Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 Now that we know Kronwall's out for 1-2 months we can expect Babcock to do some serious surgery on the back end. Available defensemen: Detroit: Lidstrom, Rafalski, Stuart, Ericsson, Lebda, Meech Grand Rapids: Janik, Kindl (less likely options: Delmore, Kolsov, Pyett) How would you pair everyone up? I'd try this 5-on-5: Lidstrom-Ericsson Rafalski-Stuart Lebda-Meech/Janik/Kindl PP: Lidstrom-Rafalski Ericsson-Stuart PK: Lidstrom-Ericsson Stuart-Rafalski/Lidstrom/Ericsson (rotating those three on the second pairing to minimize Rafi's time out there) The PK is where having a guy like Janik up would do a world of good. Lebda and Meech are too small and defensively porous to be effective PKers. The top four is set, so the only question is whether you go Lidstrom-Ericsson or Lidstrom-Stuart. I'd rather not put Ericsson with Rafalski based on Rafalski's poor defensive play. On top of that the Lids-E pairing was great in the playoffs and Lidstrom will steady Big-Rig and help teach him the game. This is a huge opportunity for E to grow while playing with the best defenseman in the world. Add to that the fact that we finally get to see Ericsson's 100 mph slapshot and excellent offensive instincts on the PP. Overall this injury will be a huge opportunity for Ericsson to grow and steal a spot on the PP that he can claim for the rest of the year. This injury is going to be another huge test for this team. I can't help but feel like nothing's been going right for the Wings ever since the injuries started piling up in the playoffs last year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wings_Toledo 233 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 Whatever he does, I really hope Babcock gives Janik the opportunity to play. Until he screws up royally, I think he would be a better option than having Meech AND Lebda together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FunkedUp 29 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) I agree. I definitely don't want to see a Lebda/Meech pairing cause that's a big defensive liability, even for a third pairing. Someone with stay at home qualities would be good, and that's why Janik would be the best fit. Our third pairing doesn't need to be offensively minded, as long as they can make good outlet passes and play smart in our own zone then they've done there job. We don't need two wannabe puckmovers back there. I agree with everything else though. This is a prime opportunity to pair E with Lidstrom. Also, for some reason I really want to put Helm on a line with Pavel to see what happens... Edited November 23, 2009 by FunkedUp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 How would you pair everyone up? Oh come on, you know you like the Toilet-Lebda 4th pairing. Problem solved. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjm502 165 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 Lids-E Stuart-Raffi Lebda-Janik Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hokeychik22 17 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 that sucks to lose konner like that. damn. our d better bring it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 Lids-Rafalski Lids-Stuart Lids-Ericsson Triple-shift Lids until Kronner returns, that is the only solution imo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FinWing 26 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 Lids-Rafalski Lids-Stuart Lids-Ericsson Triple-shift Lids until Kronner returns, that is the only solution imo. That would be a great idea if Lids was 10 years younger... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltgator333 3 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 Lids-E Raffy-Meech Stewie-Lebda JMO, which FYI mean Just My Opinion(!!), I just like this because everyone has a babysitter except, well whose going to babysit Brian Rafalski on his own side of the red line... Really you could almost have a pylon playing with Stuart the way he's playing right now.. oh wait... Who knows though, we could be absolutely shocked and/or horrified next game by the defense pairings. For example if Lebda and Meech are playing together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjlegend 155 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) Not that I think Janik is a magic bullet that will stave off bad defensive play, but... Lids-Ericsson - 28 minutes Stuart-Rafalski - 20 min. Janik-Meech - 12 min. ... I still like him better than Meech at this point and Lebda would be a healthy scratch and bag skated every day in practice if I ran the D. Edited November 23, 2009 by mjlegend Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 seriously why the f*** is Lebda/Meech still on this team. Neither has shown ANYTHING of value, Lebda has been a bottom pairing for years that hasn't done anything positive to stand out and Meech can't even beat him out for a full time position. I mean seriously Holland what the f***? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 I've always been a proponent of balancing out your weaknesses with strengths and pairing weaker d-men with stronger d-men who can make up for their shortcomings... with that said, I'd MUCH rather see Janik up, than rolling with Meech and Lebda in the lineup night in, night out... so... without Janik: Lidstrom-Ericsson Stuart-Lebda Meech-Rafalski(eww defensively) with Janik: Lidstrom-Ericsson Stuart-Rafalski Lebda-Janik Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 ES: Lidstrom-Ericsson Rafalski-Meech Lebda-Stuart PP: Lidstrom-Rafalski Ericsson-Stuart PK: Lidstrom-Rafalski Ericsson-Stuart Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herr Hockey 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 ES: Lidstrom-Stuart Rafalski-Ericsson Lebda-Meech PP: Lidstrom-Rafalski Rafalski-Ericsson PK: Lidstrom-Stuart Rafalski-Ericsson The Lidstrom/Stuart pairing came up more than a few times last year when there were injuries. I think they played just fine together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 seriously why the f*** is Lebda/Meech still on this team. Neither has shown ANYTHING of value, Lebda has been a bottom pairing for years that hasn't done anything positive to stand out and Meech can't even beat him out for a full time position. I mean seriously Holland what the f***? especially considering both are up after this year - trade them now... I'd much rather see Janik or Delmore out there than Meech or Lebda... if I had it my way, they'd both be dealt... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyphoenix 153 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 I think Babcock got a look at having to pair up Meech and Lebda and said "f*** that s***." Per MLive: NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Update from the Detroit Red Wings' morning skate Monday at the Sommet Center: Niklas Kronwall's knee injury has prompted coach Mike Babcock to shuffle all three of his defense pairings. He said he'll use these combinations in tonight's game in Nashville: Lidstrom-Ericsson Lebda-Rafalski Meech-Stuart “We’re a work in progress, we’re going to figure it out, just like when we lost forwards it took us a little while to figure it out and it might here, too,'' Babcock said. "Big E played real well with Nick in the playoffs last year when we were short. This gives us a good, veteran player in each group.’’ Babcock said Meech will be his fourth point man on the power play, joining Stuart on the second unit. He wants Jonathan Ericsson to focus his energy more on penalty-killing. He also wants Ericsson to be on the ice following his team's power play. “That gives me E coming out of (the power play) all the time, so I got a match-up guy ready to go,'' Babcock said. The Predators have won five in a row and are 9-2 in their last 11 games. “(Jason) Arnott, (J.P.) Dumont and (Steve) Sullivan have been eating it up, so we got to do a good job against them, so that’s going to be Nick and E,'' Babcock said of his defensive matchup against Nashville's No. 1 line. The Red Wings' top two lines remain the same: Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Leino-Zetterberg-Cleary Babcock said change his third and fourth lines depending on matchups and game situations, Kirk Maltby is a healthy scratch. Chris Osgood is starting in goal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 I think Babcock got a look at having to pair up Meech and Lebda and said "f*** that s***." Per MLive: I love the even strength pairings but not having Ericsson on the PP is absolute horses***. Babcock is obviously trying to drill it into E's head that he can't sacrifice defense for offense, but this is insane. Ericsson ran the PP in GR very well and has a 100 mph slapper. I can only shake my head at this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 I love the even strength pairings but not having Ericsson on the PP is absolute horses***. Babcock is obviously trying to drill it into E's head that he can't sacrifice defense for offense, but this is insane. Ericsson ran the PP in GR very well and has a 100 mph slapper. I can only shake my head at this. He's already spreading 2 of his PK specialists (Stuart and Lids) thin with double duty and although I also agree that E should be on the PP - I can see why he's choosing not to use him... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) He's already spreading 2 of his PK specialists (Stuart and Lids) thin with double duty and although I also agree that E should be on the PP - I can see why he's choosing not to use him... Yeah, I guess it makes sense in light of the fact that we'd only have one dedicated PK d-man anyway, so putting that guy on the PP would leave the cupboards pretty bare. That being said, I think it makes more sense to have Ericsson on the PP and Stuart on the PK since Stuart is a better PKer than E. Edited November 23, 2009 by Drake_Marcus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zetts 236 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) Yeah, I guess it makes sense in light of the fact that we'd only have one dedicated PK d-man anyway, so putting that guy on the PP would leave the cupboards pretty bare. That being said, I think it makes more sense to have Ericsson on the PP and Stuart on the PK since Stuart is a better PKer than E. I agree, that probably would make more sense. But it seems that Babcock really wants to make a shut-down dman out of Ericsson. Maybe he figures that E has got the offensive ability, it's the defensive side he wants him to develop. If it works out, it could be pretty useful for the playoffs...even better than last year. Edit: Oh, and this Lebda/Rafalski pairing will be "interesting" to watch. Edited November 23, 2009 by Zetts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 I just love the first comment on MLive "Lebda + Rafalski = Armegeddon" Still, it could be worse - remember when we had all those injuries in 08 and our top pairing was Lilja-Lebda? And that was the "is lazy and he sucks" Lilja in his pre-cult hero days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 Yeah, I guess it makes sense in light of the fact that we'd only have one dedicated PK d-man anyway, so putting that guy on the PP would leave the cupboards pretty bare. That being said, I think it makes more sense to have Ericsson on the PP and Stuart on the PK since Stuart is a better PKer than E. well Stuart's already killing penalties too... short of rolling Stuart, E and Lids all on double duty, I think he's rolling them the right way... but I sure would love to see that canon on the PP... I think if Lilja was healthy and could pick up the PK slack, E would definitely be on the PP... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 well Stuart's already killing penalties too... short of rolling Stuart, E and Lids all on double duty, I think he's rolling them the right way... but I sure would love to see that canon on the PP... I think if Lilja was healthy and could pick up the PK slack, E would definitely be on the PP... See, once again we're left wanting Lilja. Can't the doctors fix him already? I'm tired of waiting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoWings1905 2,694 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 Lidstrom - Ericsson Lebda - Stuart Meech - Rafalski In no case whatsoever should Meech and Lebda be paired together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miller Brew 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2009 Lidstrom-Ericsson Rafalski-Stuart Lebda-Janik That looks bearable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
