Babcock splitting up Filppula line in Practice

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

This. I'm not a "stubborn Bertuzzi hater", but I'm definitely not a fan. Bertuzzi has been playing with skillful, creative centers so far this season and has yielded poor results. When Holmstrom got onto the first line, it really became apparent how poor Bertuzzi was at retrieving the puck in the corners and the puck seems to refuse to stay on his stick.

I'm all for giving Bertuzzi time to find his game and we've seen instances where he can take control, but most of those instances have happened when he has been demoted. Last game was Bertuzzi's best game and he was on the third line. I think thats his spot until he really turns it around. Other players control the puck better, are better in the corners, and overall seem to work harder than Bert, and until that changes I actually seem him working really well with Draper on the third line, causing problems, mucking it up.

Babcock has the tendency to try to force chemistry between players who have none, and Bertuzzi does not fit the style of play with our skilled, European centers. He should earn his spot on the third line, instead we've been giving him chance after chance on the first/second.

You either have a very selective memory or very poor understanding of the game of Hockey, Bert has played the majority of time allready on the third line, yet has honestly been one of our most consistant offensive threat this season. Last game alone he hit a post and had 2 more good chances to score goals.

His short tenure with D and Z was not a failure, in fact they had the most tic tack toe plays that I have seen since ZDH was first institued, the only prob was, they were sent primarily to shut down AOs line, which they did a great job on. Bertuzzi has been one of our better forwards, and despite what you have said, has not seen a great deal of time on the first or second line, unless you considered Cleary-Draper-Bertuzzi better then Leino-Fil-Williams.

[Johnny Law 15]

I know goal posts don't count, but I really think Bertuzzi has been one of our strongest player 5v5 in getting the puck to the net. He's created a lot of scoring chances by himself. That said I don't think Babcock should force him to work, but I'm certainly not against trying it.

Also Holmstrom has been just awful 5v5. There is no consistent pressure in the O-zone for our first line, his speed is killing the chemistry that was once there. He is fine off a face-off win or when Datsyuk dangles around 2 people to create space(The only way he has 2 goals ES), but if we have to dump it in we have been having trouble retrieving the puck with him out there. I certainly don't think Holmstrom is helping Datsyuk and Zetterberg's numbers 5v5.

I agree with you about Bert's play, his biggest problem has been in the finish which pretty much sums up this entire team right now. It's too difficult right now to single individual players out as no one is really scoring with any consistency.

[VM1138 1,921]

Big Bert has been rock solid for the team, I get so tired of people recyling years old critiques of a player despite how they're playing.

[Guest Four]

Dats, Leino and Filp please

[cupforwings 138]

Dats, Leino and Filp please

this...kind of

why not put williams there instead of leino... Dats and Flip have eons of speed compared to Leino... williams could compliment them.. or cleary

other than that, the z pav bert line looked good for the time it was together, espeically during the washington game

[FedorovMan91 1]

The line change is not going to change much. Speicifc players include Zetterberg and Datsyuk are underperforming. End of a story

[b.shanafan14 733]

You either have a very selective memory or very poor understanding of the game of Hockey.

I think the same can definitely be said of you, if you honestly believe Bertuzzi has been one of our better, more consistent players.

Truth is there is probably a more accurate middle ground as far as Bertuzzi goes, but I'm a skeptic and I'm very far from convinced, whereas you seem to be more pro-Bertuzzi.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

I think the same can definitely be said of you, if you honestly believe Bertuzzi has been one of our better, more consistent players.

Truth is there is probably a more accurate middle ground as far as Bertuzzi goes, but I'm a skeptic and I'm very far from convinced, whereas you seem to be more pro-Bertuzzi.

Who out of the Wing's forward crop (excluding Zetterberg and Datsyuk) have performed better then Bertuzzi thus far? I can name Filpulla, and that is it.

[stevkrause 1,247]

I know goal posts don't count, but I really think Bertuzzi has been one of our strongest player 5v5 in getting the puck to the net. He's created a lot of scoring chances by himself. That said I don't think Babcock should force him to work, but I'm certainly not against trying it.

Also Holmstrom has been just awful 5v5. There is no consistent pressure in the O-zone for our first line, his speed is killing the chemistry that was once there. He is fine off a face-off win or when Datsyuk dangles around 2 people to create space(The only way he has 2 goals ES), but if we have to dump it in we have been having trouble retrieving the puck with him out there. I certainly don't think Holmstrom is helping Datsyuk and Zetterberg's numbers 5v5.

I agree Bert has been playing very solid... but you were saying about Holmstrom????