Lines discussion, leading up to game 1 vs SJ

[eva unit zero 271]

We can start by determining that some combination of Draper/Helm/Eaves/Miller will be the fourth line, and the loser is out.

So let's go with the top nine.

With ZDH together, it pretty much has to be this for the lineup:

Zetterberg/Datsyuk/Holmstrom

Franzen/Filppula/Hudler

Cleary/Abdelkader/Bertuzzi

That lineup is strong and deep; the Abby line has been playing well and is as good a third line as any has been in the league for years. But perhaps it would be better to split Dats and Z up; putting the question out of "Where does Flip go?" and here is my answer, and a lineup I like is:

Hudler/Datsyuk/Cleary

Filppula/Zetterberg/Holmstrom

Franzen/Abdelkader/Bertuzzi

Which line do you put your best defensive players against? Zetterberg? Datsyuk? Franzen? Perhaps you swap Bertuzzi for Filppula, and make the third line Franzen/Filppula/Abdelkader.

Quite unnerving the kind of lineup that can be formed, if you actually bother spreading out the Wings' offense across three lines.

[Konnan511 1,736]

We can start by determining that some combination of Draper/Helm/Eaves/Miller will be the fourth line, and the loser is out.

So let's go with the top nine.

With ZDH together, it pretty much has to be this for the lineup:

Zetterberg/Datsyuk/Holmstrom

Franzen/Filppula/Hudler

Cleary/Abdelkader/Bertuzzi

That lineup is strong and deep; the Abby line has been playing well and is as good a third line as any has been in the league for years. But perhaps it would be better to split Dats and Z up; putting the question out of "Where does Flip go?" and here is my answer, and a lineup I like is:

Hudler/Datsyuk/Cleary

Filppula/Zetterberg/Holmstrom

Franzen/Abdelkader/Bertuzzi

Which line do you put your best defensive players against? Zetterberg? Datsyuk? Franzen? Perhaps you swap Bertuzzi for Filppula, and make the third line Franzen/Filppula/Abdelkader.

Quite unnerving the kind of lineup that can be formed, if you actually bother spreading out the Wings' offense across three lines.

This is the first line-up that I have not seen you put Hudler at center.

[eva unit zero 271]

This is the first line-up that I have not seen you put Hudler at center.

Filppula/Datsyuk/Holmstrom

Abdelkader/Zetterberg/Cleary

Franzen/Hudler/Bertuzzi

Does that work for you?

[Shaman 713]

Miller>Draper.

Miller has been great in the first round, he shouldn't sit.

Edited April 25, 2011 by Shaman464

[Feldmarschall 9]

Miller>Draper.

Miller has been great in the first round, he shouldn't sit.

Miller was good, but Babs seems to want Drapes around for faceoffs. He really puts a lot of value on having him out there.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

what about this...

Hudler-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary

Abdelkader-Filppula-Bertuzzi

Draper-Helm-Eaves

I still like my original lines better, but if you MUST have pav, hank and flip centering.

No way.

Hudler and Homer on the same line? Datsyuk would have to defend 3 players at the same time in his own zone.

I just don't understand why people want to mix up line combos that worked so well. Minimal intrusion is what I was going for with my combos.

[daniel1 32]

After watching most of the regular season games this year I would go with:

Flip - Dats - Homer

Mule - Hank - Bert

Huds - Helm - Cleary

Eaves - Abdelkader - Draper/Miller

Any way you can find to get more ice time for Helm is a good thing. He was probably our second best forward last series, second only to Dats. The Mule/Hank/Bert line dominated for a good chunk of the season and Bert and Mule have great chemistry as Bert seems to find him in good scoring positions alot. While I think Miller brings more offense to the line-up, you can't discount Drapes and all that experience and face off skill. Cleary had a good game 4 but he was pretty much invisible for the first 3 and I honestly thought he was injured the way he was getting knocked around and seemed to spend more time on his ass than on his skates so if he struggles you drop him down to the 4th line and give Eaves or Miller a shot on the third line to contribute a goal or two. Last year in the playoffs Cleary was amazing but I'm really worried he's hurt and just wants to try to play through it, which might do more harm than good to both him and the team as the playoffs move on. Here's hoping the extended time off rested/healed him and he's back to the being the Cleary of last year's playoffs.

Edited April 26, 2011 by daniel1

[Guest blueadams]

Link - http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/04/red_wings_johan_franzen_skates_1.html

Forwards:

Modano-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Hudler-Zetterberg-Filppula

Cleary-Abdelkader-Bertuzzi

Draper/Miller-Helm-Eaves

...Safe to assume that Modano's a stand-in for Franzen (pretty odd to be a '1st line or scratched' player). That second line is certainly very interesting. Should score some goals though, and be better defensively than you might think, with Hank and Flip together. I guess that Babs really, really doesn't want to break up the 3rd or 4th lines.

Defensemen:

Lidstrom-Stuart

Ericsson-Rafalski

Kronwall-Kindl

Meech-Janik

...Safe to assume that Kindl's a stand-in for Salei.

Goalies:

Howard

MacDonald

Osgood

Edited April 27, 2011 by blueadams

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

I say if you are tired of line combo threads then don't go in and post in them. Yes..it's that easy.

I wouldn't mind seeing modo get some top line minutes...just to see how he fairs, but thats just my CRAZY non-LGW conformity.

Edited April 27, 2011 by hillbillywingsfan

[VM1138 1,921]

Not sure about Modano being put on the top line. We need hard working excellent skill players up there to counter San Jose. I fear Modano's habit for floating could hurt the team. Hudler might have been a better option for top line minutes. Hopefully Modano can keep up the momentum from Game 4.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Modano is just there as a fill in for Mule like blue stated.

Cleary-Abdelkader-Bertuzzi must stay together and will so that's good. GREAT 3rd line depth there if you ask me. Huds and Flip with Hank could definitely turn out well. That's the most interesting combo of all that I've seen.

[hooon 1,089]

I like these lines a lot! I wouldn't mind seeing Mo get some games in on the 4th line, he played hard in that game in round 1.

Either way, I approve of these lines.

[stuck in socal 56]

I hope Mule is in game 1....

[Mabuhay Red Wings 177]

I wouldn't be surprised if these were the forwards lines to start for Game 1

Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Filppula-Zetterberg-Miller

Cleary-Abdelkader-Bertuzzi

Draper-Helm-Eaves

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

I think you need a big body on the 2nd line, your gonna have Clowe running around like an idiot without any challenging otherwise.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Filppula/Datsyuk/Holmstrom

Abdelkader/Zetterberg/Cleary

Franzen/Hudler/Bertuzzi

Does that work for you?

Hate you...

[Mabuhay Red Wings 177]

I think you need a big body on the 2nd line, your gonna have Clowe running around like an idiot without any challenging otherwise.

Babs might think that he can match up the Abdelkader line with the Clowe-Couture-Heatley line. Datsyuk/Zetterberg (The first line) will undoubtedly draw the Thornton match up. Zetterberg/Filppula will probably go against the Pavelski line.

[Mabuhay Red Wings 177]

Here are the lines they skated with, a couple of which they changed up midway through:

Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Hudler/Modano-Zetterberg-Filppula

Cleary-Abdelkader-Bertuzzi

Draper/Miller-Helm-Eaves

Babcock also practiced Datsyuk and Zetterberg together, with Holmstrom, and had Filppula centering a line with Franzen and Hudler. The Cleary-Abdelkader-Bertuzzi line is the one unit that has stayed intact over the last several practices.

Lidstrom-Stuart

Ericsson-Rafalski

Kronwall-Salei

Kindl

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/04/mike_babcock_forechecking_key.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+detroit-redwings+%28Detroit+Red+Wings+-+MLive.com%29

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Modano-Hank-Flip

Hmm... interrrresting indeed. Wouldn't happen but given how Mikey played last game, it seems like a nice little combo there.

[eva unit zero 271]

Hate you...

What, for the snarky response? Or the fact it's a lineup with Hudler at center that would actually work?

I can do better, you know...

PP1: Zetterberg/Datsyuk/Holmstrom/Lidstrom/Hudler

[Mabuhay Red Wings 177]

Here are the lines they practiced with:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Hudler-Filppula-Franzen (Modano working in)

Cleary-Abdelkader-Bertuzzi

Miller/Draper-Helm-Eaves

Lidstrom-Stuart

Ericsson-Rafalski

Kronwall-Salei

Kindl-Janik (scratches)

Howard

MacDonald

Osgood (scratched)

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/04/red_wings_might_reunite_henrik.html

[brett 1,029]

I like the huds flip mule line offensively, but defensively not digging it. 1st 3rd and 4th will be great though