eaves would definitely start on the fourth and probably Willy on the third.

Given that Willy isn't good at a helluva whole lot besides being a decent scoring threat, it's kind of an oxymoron to slot him on the third line with Helm, where Helm has bad hands and can't set him up, and Willy can't check. But if ZDH is back together then Franzen/Cleary/Pavel/Homer are definitely the top two line wingers, so there's nowhere else for Williams to go.

Unless they try to bury Helm on the fourth line, which, despite his inability to score, would be a waste of his still considerable talent. Willy technically can play center, but being that center has the most defensive responisbility of any forward position in Detroit's system that's unlikely.

I guess the best thing and probable outcome is Helm centers the third line with Willy/Leino like many suggest.

[titanium2 867]

I guess the best thing and probable outcome is Helm centers the third line with Willy/Leino like many suggest.

But that line is a nightmare defensively, especially for a third line. I thought the Wings were supposed to focus more on tighter checking this regular season?

But yeah, I suppose that's the most likely way it will start. Willy better be on a short leash though.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

But that line is a nightmare defensively, especially for a third line. I thought the Wings were supposed to focus more on tighter checking this regular season?

Yeah, I don't know. The line combos don't seem to jibe well. The top two lines are good, but the third line is a mystery. If you split Hank and Pavel up you get more options (even a potential quasi-scoring third line like Eaves-Flip-Williams), but that requires splitting Hank and Pavel up, causing Red Wings Nation to collectively die inside.

EDIT: By the time anything important happens we'll have ended up seeing every permutation possible, because that's how Mike rolls, so I'm just fretting for fretting's sake at the moment.

Edited August 8, 2009 by Heroes of Hockeytown

[Icesurfer 75]

What are you talking about? Before Hossa was here, Pav and Filp used to be PK partners because they did great together.

What???? PK & PP partners are sometimes different than the regular lines. Babs tried many times last year to put Fil with Pavel on a regular line and it never worked. You can't have 2 players who find it difficult to shoot enough times at the net on the same line. Finally last year Pavel just started to shoot the puck more at the net but sometimes he still falls back into his old ways. Filppula has to shoot the puck more.... everyone knows that... and it is up to him to do it..... Both Pavel and Filppula have a tendency to want to pass rather than shoot.... therefore I would never put them on the same line.

And in saying this we all know that Datsyuk and Zetterberg have the ability to improve the play of ANY player if even for a short time. The one player that Z was not able to really gel with was Hudler..... at least on a consistent basis. But this is also the reason I think Pavel and Z will be split up more than being together. They will be put together at home when the Wings go through a scoring slump. Otherwise, on the road you don't want the other teams best checkers always keying on those two.

Edited August 8, 2009 by Icesurfer

[Drake_Marcus 890]

J-Will wasn't signed to play on the fourth line, though. Eaves would definitely start on the fourth and probably Willy on the third.

Given that Willy isn't good at a helluva whole lot besides being a decent scoring threat, it's kind of an oxymoron to slot him on the third line with Helm, where Helm has bad hands and can't set him up, and Willy can't check. But if ZDH is back together then Franzen/Cleary/Pavel/Homer are definitely the top two line wingers, so there's nowhere else for Williams to go.

Unless they try to bury Helm on the fourth line, which, despite his inability to score, would be a waste of his still considerable talent. Willy technically can play center, but being that center has the most defensive responisbility of any forward position in Detroit's system that's unlikely.

I guess the best thing and probable outcome is Helm centers the third line with Willy/Leino like many suggest.

Preach it brother!

[Drake_Marcus 890]

What???? PK & PP partners are sometimes different than the regular lines. Babs tried many times last year to put Fil with Pavel on a regular line and it never worked. You can't have 2 players who find it difficult to shoot enough times at the net on the same line. Finally last year Pavel just started to shoot the puck more at the net but sometimes he still falls back into his old ways. Filppula has to shoot the puck more.... everyone knows that... and it is up to him to do it..... Both Pavel and Filppula have a tendency to want to pass rather than shoot.... therefore I would never put them on the same line.

Actually, when Filppula scored 19 goals in 07-08 his big goal scoring streak came on Datsyuk's wing when Zetterberg was injured (I believe the hot streak was about 2 weeks long?). That point was Filppula's hottest offensive streak in the NHL and the entirety of that streak occurred on Datsyuk's wing.

Edit: But at times those two have shown very little chemistry, so who knows what would develop. We do know that they are capable of being productive together sometimes.

Edited August 8, 2009 by Drake_Marcus

[LeftWinger 5,131]

With so many line options, I doubt there will be FINAL lines. That is the one thing about this entire team, they can pla pretty much ANY forward position when asked. That being said, I don't think the final roster has been set yet. Ryan Oulahen and Even McGrath MUST pass through waivers to be sent down this year, so that brings up a nice little battle to behad at camp. Personally, I don't want to lose either of them, we have been developing them for a while now nad would hate to lose one (unless, of course one or both of them stink up Traverse City.) I don't really know the rules on rosters, but if they both impress, and if we can have 23 players, we could keep both of them up as reserves (if we remove Lilja's salary that is.) They could rotate around with Maltby and cover injuries. Here is my roster: (note line combos are not set and are subject to change, this is just a roster.)

Holmstrom Zetterberg Datsyuk

Leino Filppula Franzen

Cleary Helm Eaves

Maltby Draper Williams

Ouhahen/McGrath

Lidstrom Rafalski

Stuart Kronwall

Lebda Ericsson

Meech

Osgood

Howard

That being said, I guess that looks ok for a solid season, not stellar, but once again our biggest quetion mark is going to being goaltending. Which Osgood is gonna show up, and is Howard going to continue to blow his NHL appearance by sub sub par play? Hold on tight and lets go!

Edited August 8, 2009 by LeftWinger

[Guest blueadams]

i read an interesting article about the lines - http://www.examiner.com/category-NHL.html. here's what he had. the biggest surprise is eaves centering the third line though. i guess it makes sense though, he's a strong skater, solid defender, etc.

Holmstrom-Zetterberg-Datsyuk

Cleary-Filppula-Franzen

Leino-Eaves-Williams

Maltby-Draper-Helm

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Lebda-Ericsson

Osgood

Howard

Some things here seem to be a bit off. For instance, 1st line - wouldnt it be LW-Pav, C-Hank, RW-Homer. 2nd line - wouldnt it be Mule-Flip-Clears. 4th line - wouldnt it be Drapes-Helm-Malts. Regardless, pretty interesting. However, I think that Hank and Pav will be split up...not enough depth to keep them together. Maybe...

[The Noodle 39 14]

Here are my NHL 09 lines, FWIW:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Cleary-Flip-Franzen

Eaves-Helm-Leino

Abdelkader/Williams-Draper-Maltby

Not what I would suggest in real life, but they work in the game. I go with two scoring lines, a shut down line, and a "let the other lines rest" line. But I try to keep one completely offensive player on each line to keep them a little dangerous in the offensive zone.

Where is Leino in nhl 09?

[titanium2 867]

General rules. Or perhaps my general preferences.

Cleary and Filppula should be in the top-6.

Holmstrom is only useful with Datsyuk.

There are more. I just can't think of them right now.

[This Is Bida 0]

Where is Leino in nhl 09?

In the Finnish Elite League... or wherever he came from.

He's in there though for sure. Got him on my team also.

[Guest blueadams]

Something Holland said this off-season has me re-thinking these lines...

He said, paraphrasing - This team will score less goals, and play better defense.

That's gotta mean Hank and Pav will be split, right?

Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary

...This was Bab's go-to #1 scoring/shut down line in the post-season (at full strength, at least). We know it's solid. You could maybe trade Cleary and Homer to give Pav a little help.

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Williams

...This line's a little suspect with two sub-par defenders in Homer and Jason, but having the league's very best in that category in the middle helps out quite a bit. Someone put it nicely earlier, Homer is worthless without Pav. Indeed he is. Here we've got Homer in front of the net, Pav doing his thing, and J-Will with the occassional Sammy Snipe. Might work out well.

Leino-Filppula-Eaves

...POTENTIAL. This line certainly would have quite a bit of that, wouldn't it? This could end up being the best third line in hockey. We've got the great distributing two-way phenom-to-be that is Flip. We've got the point machine on the verge of breaking out that is Leino. And we've got a tremendous defender with untapped scoring potential in Patrick Eaves is well. This could be...excellent.

Maltby-Helm-Draper

...Solid 4th line. I know that people hate to see Helmer on the 4th line, but if we're gonna roll 4, we gotta have some talent throughout. He's exciting, but he's by no means a scoring center. He belongs either here or on the third line, and since we've got Flip on the third, here he is. This line certainly wouldn't give up any goals. And with Helm's energy (and hopefully Abby's in the post-season), it could score a few as well.

[stillwater 186]

i read an interesting article about the lines - http://www.examiner.com/category-NHL.html. here's what he had. the biggest surprise is eaves centering the third line though. i guess it makes sense though, he's a strong skater, solid defender, etc.

Holmstrom-Zetterberg-Datsyuk

Cleary-Filppula-Franzen

Leino-Eaves-Williams

Maltby-Draper-Helm

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Lebda-Ericsson

Osgood

Howard

Some things here seem to be a bit off. For instance, 1st line - wouldnt it be LW-Pav, C-Hank, RW-Homer. 2nd line - wouldnt it be Mule-Flip-Clears. 4th line - wouldnt it be Drapes-Helm-Malts. Regardless, pretty interesting. However, I think that Hank and Pav will be split up...not enough depth to keep them together. Maybe...

Hey great idea ... start another thread with the link you used here, and the bump THIS thread while posting the same thing, nice work.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Something Holland said this off-season has me re-thinking these lines...

He said, paraphrasing - This team will score less goals, and play better defense.

That's gotta mean Hank and Pav will be split, right?

Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary

...This was Bab's go-to #1 scoring/shut down line in the post-season (at full strength, at least). We know it's solid. You could maybe trade Cleary and Homer to give Pav a little help.

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Williams

...This line's a little suspect with two sub-par defenders in Homer and Jason, but having the league's very best in that category in the middle helps out quite a bit. Someone put it nicely earlier, Homer is worthless without Pav. Indeed he is. Here we've got Homer in front of the net, Pav doing his thing, and J-Will with the occassional Sammy Snipe. Might work out well.

Leino-Filppula-Eaves

...POTENTIAL. This line certainly would have quite a bit of that, wouldn't it? This could end up being the best third line in hockey. We've got the great distributing two-way phenom-to-be that is Flip. We've got the point machine on the verge of breaking out that is Leino. And we've got a tremendous defender with untapped scoring potential in Patrick Eaves is well. This could be...excellent.

Maltby-Helm-Draper

...Solid 4th line. I know that people hate to see Helmer on the 4th line, but if we're gonna roll 4, we gotta have some talent throughout. He's exciting, but he's by no means a scoring center. He belongs either here or on the third line, and since we've got Flip on the third, here he is. This line certainly wouldn't give up any goals. And with Helm's energy (and hopefully Abby's in the post-season), it could score a few as well.

Look man, you have posted like 532 different lines here. I know one of the will be the "right one" and then you can go like "WHAT DID I SAY?!?!".