SweWings 45 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 (edited) If anything, this just further backs the point to give it a look... to say someone deserves a shot doesn't mean just throw them in there in gametime and "see how it goes"... there's a little thing called practice to work the kinks out, but the thought to give it a try has to be attempted first to ever know if it could progress... Pre-season games also. I don't mind them trying things like this and it could work quite well. Edited August 5, 2010 by SweWings Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 Pre-season games also. I don't mind them trying things like this and if it could work quite well. Dead on! I'm not advocating they just blindly hand him the spot and anoint him untouchable in that spot, but it can't hurt to at least give it a look! Well said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DangleDangleBeach 16 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 where am i going with this? modano HAS/CAN play the point on and has already been said to be slotted in as kronwalls partner for the 2nd unit. im simply saying why would you want to put modano up front centering bert and franzen and have eaves and kronwall on the point when you can have filpula center and just put modano on the point where he has proven hes capable whereas eaves "might work"? why risk making eaves kronwalls partner "and just give him a try" when players like filpula/hudler who are far more offensively talented would have to be left off the unit if eaves was playing the point. im not saying eaves couldn't do it im just saying why even try when you know modano can? why have bert modano franzen eaves kronwall when it can be... bert filpula franzen modano kronwall the more talent on the ice the better... if you have eaves on the point then you wont have filpula out there and id rather have filpula on the ice over eaves no matter where they are personally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 (edited) where am i going with this? modano HAS/CAN play the point on and has already been said to be slotted in as kronwalls partner for the 2nd unit. im simply saying why would you want to put modano up front centering bert and franzen and have eaves and kronwall on the point when you can have filpula center and just put modano on the point where he has proven hes capable whereas eaves "might work"? why risk making eaves kronwalls partner "and just give him a try" when players like filpula/hudler who are far more offensively talented would have to be left off the unit if eaves was playing the point. im not saying eaves couldn't do it im just saying why even try when you know modano can? why have bert modano franzen eaves kronwall when it can be... bert filpula franzen modano kronwall the more talent on the ice the better... if you have eaves on the point then you wont have filpula out there and id rather have filpula on the ice over eaves no matter where they are personally. this has already been covered in this thread, please read a whole thread before commenting... Although I understand your point and think it's a little overrated too, it still sets up much better one timer opportunities and it does have it's advantage... with that said, I actually agree that all 3 of them would be better options back there on skill and/or shot speed alone, but you can't argue the fact that Babs IS in love with the righty-lefty combo and with that mindset, it makes perfect sense to give Eaves a shot... keep in mind he's still only 25 and has a lot of untapped potential, this could also be the boost he needs to really flourish EDIT - Also, keep in mind that when Modano played the point in Dallas, his PP partner was Robidas(R handed shot) more or less, there is a reason so many coaches stick to the format and it does make a difference... stuart was a force last year, but s*** he needed a break once in a while. eaves would have been good. and mindfly, the reason for the righty/lefty is because with all of the shot blocking in the NHL these days you have to be able to get the one-timers off on the the PP. if you have to stop before shooting, there's about a 80% chance some crazy bastard is gonna get in the way of the shot. look how effective lids/raffi are. eaves/kronwall would be pretty sick. i'm gonna go with stevkrause on this one. eaves is responsible defensively too, so there's not too much worry back there. williams was a defensive slug on the PP. got his ass burned often. I'm not saying you SHOULDN'T put Modano back there, but if you want the right-lefty switch... which Babs LOVES, Eaves is a VERY good option and worth taking a look at... that's what it comes down to... and there's no reason you wouldn't STILL roll Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Hudler-Filppula-Franzen Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Eaves Bertuzzi, Cleary and Modano all seeing time too for extended powerplays... the whole point of this entire thread, is that it's worth giving it a look in camp and pre-season and if it works and works well, then you're set... if not, you go with a lefty-lefty combo (Modano-Kronwall) on the 2nd unit and call it a day, but you never know if you don't give it a look... Edited August 5, 2010 by stevkrause Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buppy 1,720 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 3rd unit, or replacement when a regular is unavailable perhaps, but I can't see him being (or even becoming) a regular this year. Most forwards, even those who are good defensivly, struggle covering the point. Sammy was about as good as Eaves defensively and he sucked on the point. His slapshot was better as well (so was Williams's), but like most forwards they couldn't keep it low. Accuracy and elevation are just as important as anything else when talking about point shots. More important than most really. Modano, since he has experience, will likely get the spot. Personally, I'd hope Kindl can step in and take it, or Ericsson. I'd also put Stuart ahead of Eaves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buppy 1,720 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 ...I'm not saying you SHOULDN'T put Modano back there, but if you want the right-lefty switch... which Babs LOVES, Eaves is a VERY good the only option ... Eaves only looks good because he's a RH shot, and we don't have any other RH shots (excluding Rafi) to compare him with. that doesn't mean he's a good option. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 Eaves only looks good because he's a RH shot, and we don't have any other RH shots (excluding Rafi) to compare him with. that doesn't mean he's a good option. not true... there's Maltb... oh wait if they end up adding Hnidy, he's a right handed shot and I'd still rather have Eaves back there, even with Williams here last year, I would have preferred Eaves... once again, he has a lot of offensive potential and is stong on the puck... I stand by what I said... if you want the lefty-righty combo - he is a VERY good option to at least look at... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA Report post Posted August 5, 2010 not true... there's Maltb... oh wait 50 Goal Scorer in Juniors baby. where am i going with this? modano HAS/CAN play the point on and has already been said to be slotted in as kronwalls partner for the 2nd unit. im simply saying why would you want to put modano up front centering bert and franzen and have eaves and kronwall on the point when you can have filpula center and just put modano on the point where he has proven hes capable whereas eaves "might work"? why risk making eaves kronwalls partner "and just give him a try" when players like filpula/hudler who are far more offensively talented would have to be left off the unit if eaves was playing the point. im not saying eaves couldn't do it im just saying why even try when you know modano can? why have bert modano franzen eaves kronwall when it can be... bert filpula franzen modano kronwall the more talent on the ice the better... if you have eaves on the point then you wont have filpula out there and id rather have filpula on the ice over eaves no matter where they are personally. I think you're forgetting a certain short Czech on the 2nd power play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 I think you're forgetting a certain short Czech on the 2nd power play. My guess is they'll go with the tried and true shooter-playmaker-net front guy formation on both PPs. Hank-Pav-Homer are all the best on the team at that role, and Franzen-Hudler-Cleary second best, so those are my predictions. It would be worth a look to see if Eaves could handle the point spot on the PP, but my guess is Modano will get the nod. While Babcock has tried to fit a somewhat square peg into a roundish hole before (Sammy, Willy), that was often for lack of a significantly better option. When talent obviously trumps handedness we get some more sane looks on the PP (Nick, Schneider). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 My guess is they'll go with the tried and true shooter-playmaker-net front guy formation on both PPs. Hank-Pav-Homer are all the best on the team at that role, and Franzen-Hudler-Cleary second best, so those are my predictions. It would be worth a look to see if Eaves could handle the point spot on the PP, but my guess is Modano will get the nod. While Babcock has tried to fit a somewhat square peg into a roundish hole before (Sammy, Willy), that was often for lack of a significantly better option. When talent obviously trumps handedness we get some more sane looks on the PP (Nick, Schneider). That's my thinking too, Modano's creds speak for themselves and I have NO problem with a lefty-lefty combo, especially when the talent merits it... I just want it to get a look, and if it works, maybe we caught lightning in a bottle and have another viable righty-lefty combo, if nothing else, just for a 3rd point pairing in the event we have an injury, someone's in the box or just needs a rest... never hurts to have viable options... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jesusberg 1,256 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 I think the idea definitely has some merit, but as has been mention his energy might be best conserved for the PK. Several players who work on the PP work the opposite side of their handedness for one timers, which is how I could see Modano being utilized. The issue with having such a deep offensive team is that there's only so much PP time to give out. I think we're going to see Hudler and Bertuzzi really battle it out for a spot on that second unit. I also wonder if Babs would slot Huds, even with his lack of face-off experience, into Filppula's spot if he doesn't play as well on the PP as Mike expects. Like I said, I definitely think the idea is worth tinkering around with, but there's just so much offensive talent that it might be hard to get him some time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NomadFromKazoo 42 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 there's just so much offensive talent that it might be hard to get him some time. This is my reaction. I don't have any negative thought to Eaves, but it seems hard to believe he's going to beat that many people out, at least this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted August 5, 2010 (edited) Besides I think one of the biggest factors for Modano to pick detroit is because he probably was promised to center the third line AND get som pp-time Edited August 5, 2010 by mindfly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NomadFromKazoo 42 Report post Posted August 5, 2010 Besides I think one of the biggest factors for Modano to pick detroit is because he probably was promised to center the third line AND get som pp-time I seriously doubt anyone made that specific a promise to him. They may have said it's the plan, but I'm sure the expectation was he'd earn it. Neither Holland or Babcock would tie their own hands that way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
