Holmstrom signs 2 year extension

[Sprsquirt7 45]

Im just curious but since babcock and holland seem to be expecting a lot out of Hudler why so many are putting him on the third line. With his offensive potential, I would better assume he is on the 1a or 1b line.

[Broken 16 381]

Im just curious but since babcock and holland seem to be expecting a lot out of Hudler why so many are putting him on the third line. With his offensive potential, I would better assume he is on the 1a or 1b line.

I agree. Everyone likes to shoehorn Cleary into the second line because of his salary. I think he should start on the third line this season. Injury or not, I don't feel like he deserves to be handed a second line spot based on last season. Cleary is much better when he has something to work towards.

Edited June 4, 2010 by Broken 16

[Guest mindfly]

The mistake imo was to give Cleary a NTC... why the hell would Kenny give a NTC to an unknown cleary á 2005/2006.. he's way too streaky imo for a 2.8M salary/caphit. NTC's are given to proven high end players with many years in the league IMO (and most GM's, but Kenny H is unique)

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Really glad to see... I think the Powerplay lines will look something like:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Hudler-Filppula-Franzen

I really like that balance. Depending on whether or not they sign Bertuzzi, I think they'll have 1 or 2 guys (Bert & Cleary) who can jump into the top 6 in case of injuries.

What I don't understand is how Holland figures he can sign some grit. We'd have to lose 1 of Eaves, Miller or Ritola (or Bert too). I would much rather keep Eaves than Miller, and I think maybe Ritola could center the 3rd line. I think people are undervaluing his overall game. The team has put so much time into his development that I see them hanging onto him, at least for awhile. I'd like to see something like...

Hudler/Bertuzzi-Zetterberg-Franzen

Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Bertuzzi/Hudler-Ritola-Cleary

Abdelkader-Helm-Eaves

Draper & (UFA Enforcer/Grit)

The 2nd line looks a bit weak to me, so if they drop Bert and Lilja, etc. maybe they could lure someone like Tanguay for cheap. Either way, still excited about Homer, as the articles that came out seemed to indicate he wanted a raise.

[Guest Crymson]

^ I really would only like to see one of Bert/Homer back next year. I'd rather spend 3 million (if we have the space) one someone who will make a little more impact than Bert. He was good the entire year, but as for actually putting points up, outside a few bright spots he wasn't very good.

No such person exists. This summer's UFA class is one of the weakest in recent memory.

Also, everyone should note the following about Nolan, Armstrong and Torres:

1) Over the last four seasons, Torres has played in only 157 of 324 games. In other words, he has been injured more than 50% of the time. That's not good.

2) Nolan had a 25-goal season in '08-'09, but that season was an anomaly; aside from that season, he has not scored more than 20 goals since '02-'03. Bear in mind that he scored only 16 goals last year playing 2nd-line minutes. He's older than Bertuzzi; he costs more; he scores less; and he in general brings less to the table.

3) Armstrong made $2.4m last year and has made it clear that he expects a raise ((link); the front office in Atlanta has noted that the salary he is demanding and the salary that Atlanta is willing to pay him are disparate enough that contract talks have been broken off at present. This would seem to indicate that he's looking for more than $3m. There's flat-out no chance that Holland will give him an amount comparable to what Filppula, Hudler, Kronwall and Cleary are making, as Armstrong brings considerably less to the ice than any of those four; and I'm not sure the Wings can even afford what he's asking. In any event, I'd argue that he's overpaid even at $2.4m; many Thrashers fans seem to agree.

I give it little chance that any of the three will end up in Detroit, and for good reason.

Edited June 4, 2010 by Crymson

[GoWings1905 2,694]

The mistake imo was to give Cleary a NTC... why the hell would Kenny give a NTC to an unknown cleary á 2005/2006.. he's way too streaky imo for a 2.8M salary/caphit. NTC's are given to proven high end players with many years in the league IMO (and most GM's, but Kenny H is unique)

Damn, your team would seriously have like 4 players.

You hate everyone.

[king_malice 17]

lines next year

Franzen-Zetterberg-Holmstrom

Hudler-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi

Cleary-Filppula-?/Ritola

Eaves-Abdelkader-Helm

PP1

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

PP2

Franzen-Filppula-Hudler

[Guest Crymson]

lines next year

Franzen-Zetterberg-Holmstrom

Hudler-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi

Cleary-Filppula-?/Ritola

Eaves-Abdelkader-Helm

PP1

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

PP2

Franzen-Filppula-Hudler

That would waste quite a bit of cap space.

[king_malice 17]

That would waste quite a bit of cap space.

how so ?

[Nhurdi 42]

Hopefully he spends the next two years training his replacement.

[syntax 359]

20 out of the 110 posts in this thread are on-topic. Mod please.

[dat's sick 1,002]

Hopefully he spends the next two years training his replacement.

Ritola maybe?

[WorkingOvertime 536]

Im just curious but since babcock and holland seem to be expecting a lot out of Hudler why so many are putting him on the third line. With his offensive potential, I would better assume he is on the 1a or 1b line.

It was posted somewhere here that the Wings are looking to have three scoring lines again next year. Z, D, Flip (I assume after this season), and Franzen are likely to be in the top six when the season starts. Homer and Bert (to a lesser extent) should play with good puck handlers/skaters to be most effective. That leave Hudler and Cleary for the third line. Hudler will also be playing on the second PP, so he will have chances regardless of line. Here's what I would like to see.

Flip- Dats- Homer

Franzen- Z- Bert

Hudler- Abby- Cleary

Eaves- Helm- UFA Fighter (ex. Burish)

Ritola

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Flip- Dats- Homer

Franzen- Z- Bert

Hudler- Abby- Cleary

Eaves- Helm- UFA Fighter (ex. Burish)

Doesn't really seem much point to try and get three scoring lines if you're going to center one with Abdelkader or Helm.

I think the only way to accomplish that is to continue to split up Hank and Pav (audience groans) and give Flip the third line, as was done in the days of old.

Or, they could load up the top two lines and try to get two quality grinding lines. But I'm not sure they have the personnel right now to do either. Seems to me we're looking at a pretty half-assed third line no matter if you try to make it a scoring line or a checking line.

[Konnan511 1,736]

[WorkingOvertime 536]

Doesn't really seem much point to try and get three scoring lines if you're going to center one with Abdelkader or Helm.

I think the only way to accomplish that is to continue to split up Hank and Pav (audience groans) and give Flip the third line, as was done in the days of old.

Or, they could load up the top two lines and try to get two quality grinding lines. But I'm not sure they have the personnel right now to do either. Seems to me we're looking at a pretty half-assed third line no matter if you try to make it a scoring line or a checking line.

Even with Flip centering that line, one of Abby, Helm, Eaves has to play on it. I fail to see how having Abby center the line somehow negates any scoring threat they have. He has the speed and puck handling abilities necessary to center an NHL line. Although AHL success doesn't always translate to NHL success, Abby managed ~.7ppg in the AHL over his career. How is he somehow an offensive liability?

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Even with Flip centering that line, one of Abby, Helm, Eaves has to play on it.

I noticed that, which is why I wasn't very confident in it, but if I had to take one it'd be Eaves. He has a good shot and has scored 20 goals before, but that was a while ago and he hasn't been able to replicate the feat since.

As for Abdelkader, I haven't seen anything from him in his first 80 or whatever combined games to indicate he has a scoring touch at this level. He might develop that and that would be good, but he's looking like more of a chip-n-chase kinda dude. Which is fine, but as a center -- where normally you'd want him to have the puck and try to create offense -- would make for a dysfunctional scoring line.

[Ram 240]

Homer is the best in the league and what he does and I never identified him as a non-Wing. Thank you, Kenny.

[KDDRWINGS1 9]

Looking at Drake's lineup, I wouldn't mind letting Miller go if we can sign a foward for the 2nd/third line for around 2.5-3m. I like miller a lot but you can't keep everyone you want.

I wouldn't mind letting Miller or Eaves go if we could keep Bertuzzi and get Prospal at the $1.1 million he signed for last year. Both, especially Bert, would be cheap if they signed multi-year deals since they haven't been able to stick anywhere for a while.

[ShanahanMan 473]

Now THIS is taking a hometeam paycut. Lidstrom should take some notes

[Guest mindfly]

Now THIS is taking a hometeam paycut. Lidstrom should take some notes

Stop exaggerating, both lidstrom and holmstrom took small small hometeam paycut's.. we're talking a few 100k's here and there...

Edited June 5, 2010 by mindfly

[WorkingOvertime 536]

I noticed that, which is why I wasn't very confident in it, but if I had to take one it'd be Eaves. He has a good shot and has scored 20 goals before, but that was a while ago and he hasn't been able to replicate the feat since.

As for Abdelkader, I haven't seen anything from him in his first 80 or whatever combined games to indicate he has a scoring touch at this level. He might develop that and that would be good, but he's looking like more of a chip-n-chase kinda dude. Which is fine, but as a center -- where normally you'd want him to have the puck and try to create offense -- would make for a dysfunctional scoring line.

I agree that Abby's regular season in Detroit wasn't stellar, but he wasn't playing with skilled players. Most of his time spent up was with May and Maltby- I'm not sure what third line center in the league could look exceptional with those players. Playing with Mursak and Ritola in GR, he looked better with more skilled players; therefore, I hope he gets that chance here next year. Abby certainly isn't going to carry the line I mentioned, but with Huds and Cleary he won't have to. He and Cleary playing together would bring a level of physicality to that line as well. I like Eaves on the forth with Helm because Eaves has a good (not great) offensive ability.

[ShanahanMan 473]

Stop exaggerating, both lidstrom and holmstrom took small small hometeam paycut's.. we're talking a few 100k's here and there...

You're nuts dude. Teams would KILL to have a guy like Homer in the other team's crease. He could easily get 3 mil somewhere else.

[thedatsyukian 7]

You're nuts dude. Teams would KILL to have a guy like Homer in the other team's crease. He could easily get 3 mil somewhere else.

Honestly, I could see a team like Vancouver throw a 3 mil contract at him to play for a year.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

You're nuts dude. Teams would KILL to have a guy like Homer in the other team's crease. He could easily get 3 mil somewhere else.

That may be true if Holmstrom wasn't such an injury risk.