Guest blueadams Report post Posted August 9, 2009 How credible is the author of this article? - http://www.examiner.com/category-NHL.html. Mlive posted a link to the article this morning...so hes gotta be somwhat reliable, right? These are the lines he had listed: Holmstrom-Zetterberg-Datsyuk Cleary-Filppula-Franzen Leino-Eaves-Williams Maltby-Draper-Helm Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Lebda-Ericsson Osgood Howard I guess Eaves as our third center would make some sense...as he's a strong skater, great defender, etc. Some things here seem a bit off to me though...#1) Shouldn't Pav be a LW, Homer a RW. #2) Shouldn't Mule be a LW, Clears a RW. #3) Shouldn't Helm be centering that 4th line? #4) I thought Ericsson played on the left side? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted August 9, 2009 Sigh... I dunno why you guys do this to yourselves... It's simple, they will rotate throughout the year, and Babcock's never going to give honest sets of lines... wait and watch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icesurfer 75 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 (edited) Williams can also play center. From MLIVE "We won't know the answer until opening night, but Williams' ability to play center throws a wrinkle into the concept that he, Eaves, and Ville Leino will form the third line if Mike Babcock chooses to keep Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk on the same line." Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary Fillppula-Helm-Franzen Leino-Williams-Eaves Maltby-Draper-Homer Homer has lost too much speed to stay on the top line. He was a handicap there last year. Helm is too good of an all around player to stick on the fourth line. Filppula is also a center. This is my prediction if Z & Pav are kept together at home. Edited August 9, 2009 by Icesurfer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest blueadams Report post Posted August 9, 2009 Williams can also play center. From MLIVE "We won't know the answer until opening night, but Williams' ability to play center throws a wrinkle into the concept that he, Eaves, and Ville Leino will form the third line if Mike Babcock chooses to keep Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk on the same line." Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary Fillppula-Helm-Franzen Leino-Williams-Eaves Maltby-Draper-Homer Homer has lost too much speed to stay on the top line. He was a handicap there last year. Helm is too good of an all around player to stick on the fourth line. Filppula is also a center. This is my prediction if Z & Pav are kept together at home. #1) Zetterberg will NEVER play wing. Datsyuk will if the two are together. #2) Williams will NEVER play center in this system...it requires too much defensive responsibility. #3) Filppula will NEVER play give center to Helm on a line. #4) It sounds like H-Z-D is back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 Everyone will eventually play with everyone, either because of an injury, or the team is not having a good night, or just because. That's how Mike rolls. If whatever lines he skates out with on opening night don't work, we won't have to put up with them for long, rest assured. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stillwater 186 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 The daily "lines thread" as created by the guy who's already began numerour "lines threads" ... check. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icesurfer 75 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 (edited) #1) Zetterberg will NEVER play wing. Datsyuk will if the two are together. #2) Williams will NEVER play center in this system...it requires too much defensive responsibility. #3) Filppula will NEVER play give center to Helm on a line. #4) It sounds like H-Z-D is back. That is an awful lot of nevers for a team who lost FOUR regular skaters and gained two new ones. I really expect Babs to mix and match at least the first month of the season to see with which team mates Leino, Williams & Eaves develop chemistry. And we all know that Babs likes to split Z & Pav up on the road if opposing team is keying on that line. Homer is washed up... this will be his last year. Edited August 9, 2009 by Icesurfer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tommingthepuck96 1 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 How does this guy still have posting rights? This has to be like the 8th lines thread this week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lovin Jiri Fischer 147 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 I'm the third line center Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buppy 1,720 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 Williams can also play center. From MLIVE "We won't know the answer until opening night, but Williams' ability to play center throws a wrinkle into the concept that he, Eaves, and Ville Leino will form the third line if Mike Babcock chooses to keep Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk on the same line." Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary Fillppula-Helm-Franzen Leino-Williams-Eaves Maltby-Draper-Homer Homer has lost too much speed to stay on the top line. He was a handicap there last year. Helm is too good of an all around player to stick on the fourth line. Filppula is also a center. This is my prediction if Z & Pav are kept together at home. Pav-Hossa-Homer was our best line by far before Homer got hurt. Since Homer can't contribute anything but net presence (never has really) he'll start the year on a top line unless he's hurt. I doubt he'll ever play regularly with Draper and Maltby, no matter how bad he plays. The 4th line isn't a trash can where you throw your worst players. Babs will try to make it at least somewhat useful. I'd expect Eaves, someone new, or Helm on that line. Helm will never be on a scoring line unless we are totally decimated by injuries. Also, of the 9 forwards we have that can play center, Flip and Helm would make the worst wingers. I doubt very much they'll ever be on the same line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lidstrom for life 20 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 The lines will be changing constantly, the one thing I really hope though is that Leino gets to play on the second line quite a bit. I would love a Franzen-Filpulla-Leino line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robb himself 143 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 why have we had like 10 line combo threads??? all we need is 1 where we can just post what we think they will look like...because we all know that they will never be completely set at any point during the year with Babs in control. He will try everyone with everyone else at some point when some lines start getting cold and/or injuries occur. We have lots of capable centres and Babs will surely try them all at some point or another. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winged_Wheeler 3 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 The lines will be changing constantly, the one thing I really hope though is that Leino gets to play on the second line quite a bit. I would love a Franzen-Filpulla-Leino line. Hopefully Leino got much bigger and stronger over the summer, I'd love to see him play with Fil and Mule. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest blueadams Report post Posted August 9, 2009 Pav-Hossa-Homer was our best line by far before Homer got hurt. Since Homer can't contribute anything but net presence (never has really) he'll start the year on a top line unless he's hurt. I doubt he'll ever play regularly with Draper and Maltby, no matter how bad he plays. The 4th line isn't a trash can where you throw your worst players. Babs will try to make it at least somewhat useful. I'd expect Eaves, someone new, or Helm on that line. Helm will never be on a scoring line unless we are totally decimated by injuries. Also, of the 9 forwards we have that can play center, Flip and Helm would make the worst wingers. I doubt very much they'll ever be on the same line. I like your thought process... Holmstrom-Zetterberg-Datsyuk Cleary-Filppula-Franzen Leino-Eaves-Williams Maltby-Helm-Draper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 lol @ helm centering the second line over Flip. And I think Z used to play wing with Pav centering. I might be wrong though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoalieManPat 1,007 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 Holmstrom on the top line.....shudder Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wings1110 184 Report post Posted August 9, 2009 helm eaves and draper would be the fastest line ever Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest blueadams Report post Posted August 9, 2009 helm eaves and draper would be the fastest line ever Maybe we go... Homer-Hank-Pav Clears-Flip-Mule Leino-Helm-Williams Malts-Drapes-Eaves Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buppy 1,720 Report post Posted August 10, 2009 ... And I think Z used to play wing with Pav centering. I might be wrong though. Pav and Hank move around so much, there really isn't much of a distinction. helm eaves and draper would be the fastest line ever That would make a nice 4th line, but we'd need someone other than Maltby for the 3rd. Pav - Hank - Homer Mule - Flip - Leino Cleary - Williams - Not Maltby Draper - Helm - Eaves or Mule - Hank - Cleary/Leino Homer - Pav - Leino/Cleary Not Maltby - Flip - Williams Draper - Helm - Eaves Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted August 10, 2009 Leino-Eaves-Williams Not likely, but could happen. As it stands Helm is a better checking line centre than Eaves. Babs will likely ice pretty much every combination possible at some point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigWillieStyle 662 Report post Posted August 10, 2009 Hopefully Leino got much bigger and stronger over the summer, I'd love to see him play with Fil and Mule. I would have to say to this line. I liked the way that the #_1's line played last year. #21, #51, and #81 played really well together in my book. Really had a click to them. Swapping an #81 for a #93 would make for great 2nd line. I could see Franzen with a ton of goals with this line. Leino and Fil are both great setup guys. And if they would only listen to Babcocks mantra of shoot the puck, I think that they could put up some big numbers also. Just have to break them of their Euro ways of pass pass pass, and teach them that shooters get big dollar contracts. At least from less respectable teams, they do. Players play in Detroit for the honor of wearing the winged wheel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted August 10, 2009 (edited) I win the daily lines threads. I predicted those exact lines, except for the specific positions, and I had Cleary and Leino switched with the note that "Cleary and Leino may be switched depending on what Babcock prefers to start." But noooo, everyone wanted their precious Helm. Edited August 10, 2009 by eva unit zero Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted August 10, 2009 Pav and Hank move around so much, there really isn't much of a distinction. That would make a nice 4th line, but we'd need someone other than Maltby for the 3rd. Pav - Hank - Homer Mule - Flip - Leino Cleary - Williams - Not Maltby Draper - Helm - Eaves or Mule - Hank - Cleary/Leino Homer - Pav - Leino/Cleary Not Maltby - Flip - Williams Draper - Helm - Eaves I have, to start: Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Holmstrom Franzen/Filppula/Leino Cleary/Williams/Eaves Maltby/Draper/Helm Based on this news, to start: Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Holmstrom Franzen/Filppula/Cleary Leino/Williams/Eaves Maltby/Draper/Helm By January, I expect one of these two combinations primarily: Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Holmstrom Franzen/Filppula/Cleary (Leino) Leino (Cleary)/Williams/Eaves Oulahen (McGrath)/Draper/Helm Obviously lines will be shuffled about, but these lines are made up primarily of guys who have already shown chemistry together (ZDH, Malts/Drapes, etc.) and the only thing that needs to be worked on is how the second and third lines go together. Who goes on what line is pretty much set, unless someone manages to play themselves out of the lineup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted August 10, 2009 I win the daily lines threads. I predicted those exact lines, except for the specific positions, and I had Cleary and Leino switched with the note that "Cleary and Leino may be switched depending on what Babcock prefers to start." But noooo, everyone wanted their precious Helm. Congratulations, Eva, I'll go bake you a cookie. You aren't allergic to nuts, are you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted August 10, 2009 Congratulations, Eva, I'll go bake you a cookie. You aren't allergic to nuts, are you? No cookies necessary, but ty for the offer. I was just pointing it out to all the Helm lovers; many of whom who seem to think he'll score 25 goals and win the Calder this season, and seem to think he's a better player now than guys like Hudler, Williams, or Fedorov. He's a great grinder, but he's still just a high-end fourth liner who probably will never be better than one of the league's top third liners at his absolute peak, while Hudler, etc. have been better players than Helm's peak potential for at least a couple years now (Fedorov has been better than the 'current' Helm by a wide margin since the mid 80s.) I'd love to see how his career works out vs Kopecky's though. I really wanted Kopecky to stay in Detroit; I think he could have been another Franzen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
