Power Play/Penalty Kill Units This Season...

[Guest blueadams]

I'm guessing:

PP1

Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom-Lidstrom-Rafalski

PP2

Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi-Kronwall-Williams

...Maybe Leino or Cleary gets in there for Bert.

PK1

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Lidstrom-Stuart

PK2

Filppula-Helm-Kronwall-Ericsson

...Maybe Cleary, Eaves or Draper gets in there for someone.

[Z and D for the C 712]

I don't think Babs would have Flip and Helm alone on the same PK line. I think it's possible that it's those four, but maybe Flip/Z and Dats/Helm instead. Wouldn't be surprised to see Z/Pav and Flip/Franzen or Flip/Drapes.

[Swayze 81]

Flip and Dats will be paired up again, just like they were before Hossa. Then Z can be with helm/draper/franzen/other.

*edit: for PK*

Edited August 22, 2009 by Swayze

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

The one thing your forgetting is that this is the Wings you are talking about, there are more than 2 PK lines. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Draper, and Filppula all centered separate PK lines, I think it will be something like that again.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

The 2nd PP will be very much in flux this season, at least it will be at the start. At this point the only player we know for sure will be a staple of the 2nd PP is Franzen. The other two of the top 6 PP guys from last year are gone (Hossa and Hudler). Filppula will definitely start as the centre, but Williams and Leino will get shots at it if Filppula can't produce.

Bert will likely play the 2nd PP, as you've said, although who knows what Babs will do once Bert takes a dumb offensive zone penalty and negates the PP a few times.

PK? No way Datsyuk and Zetterberg play together. Babs seems to vastly prefer breaking them up to make it balanced.

Datsyuk and Filppula are fantastic on the PK together, so I'd say we'll see them on the 1st PP now.

Zetterberg will end up paired with one of Cleary, Helm or Franzen.

[jollymania 162]

Helm for PK:

[eva unit zero 271]

As much as everyone loves posting the Helm PK video...I think Helm is well down the list of guys as far as who will be on the PK.

I think the top four are Z, Dats, Flip, and Cleary. Spares start with Franzen and Draper, and then you get to Eaves, Helm, and Maltby.'

For the PP, Williams will get a shot at the point. If that doesn't work out quite right, they'll try Stuart, Ericsson, and Lebda and/or Meech if they're around. They'll try Bertuzzi, Filppula, Cleary, Williams and perhaps even Eaves will get a shot at the PP up front on the second unit.

I can totally see a second PP unit of Franzen/Filppula/Williams/Kronwall/Meech. I see Flip because he's the best playmaker of the group by far up front and one of only two centers. Williams because he's got good speed and like Franzen has a shot which can be dangerous from most places in the offensive zone. As far as defensemen, I picked who I did because Kronwall has a better point shot than Williams in terms of power+decision making, and the opposing point should see a playmaking defenseman with good mobility, i.e. Meech or Lebda. I would prefer to see Meech in the lineup over Lebda because I think he is a better overall player, but I think it will be Lebda and would put Lebda where I have slotted Meech as they are very similar players.

[Zetts 236]

As much as everyone loves posting the Helm PK video...I think Helm is well down the list of guys as far as who will be on the PK.

I think the top four are Z, Dats, Flip, and Cleary. Spares start with Franzen and Draper, and then you get to Eaves, Helm, and Maltby.'

This isn't so much me disagreeing with you, as I somewhat agree with the order that you gave for pk depth...

But what in the hell are Draper and Maltby doing if they're not penalty killing?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

This isn't so much me disagreeing with you, as I somewhat agree with the order that you gave for pk depth...

But what in the hell are Draper and Maltby doing if they're not penalty killing?

In Maltby's case this year? I hope the answer is: sitting in the pressbox.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I can totally see a second PP unit [...] Meech.

[hooon 1,089]

isnt maltby one of our top PKers? Am i a few years late on that question?

[Finnish Wing 110]

PP1: Holmstrom-Datsyuk-Zetterberg & Lidstrom-Rafalski

PP2: Leino-Franzen-Bertuzzi & Kronwall-Williams

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Why would Williams play the point when Ericsson and probably Stuart could both do it better than him?

And no I don't give a s*** that he's right handed. He doesn't exactly have a rocket from the point. Also, he was more prone to turnovers than Sammy was when he was here. Sammy did some goofy s***, but at least he kept the turnovers to a minimum.

Take that bum off the point, people.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Why would Williams play the point when Ericsson and probably Stuart could both do it better than him?

And no I don't give a s*** that he's right handed. He doesn't exactly have a rocket from the point. Also, he was more prone to turnovers than Sammy was when he was here. Sammy did some goofy s***, but at least he kept the turnovers to a minimum.

Take that bum off the point, people.

Dude-- I'd pay money to get right handed forwards off the Wings' point. But we all know that's how Babcock rolls.

[dat's sick 1,002]

PP1

Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Lidstrom-Rafalski

PP2

Filppula-Zetterberg-Cleary

Kronwall-Stuart/Ericsson

PK1

Zetterberg-Cleary

Lidstrom-Rafalski

PK2

Datsyuk-Draper/Helm

Kronwall-Stuart/Ericsson

Edited August 22, 2009 by dat's sick

[eva unit zero 271]

If Meech is in the lineup, he's not a bad option for the point on the PP. He's fast and a decent playmaker which is really what we need opposite Kronwall on that unit, not a big shooter.

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

In Maltby's case this year? I hope the answer is: sitting in the pressbox.

Says the guy who took the side of Shoreline a month back when this exact topic was argued. Wow sure changed your tune on that one eh Drakey boy?

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

If Meech is in the lineup, he's not a bad option for the point on the PP. He's fast and a decent playmaker which is really what we need opposite Kronwall on that unit, not a big shooter.

What are you basing your opinion off of, exactly? I've never seen him do anything to convince me that he'd be good at that, or anything else for that matter.

He's almost certainly behind Williams, Stuart, and Ericsson for that fourth point position. Two of those guys have experience on the power play in the NHL, and after last season's playoff run Ericsson's sure to get a look.

[Buppy 1,720]

I would hope that for the regular season, both Pav and Hank are used sparingly on the PK. Keep their minutes down as much as possible; save them for the playoffs.

Interestingly enough, and bear in mind our PK wasn't good last year, Maltby was our best PKer statistically speaking. (Though he probably didn't see much time against top PP lines.) Flip was just behind him, and did play against top lines. Draper was the worst of our regular forwards. Last year, PK pairs were usually determined by who was the freshest. We didn't really have regular pairs. By PK time per game, we had Draper, Cleary, Hank, Flip, Pav, Maltby, and Mule, with Helm getting decent time while he was here. (Not counting players who left.)

Helm should now be a regular, and possibly Eaves. Maltby did well in his reduced role last year, should be OK there again, and Drapes could probably do well with similarly reduced time. Flip and Cleary should probably be the top pair. Save Pav and Hank for key situations or when everyone else is tired. Franzen isn't a very good PKer. He's too slow and doesn't block shots or fill passing lanes very well for a guy his size. With 7 or 8 other options, he propbably doesn't need to see much time.

Defense pairs worry me a bit. I'd like to see Lidstrom's ice time cut, he is almost 40 after all. Rafi's not a good PKer, Lilja's hurt, Ericsson's a rookie, Lebda and Meech are terrible. That leaves Kronner and Stuie, and if they take the regular season off again, our PK will probably be just as bad as last year.

On the PP, like it or not Williams will play the point. Babs loves a rightie. Nick, Rafi, and Kronwall being the other 3 d-men. Pav, Hank, and Mule are sure bets at forward, with Cleary and Flip almost certain (though it wouldn't surprise me to see either taken off). Homer and Bert will probably be there depending on health and effectiveness, and Leino will likely get some looks.

The PP will certainly be good, assuming key players like Nick, Rafi, Hank, Pav, and Mule stay reasonably healthy, but a step down from last year. We downgraded 3 key players, and some of our best are another year older.

[robb himself 143]

PP #1

Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom

Rafalski, Lidstrom

PP #2

FRanzen, Filppula, Bertuzzi

Williams, Kronwall (Ericsson)

PK #1

Draper, Datsyuk

PK #2

Helm, Zetterberg

PK #3

Cleary, Eaves

[cjm502 165]

Why would Williams play the point when Ericsson and probably Stuart could both do it better than him?

And no I don't give a s*** that he's right handed. He doesn't exactly have a rocket from the point. Also, he was more prone to turnovers than Sammy was when he was here. Sammy did some goofy s***, but at least he kept the turnovers to a minimum.

Take that bum off the point, people.

Sammy was not exactly a takeaway machine either.

SOME players can make up for their losses, Sammy never did.

[eva unit zero 271]

What are you basing your opinion off of, exactly? I've never seen him do anything to convince me that he'd be good at that, or anything else for that matter.

He's almost certainly behind Williams, Stuart, and Ericsson for that fourth point position. Two of those guys have experience on the power play in the NHL, and after last season's playoff run Ericsson's sure to get a look.

I didn't say he was the best option, or that he'd be there. I simply said it was possible and that his skill set and playing style (quick skater, decent playmaker, passer first) made him a logical option considering Kronwall tends to shoot first and having two guys who shoot first doesn't work unless you have a forward like Hudler who can quarterback the PP instead of a d-man doing it like Lidstrom and Rafalski both do on the first unit. The second unit doesn't really have a QB right now, as Kronwall is a decent passer but is really more of a shooter, and Williams, Stuart, and Ericsson all fit that profile as well. Putting one of Lids or Raffi on unit two would solve the issue but probably won't happen.

[titanium2 867]

Kronwall is a decent passer but is really more of a shooter.

Are you saying he tends to shoot more often than pass or that he should be shooting more, which means he needs someone along the blue line who can pass it to him?

I've seen Kronwall get his shots in okay but I think he passes more often than he shoots.

[eva unit zero 271]

Are you saying he tends to shoot more often than pass or that he should be shooting more, which means he needs someone along the blue line who can pass it to him?

I've seen Kronwall get his shots in okay but I think he passes more often than he shoots.

I think he shoots more than he should be given that he has been in the "playmaker" role and will continue to be as such if his partner is any of Williams, Stuart, or Ericsson as all three are much better shooters than passers and would have to play the role of shooter, placing Kronwall in the role of PP QB as there is no forward to run the PP the way Hudler did last season so that both point men could serve in the role of shooters instead of one being the PP QB. If the second PP unit is Franzen/Filppula/Bertuzzi/Kronwall/Williams...then Flip is the only other guy who is really a capable passer, and he can't run the PP the way Hudler or Kronner would be able to. Putting Williams, Stuart, or Ericsson on unit 1 and Raffi on unt 2 gives the second unit a top notch playmaker with a good shot who can really run the PP and then Kronner can shoot or pass as necessary without HAVING to be the guy who looks for the better setup instead of always thinking "shoot" and then only passing when there's no chance at a shot, a la Franzen or Samuelsson.