Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 According to mlive, Filppulla is aiming at Dec 26th return, Kronwall a week after that, and Williams hopes to be back by the second week of January. We have 8 games until then. http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/12/re...bug_soldie.html Godspeed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyphoenix 153 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 Filppula coming back would be a great Christmas present! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 Pretty much just got to win 3 or 4 games out of 7 until Flippula comes back. Just keep our head above water. Howard will carry us! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z Winged Dangler 2,082 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 good news! the team will look a whole lot different, and better with some starters back. what about franzen?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lovin Jiri Fischer 147 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 Do you think these guys are rushing it because of all the injuries and they wanna help the team out? I hope they will e 100% ready to go by then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CMatt89 63 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 (edited) Great news. This team is much needing another solid center. Right now we are a one line team, and our one line is not producing because its easier to contain them now that the opposition only has to strong hold Datsyuk and Zetterberg. After those two, this lineup is not a threat whatsoever offensively. With two, even three lines, and eventually with 3 - 5 setup men and finishers (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Williams, Filpulla) look for Bertuzzi, Leino, and to get more involved offensively, and look for this Red Wings team to take off (once our returnees find their stride) Do you think Fil will be used on the third line to create 3 scoring lines and one speed/grind line? Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Bertuzzi-Zetterberg-Cleary Williams-Filpulla-Leino Draper-Helm-Eaves/Maltby/May ? Edited December 11, 2009 by CMatt89 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mmamolo 287 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 Great news. This team is much needing another solid center. Right now we are a one line team, and our one line is not producing because its easier to contain them now that the opposition only has to strong hold Datsyuk and Zetterberg. After those two, this lineup is not a threat whatsoever offensively. With two, even three lines, and eventually with 3 - 5 setup men and finishers (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Williams, Filpulla) look for Bertuzzi, Leino, and to get more involved offensively, and look for this Red Wings team to take off (once our returnees find their stride) Do you think Fil will be used on the third line to create 3 scoring lines and one speed/grind line? Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Bertuzzi-Zetterberg-Cleary Williams-Filpulla-Leino Draper-Helm-Eaves/Maltby/May ? I'd imagine eventually that's the way the line up will look. But Zetterberg and Datsyuk will remain together until they get rolling a little bit. Filppula will end up as the second line centre between Bertuzzi and Leino upon his return. What will be interesting to see if how the lines get shifted about when Williams returns. Draper - Helm - Eaves is staying together. You'd imagine Leino will get bumped down the depth chart but how does everyone fit while Cleary and Franzen remain out? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theophany 110 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 I'd imagine eventually that's the way the line up will look. But Zetterberg and Datsyuk will remain together until they get rolling a little bit. Filppula will end up as the second line centre between Bertuzzi and Leino upon his return. What will be interesting to see if how the lines get shifted about when Williams returns. Draper - Helm - Eaves is staying together. You'd imagine Leino will get bumped down the depth chart but how does everyone fit while Cleary and Franzen remain out? Either Leino or Williams are gonna be skating on the fourth line. Unless Bert gets moved to the fourth line. Or unless Helm's line gets moved to the fourth (where it belongs) and Abby centers the third with various people on his wings (thinking Miller and Williams/Leino). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwings8831 40 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 Pretty much just got to win 3 or 4 games out of 7 until Flippula comes back. Just keep our head above water. Howard will carry us! It depends on the games we win. We have two with Chicago before then and need to win at least one, maybe both. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CMatt89 63 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 I'd imagine eventually that's the way the line up will look. But Zetterberg and Datsyuk will remain together until they get rolling a little bit. Filppula will end up as the second line centre between Bertuzzi and Leino upon his return. What will be interesting to see if how the lines get shifted about when Williams returns. Draper - Helm - Eaves is staying together. You'd imagine Leino will get bumped down the depth chart but how does everyone fit while Cleary and Franzen remain out? I could see the lines going Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Williams-Filpulla-Bertuzzi/Leino Draper-Helm-Eaves Bertuzzi/Leino-Abdelkader-May/Maltby I think Abdelkader will get ice time up until everyone is back. Then he'll be sent down. May, Maltby, Eaves will be rotating until the playoffs, hopefully with May getting the final spot. Draper-Helm-May would be a solid 4th line going into the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 It depends on the games we win. We have two with Chicago before then and need to win at least one, maybe both. To be honest I'm not writing the Chicago games as must wins. I don't think we should be worried about winning the division at the moment. Chicago is pretty much 100%, so unless they have a bad game the Red Wing's aren't very likely to win those games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 If Babcock hasn't figured out Zetterberg and Datsyuk work much better together than apart, and thus our team, I am going to seek him out and slap him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cupforwings 138 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 If Babcock hasn't figured out Zetterberg and Datsyuk work much better together than apart, and thus our team, I am going to seek him out and slap him. they need to score goals now... pretty much our only threat right now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themule93 1 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 does anyone on here have any ideas on lines when EVERYONE is healthy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 does anyone on here have any ideas on lines when EVERYONE is healthy Franzen won't be back for a while, so lines won't be complete until late in the season, but because of the plethora of injuries we've sustained I imagine there will be a great deal of juggling as folks start to come back. Ideally I'm hoping for: Datsyuk Zetterberg Homer Williams Filppulla Cleary Bertuzzi Abdelkader Leino Draper Helm Eaves but who the hell knows. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcom007 1,465 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 I'm not expecting a huge impact from Flip or Williams. Flip doesn't score goals and Williams can't be counted on for consistency in that department. It won't hurt, but I just don't think it'll help much either. But Kronwall coming back will be HUGE for this team. In my mind, his injury is what's hurt this team the most so far. We were still looking like a team that could play with anyone even after Franzen, Flip and Williams went down, but we've struggled immensely since Kronwall's injury. That'll be huge... Franzen will be huge too, but that's still a ways off... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcom007 1,465 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 To be honest I'm not writing the Chicago games as must wins. I don't think we should be worried about winning the division at the moment. Chicago is pretty much 100%, so unless they have a bad game the Red Wing's aren't very likely to win those games. I'd rather not win the division to be honest. They'll still probably wind up 3rd when all is said and done and have to play a tougher team. I'd honestly rather be in 8th and take on San Jose. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Finnish Wing 110 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 I'm not expecting a huge impact from Flip or Williams. Flip doesn't score goalsLOL. I totally see him bringing much to this team. He doesn't have to score goals to impact. He was awesome at the start of the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcom007 1,465 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 LOL. I totally see him bringing much to this team. He doesn't have to score goals to impact. He was awesome at the start of the season. Yeah, he sure helped us a lot at the start of the season.......how did that go for us? Oh yeah, we were terrible. He doesn't score goals and he's not the greatest play-maker on earth either especially if he doesn't have stars around him to help with the heavy lifting. Flip helps us defensively more than anything and we're not really struggling with stopping the other team from scoring. You do remember how after Flip went down this team finally got on a winning streak and started looking good for the first time this season, right? I'm not saying there's a correlation between the two, in that I'm not saying that Flip hurts us at all. I'm merely pointing out that he's not a game-changer. Flip even at his best isn't enough to put the team over the top. Despite all the praise he got in October, which I admit I think is a bit exaggerated, can anyone say that it really meant anything? Did it help us in the big picture? No, you can't, because we still looked lousy and lost a lot. Again, I'm not saying he hurts us at all, but he certainly hasn't nor do I believe he will help us as much as many like to think. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 Franzen won't be back for a while, so lines won't be complete until late in the season, but because of the plethora of injuries we've sustained I imagine there will be a great deal of juggling as folks start to come back. Ideally I'm hoping for: Datsyuk Zetterberg Homer Williams Filppulla Cleary Bertuzzi Abdelkader Leino Draper Helm Eaves but who the hell knows. Over the next few games before Filppula comes back,if Ville Leino doesnt do anything,he will not be in the lineup very much.Mike Babcock sent him a message by benching him the last few games.Now,with Cleary out,this is Leino's chance to prove himself.This is what i think it will look like when its all said and done,without Franzen,of course,since he wont be back for a while: Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Abdelkader-Filppula-Cleary Williams-Helm-Bertuzzi Eaves-Draper-May Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 A second line of Leino Flip Bertuzzi is 100 times better than Leino Abdelkader Bertuzzi. There is no question YOU wouldn't think having Flip back will do anything, but being that you think Filppula is only an average player, it really doesn't mean anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seraph 240 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 Don't hold your breath folks. Even if everyone makes it back, they'll be huffing and puffing to get back into form. On top of that, we have to build up our chemistry from the ground up. We're still in for a rough ride. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cupforwings 138 Report post Posted December 11, 2009 Again, I'm not saying [Filppula] hurts us at all, but he certainly hasn't nor do I believe he will help us as much as many like to think. Filpula will make our second line 100 times better... getting him back will give us a more threatening second line for sure Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
