Zetterberg & Cleary will play vs LA!

[dirtydangles 1,328]

that article said that lilja practiced with the team? he hadn't been doing that before had he?

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Bert and Datsyuk were split up last night. And I guarantee he won't put Filppula on the third line at least until Franzen is back (if at all).

He might start Hank and Pavel together and have Flip centering the second line and I'm okay with that, but you don't know Mike if you don't think he won't split them and have them all centering three separate lines as soon as he starts seeing things he doesn't like.

[rage 24]

I just want them to do whatever they have to do to get their legs back and not rush anything. Not expecting any points.

Expect the unexpected my friend.

[Broken 16 381]

ZDH!! Hell Yes!

No... please.

[CanadaBoy 151]

I don't think Babs will split Pavs and Bert come game time, so much chemistry between em.

The lines will be:

Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Zetterberg-Filppula-Cleary

Draper-Helm-Eaves

Miller-Abdelkader-Maltby

[Z and D for the C 712]

He might start Hank and Pavel together and have Flip centering the second line and I'm okay with that, but you don't know Mike if you don't think he won't split them and have them all centering three separate lines as soon as he starts seeing things he doesn't like.

I don't see him doing that at all, he generally goes the opposite direction. For example last playoffs Filppula started on the third with Dats and Z split up, low and behold in the finals ZDH were back together and Flip was centering a line with Hossa and Franzen. He'll change them for sure, but he won't split them into 3 lines.

[Theophany 110]

that article said that lilja practiced with the team? he hadn't been doing that before had he?

He's been doing that when he's felt up to it for a few months now.

[cjm502 165]

that article said that lilja practiced with the team? he hadn't been doing that before had he?

He has been practicing with no contact for months now.

^^^ Aww come on, you beat me by like 15 seconds...

Edited January 7, 2010 by cjm502

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I don't see him doing that at all, he generally goes the opposite direction. For example last playoffs Filppula started on the third with Dats and Z split up, low and behold in the finals ZDH were back together and Flip was centering a line with Hossa and Franzen. He'll change them for sure, but he won't split them into 3 lines.

I have no idea what makes you so sure considering that he had the three of them split already, in this very season (remember, Leino-Flip-Willy?), and with a full 40 games remaining in the year I would be very surprised if the trio of centers in question don't end up playing a lot of different roles on different lines.

[gcom007 1,465]

It'll be logical until Howard isn't the 7th best goalie in the NHL. I realize that Osgood has turned it on in the playoffs before (and repeatedly), but he's not a required tool to win in the post-season.

Howard has been playing exceptionally well (best goalie in the NHL by dollar amount paid, probably by FAR), and until he starts playing poorly, I see no reason at all that Osgood should start unless Howard needs a break.

That includes the playoffs.

Osgood was our Conn Smythe guy last year and easily the best goalie in the playoffs the last two years. If not for Osgood's outstanding play, there's no way the injury-ridden team would've gotten as far as they did. I know you guys love to forget the facts, but don't forget that one. There's a reason why everyone in the press even talking hockey was predicting Osgood as the Conn Smythe winner should we have won the Cup. He was our best player without a doubt and absolutely essential to our success the last two seasons. If you really want to turn your back on that in favor of a rookie who's had one solid season, providing he keeps it up, you're out of your mind.

Osgood should've never been given the chance to screw up when he did in his first playoffs as a rookie. He started because we had s*** for options and we're lucky that it didn't ruin his career. If not for Vernon coming in and settling things down and teaching Osgood what it takes to be a career goalie, I think Osgood could've easily faded away like so many other goalies. The mental game is the biggest thing a goalie needs to learn to handle, and Osgood learned that early and it's done him well throughout his career.

When we've got the best playoff goalie from the last two seasons on our team, it makes absolutely NO SENSE AT ALL to not go with him not only for the sake of the team, but for the sake of Jimmy Howard. I know he's playing well and I couldn't be happier, but when you're a young goaltender just getting going, setbacks are a far bigger deal. Personally, I'd rather see him develop slow and strong so he might have a career as opposed to setting him up to be a flash in the pan.

[cjm502 165]

It looks like we have a normal team! Now we have J-Willy, Kronner, Franzen, and Ericsson left. All but one will be back by the end of this month. Time to rock!

[gcom007 1,465]

I don't think Babs will split Pavs and Bert come game time, so much chemistry between em.

The lines will be:

Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Zetterberg-Filppula-Cleary

Draper-Helm-Eaves

Miller-Abdelkader-Maltby

Let's play "If Elliot was GM last summer and we were healthy..."

This would be my squad:

Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Franzen-Zetterberg-Hossa

Eaves-Helm-Cleary

Draper-Abdelkader-Maltby

It depresses me a little to imagine that...it could've been HOT...

Edited January 7, 2010 by gcom007

[Z and D for the C 712]

I have no idea what makes you so sure considering that he had the three of them split already, in this very season (remember, Leino-Flip-Willy?), and with a full 40 games remaining in the year I would be very surprised if the trio of centers in question don't end up playing a lot of different roles on different lines.

Well he very well may split them all up once Franzen gets back (which frankly I don't think will happen...but that's a whole-nother discussion) but I don't think he will until that happens. Like I said, he starts with them split, and then he'll start playing them together, not generally the other way around.

[wingfan1991 221]

YES ******* PUMPED!

[FinRedWing 172]

ZDH and Bertuzzi-Filppula-Cleary?

Badass!

[rage 24]

ZDH and Bertuzzi-Filppula-Cleary?

Badass!

That's what I'm saying!!

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Very good news. Hope it translates into solid play on the ice.

[Theophany 110]

Osgood was our Conn Smythe guy last year and easily the best goalie in the playoffs the last two years. If not for Osgood's outstanding play, there's no way the injury-ridden team would've gotten as far as they did. I know you guys love to forget the facts, but don't forget that one. There's a reason why everyone in the press even talking hockey was predicting Osgood as the Conn Smythe winner should we have won the Cup. He was our best player without a doubt and absolutely essential to our success the last two seasons. If you really want to turn your back on that in favor of a rookie who's had one solid season, providing he keeps it up, you're out of your mind.

Osgood should've never been given the chance to screw up when he did in his first playoffs as a rookie. He started because we had s*** for options and we're lucky that it didn't ruin his career. If not for Vernon coming in and settling things down and teaching Osgood what it takes to be a career goalie, I think Osgood could've easily faded away like so many other goalies. The mental game is the biggest thing a goalie needs to learn to handle, and Osgood learned that early and it's done him well throughout his career.

When we've got the best playoff goalie from the last two seasons on our team, it makes absolutely NO SENSE AT ALL to not go with him not only for the sake of the team, but for the sake of Jimmy Howard. I know he's playing well and I couldn't be happier, but when you're a young goaltender just getting going, setbacks are a far bigger deal. Personally, I'd rather see him develop slow and strong so he might have a career as opposed to setting him up to be a flash in the pan.

Howard isn't a young goaltender anymore with some of the games he's stolen.

He's also the 7th best goalie in the NHL right now, ahead of (or on the same level as) guys like Brodeur, Lundqvist, Thomas, Vokoun, Nabokov, Luongo, Varlamov...

I would never take out a goalie who's played as well as Jimmy Howard, no matter what someone else has done in the past. When Howard starts looking shaky, you can bet your ass that Osgood will be putting on his old-as-dirt brain bucket and getting out there, but until then, I would go with Jimmy Howard. He's the future (whether as backup or the #1 guy isn't clear yet), and you need to build that confidence and resilience that Osgood has.

[Pucks 66]

Osgood was our Conn Smythe guy last year and easily the best goalie in the playoffs the last two years. If not for Osgood's outstanding play, there's no way the injury-ridden team would've gotten as far as they did. I know you guys love to forget the facts, but don't forget that one. There's a reason why everyone in the press even talking hockey was predicting Osgood as the Conn Smythe winner should we have won the Cup. He was our best player without a doubt and absolutely essential to our success the last two seasons. If you really want to turn your back on that in favor of a rookie who's had one solid season, providing he keeps it up, you're out of your mind.

Osgood should've never been given the chance to screw up when he did in his first playoffs as a rookie. He started because we had s*** for options and we're lucky that it didn't ruin his career. If not for Vernon coming in and settling things down and teaching Osgood what it takes to be a career goalie, I think Osgood could've easily faded away like so many other goalies. The mental game is the biggest thing a goalie needs to learn to handle, and Osgood learned that early and it's done him well throughout his career.

When we've got the best playoff goalie from the last two seasons on our team, it makes absolutely NO SENSE AT ALL to not go with him not only for the sake of the team, but for the sake of Jimmy Howard. I know he's playing well and I couldn't be happier, but when you're a young goaltender just getting going, setbacks are a far bigger deal. Personally, I'd rather see him develop slow and strong so he might have a career as opposed to setting him up to be a flash in the pan.

So let me ask you a question. In the playoffs the last 2 years if we switched goalies with any of the teams we faced do you think the winner of the series changes? .....Me either.

Edited January 7, 2010 by Pucks

[Miller Brew 0]

This is great news. Can't wait till Kronner and Ericsson are both back! Then we can start looking like an NHL team again.

I wonder how a Flip/Dats/Zetterberg line would look with Bert/Abby/Holmer on the second line. Not a permanent solution, but just to see the big 2nd line.

[HanKarin40 7]

Fanfreakintastic news! It's like Christmas in January! Hopefully they'll be able to shake the rust off quickly! Welcome back boys!

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

So let me ask you a question. In the playoffs the last 2 years if we switched goalies with any of the teams we faced do you think the winner of the series changes? .....Me either.

Yes, because Osgood didn't steal ANY games for Detroit in the playoffs the last two years.

And I guess I was mistaken when I saw Hasek pulled in favor of Osgood in 2008.

[Pucks 66]

Yes, because Osgood didn't steal ANY games for Detroit in the playoffs the last two years.

And I guess I was mistaken when I saw Hasek pulled in favor of Osgood in 2008.

We'll Hasek was 100 years old and finally showing his age. Answer the question I posed Doc. I'm curious what you think? It's pretty easy and straight forward question. Hurry though because I'm going to bed. This is off topic, pointless and boring.

Actually send me a pm instead if you want. I'm guessing nobody else wants to read our back and forth. I'm not sure I do myself.

Edited January 7, 2010 by Pucks

[rage 24]

This is great news. Can't wait till Kronner and Ericsson are both back! Then we can start looking like an NHL team again.

I wonder how a Flip/Dats/Zetterberg line would look with Bert/Abby/Holmer on the second line. Not a permanent solution, but just to see the big 2nd line.

I see what you did there.

[Theophany 110]

This is great news. Can't wait till Kronner and Ericsson are both back! Then we can start looking like an NHL team again.

I wonder how a Flip/Dats/Zetterberg line would look with Bert/Abby/Holmer on the second line. Not a permanent solution, but just to see the big 2nd line.

That second line would make me kill myself by the end of the first period, at which time the score would be 65 - 0, and Homer/Bert/Abby would all be -65.