interesting article...williams signed to be a 3rd line center?

[Guest blueadams]

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/08/wh...gned_the_a.html

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary

Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi

Leino-Williams-Eaves

Holmstrom-Helm/Draper

is he a good enough defensive player to center a line in this system?

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Again?

Don't like the 3rd line very much. Three guys who can't check playing on a checking line. I think that'll be nicknamed the "****** line".

[Guest blueadams]

Again?

Don't like the 3rd line very much. Three guys who can't check playing on a checking line. I think that'll be nicknamed the "****** line".

Eaves can certainly check. They'd score a lot of goals for a third line. With Leino's offensive skills, I'd rather have a guy like williams centering him than helm.

[Broken 16 381]

Franzen/Flip/Bert has some scary potential...

Edited August 20, 2009 by Broken 16

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary

Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi

Leino-Williams-Eaves

Holmstrom-Helm/Draper

I wouldn't mind these lines some of the time, but come on people, its the wings, you know the lines are never set in stone

[ben_usmc 253]

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/08/wh...gned_the_a.html

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary

Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi

Leino-Williams-Eaves

Holmstrom-Helm/Draper

is he a good enough defensive player to center a line in this system?

I don't mind the lines, I like the top line A LOT, and the 2nd line should be interesting. Maltby will be a suitable 13th to trade between homer and Draper. Although I'd really like to have that spot for an actual enforcer; but that's the life of a Wings fan.

[Guest blueadams]

I don't mind the lines, I like the top line A LOT, and the 2nd line should be interesting. Maltby will be a suitable 13th to trade between homer and Draper. Although I'd really like to have that spot for an actual enforcer; but that's the life of a Wings fan.

bert's not enough of an enforcer?

[titanium2 867]

Again?

Don't like the 3rd line very much. Three guys who can't check playing on a checking line. I think that'll be nicknamed the "****** line".

Vaginas are useful. They look pretty (mostly while shaved) and they serve a purpose to man and the disgusting things that make him manly. They're also useful to women as they manipulate and use it to get whatever they want. To them, a ****** is like a visa card, accepted everywhere (C. Rock).

Williams on the other hand... Useful? We'll see.

[VM1138 1,921]

Williams just throws everything out of whack. No matter what line you put him on it makes the line look horrible.

And Leino, to me, really looks like an odd-man out. We know he has talent, but how best can we use him? I think for at least this season, it might be a rocky transition for him unless he develops really good chemistry with someone on the team. If he's stuck with Williams it could stunt him a bit.

Man, Williams just messes everything up!

I really look forward to the top two lines, and even the fourth, just to see what they've got.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Eaves can certainly check. They'd score a lot of goals for a third line. With Leino's offensive skills, I'd rather have a guy like williams centering him than helm.

Don't forget in the 13 games in the big leagues Leino had 5 takeaways to 1 giveaway. prorated to an 82 game schedule that's 32 Tka which would have placed him third on the team. He's not as bad at defense as everyone makes him out to be, he's very adept to stealing the puck away from players.

Edited August 20, 2009 by Konnan511

[Broken 16 381]

Williams just throws everything out of whack. No matter what line you put him on it makes the line look horrible.

And Leino, to me, really looks like an odd-man out. We know he has talent, but how best can we use him? I think for at least this season, it might be a rocky transition for him unless he develops really good chemistry with someone on the team. If he's stuck with Williams it could stunt him a bit.

Man, Williams just messes everything up!

I really look forward to the top two lines, and even the fourth, just to see what they've got.

I think a lot of you guys are seriously underestimating the power of the one year deal. These guys on one year contracts are virtually playing for their career. If they suck, they are screwed as a UFA next season. If Williams wants a good future in the NHL, he almost has no choice but to give 110% next season.

[hockey23 79]

Williams just throws everything out of whack. No matter what line you put him on it makes the line look horrible.

And Leino, to me, really looks like an odd-man out. We know he has talent, but how best can we use him? I think for at least this season, it might be a rocky transition for him unless he develops really good chemistry with someone on the team. If he's stuck with Williams it could stunt him a bit.

Man, Williams just messes everything up!

I really look forward to the top two lines, and even the fourth, just to see what they've got.

I think you're way off. Williams will not mess everything up and definitely won't mess Leino up. Here's a quote from a scouting report on Leino...

In just 13 games in Detroit he scored five goals and nine points playing just 12:42 a game mostly on the fourth line. In fact his arrival on the fourth line revitalized the unit. Center Kris Draper had scored just seven points (3-4) in the first 48 games and matched that total (2-5) in the 13 games Leino played on his wing. Kirk Maltby experienced similar numbers having scored seven points (4-3) in 45 games prior to Leino's arrival and scored four points (1-3) while playing on the same line.

If he can boost Maltby and Draper's production that much, he can boost Williams' and Williams might actually help him out too because he is much better offensively than Maltby or Draper.

Edited August 20, 2009 by hockey23

[dobbles 252]

Eaves can certainly check. They'd score a lot of goals for a third line. With Leino's offensive skills, I'd rather have a guy like williams centering him than helm.

yeah, i really don't see anything wrong with the 3rd line not being a checking line. why not have 3 scoring lines and a 4th line that is the shut down/checking line? not that i am implying that suggested 4th line with holmstrom would be shut down or anything, but it just seems weird that people assume certain lines have to have certain roles. to me having a 3rd line that can score puts other teams in an interesting position. all of a sudden they might have slower less skilled guys out there that can be exploited. addiitonally, they would probably be against the 3rd pairing D which would give them extra space.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

yeah, i really don't see anything wrong with the 3rd line not being a checking line. why not have 3 scoring lines and a 4th line that is the shut down/checking line? not that i am implying that suggested 4th line with holmstrom would be shut down or anything, but it just seems weird that people assume certain lines have to have certain roles. to me having a 3rd line that can score puts other teams in an interesting position. all of a sudden they might have slower less skilled guys out there that can be exploited. addiitonally, they would probably be against the 3rd pairing D which would give them extra space.

3rd lines play more often than 4th lines, hence there's more need for that to be a checking line. You can't have 3 lines of skill and no hitting, because this isn't the Olympics nor is it the 2002 Wings.

Better balance is the key here. I don't think this is a well balanced lineup. This lineup is good enough to be one of the best in the league, but in the long run, I'm not too thrilled about this team deep in the playoffs.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

3rd lines play more often than 4th lines, hence there's more need for that to be a checking line. You can't have 3 lines of skill and no hitting, because this isn't the Olympics nor is it the 2002 Wings.

Better balance is the key here. I don't think this is a well balanced lineup. This lineup is good enough to be one of the best in the league, but in the long run, I'm not too thrilled about this team deep in the playoffs.

GRIT!!!!WE NEED A LITTLE MORE GRIT!!!!!!!

[Broken 16 381]

3rd lines play more often than 4th lines, hence there's more need for that to be a checking line. You can't have 3 lines of skill and no hitting, because this isn't the Olympics nor is it the 2002 Wings.

Better balance is the key here. I don't think this is a well balanced lineup. This lineup is good enough to be one of the best in the league, but in the long run, I'm not too thrilled about this team deep in the playoffs.

And how is this lineup less balance than last years? Not being argumentative, I'm just curious...

Bertuzzi, Eaves and (to a lesser extent) Williams are grit type players. Helm all season long is gonna be a big difference. Ericsson all season adds substantial grit. On paper, this team looks MUCH more ready for the playoffs, imo. At least in the grit department. Experience could be an issue for guys like Helm and Leino... but not likely given the leadership present.

Edited August 20, 2009 by Broken 16

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

And how is this lineup less balance than last years? Not being argumentative, I'm just curious...

Bertuzzi, Eaves and (to a lesser extent) Williams are grit type players. Helm all season long is gonna be a big difference. Ericsson all season adds substantial grit. On paper, this team looks MUCH more ready for the playoffs, imo. At least in the grit department. Experience could be an issue for guys like Helm and Leino... but not likely given the leadership present.

Last year this team struggled with consistency all season, and ultimately didn't have enough grit and energy to take home the Cup. I prefer to think about the 2008 team, which had Drake, Helm, Mac and Downey. That team won the Cup.

Calling WIlliams a gritty player is a joke. We traded him for Kyle Calder because he wasn't gritty enough, and the team didn't want the same playoff finish as they got in 2006. Also, Maltby and Draper are one year older and aren't going to be any more physical than they were before. I just look at the bottom 2 lines, and I wonder who is going to bring energy other than Helm or Abby, provided the latter even makes the regular roster.

[Broken 16 381]

Last year this team struggled with consistency all season, and ultimately didn't have enough grit and energy to take home the Cup. I prefer to think about the 2008 team, which had Drake, Helm, Mac and Downey. That team won the Cup.

Calling WIlliams a gritty player is a joke. We traded him for Kyle Calder because he wasn't gritty enough, and the team didn't want the same playoff finish as they got in 2006. Also, Maltby and Draper are one year older and aren't going to be any more physical than they were before. I just look at the bottom 2 lines, and I wonder who is going to bring energy other than Helm or Abby, provided the latter even makes the regular roster.

I think Williams will be (more) gritty under Babcock. I hope anyway.

This team has a lot more snarl than lasts years team. They are going to, at the very least, be very fun to watch.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Jason Williams should not be playing center in the NHL, let alone with the Red Wings. He doesn't have anywhere near enough defensive responsibility to center a line. Stick Williams somewhere on a wing or better yet on the bench, but he should not be getting time at center. Williams and Homer really put a damper on possible lines because they both have such a limited skill set.

[esteef 2,679]

How about just make Willy a "Shootout Specialist"?

esteef

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I think Williams will be (more) gritty under Babcock. I hope anyway.

This team has a lot more snarl than lasts years team. They are going to, at the very least, be very fun to watch.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Although Williams isn't old, he was here already once under Babcock and clearly wasn't physical, otherwise we wouldn't have traded him for a no talent hack like Calder.

[Broken 16 381]

You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Although Williams isn't old, he was here already once under Babcock and clearly wasn't physical, otherwise we wouldn't have traded him for a no talent hack like Calder.

That may be true, but even without Williams in the grit equation, the Wings still have more snarl than last years team. Williams presence alone isn't enough to justify your claim that the team is less balanced then last season. Who did we lose that could even come close to canceling out the grit that Bertuzzi brings alone. Hudler? Not gritty at all. Hossa? Strong on his skates but hardly gritty. Sammy? Gritty in a Kirk Maltby As Long As The Refs Are Between Us sort of way, I guess. Kopecky?...

You still haven't really illustrated why you feel this team is less balanced than last years or are you just gonna fixate on Williams for the entire season?

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

That may be true, but even without Williams in the grit equation, the Wings still have more snarl than last years team. Williams presence alone isn't enough to justify your claim that the team is less balanced then last season. Who did we lose that could even come close to canceling out the grit that Bertuzzi brings alone. Hudler? Not gritty at all. Hossa? Strong on his skates but hardly gritty. Sammy? Gritty in a Kirk Maltby As Long As The Refs Are Between Us sort of way, I guess. Kopecky?...

You still haven't really illustrated why you feel this team is less balanced than last years or are you just gonna fixate on Williams for the entire season?

I didn't say they were less balanced than last year, I said they were less balanced than in 2008 or for that matter, any other season when they won the Cup.

Although they came close last year, fact is they didn't win the Cup. YOu can pin that on injuries, but then again that's the same thing people whined about in 2007. I think that with a little more snarl and energy at the start of games, this team would have won at the end of that forgettable series last year. The skilled players were either hurt or lazy, and were definitely inconsistent.

The lower lines are for players that will energize their team from the beginning of the game with hits and forechecking. Good luck expecting that from anyone other than Helm out of the bottom 6 forwards.

[j.hoop 64]

whoa, im more interested the franzen-filpulla-bertuzzi, thats gonna be crazy if they click !! imagine franzen and berts big hits with fils increasing puck possesion skills...

[gcom007 1,465]

I was concerned before. I didn't think we were screwed, but I was concerned. I am no longer concerned. No worries at all. We'll be as good as any team this year if not better than many. If some of our guys hit upsides, we'll be right with Chicago to come out of the West and likely will edge them out again as Huet won't beat Osgood if the rest of the skaters can balance out fairly evenly. I'm really excited to get going. It'll be a real fun season with a much more exciting regular season than we've had in recent years. The games will mean more and we've got a lot of new guys that will be trying to prove themselves. Leino and Eaves are the one's I'm excited to watch. Both are 25 and have a lot of potential. I think Leino will have a solid season but not the 20-30 goal campaign some are expecting. It's his rookie year. Eaves on the other hand I think has a good chance to come in and really make a mark for himself and get his career going. No better place to do it than Detroit. I'm pumped. Can't wait for October...