SouthernHockeyHoney 20 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 Huds Datsyuk Cleary Bert Z Franzen Abby Flip Modano Draper Helm Eaves I like these lines alot, except for one change. To have an effective "scoring" line, you need: A playmaker who can also score (your centerman), someone who can provide a net presence, and a floater/shooter (your wingers), one or both of whom need to be responsible/strong on the fore-check. Right? So, in your first combo, I assume Cleary would be the one to provide net presence, which leaves Hudler in the position of the floater/shooter. I really don't feel comfortable with him in this position because in the first two games, he was consistently pushed off the puck by the Sharks bigger, stronger, forwards and defensemen. I feel that replacing Hudler (have him sit out) with Holmstrom on this line to provide your net presence and would leave Cleary available for that floater/shooter position, who has proven to be much stronger on the boards and is excellent on the fore-check. Other than that, I think these lines are pretty much exactly what I had in mind. Z is, if not 100$%, damn close, as he proved in the final minutes of the 3rd Sunday. Franzen isn't close to that, so having another big body on a line with him (Bert) could take some of the heat off him and give him more room. Just my HO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 I sort of wanna see Modano and Draper in the lineup. Bench whoever including Abs, I dont' care right now. Babs needs to make some changes. Must win game 3 or we are done imo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nyquistfan14 489 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 I like these lines alot, except for one change. To have an effective "scoring" line, you need: A playmaker who can also score (your centerman), someone who can provide a net presence, and a floater/shooter (your wingers), one or both of whom need to be responsible/strong on the fore-check. Right? So, in your first combo, I assume Cleary would be the one to provide net presence, which leaves Hudler in the position of the floater/shooter. I really don't feel comfortable with him in this position because in the first two games, he was consistently pushed off the puck by the Sharks bigger, stronger, forwards and defensemen. I feel that replacing Hudler (have him sit out) with Holmstrom on this line to provide your net presence and would leave Cleary available for that floater/shooter position, who has proven to be much stronger on the boards and is excellent on the fore-check. Other than that, I think these lines are pretty much exactly what I had in mind. Z is, if not 100$%, damn close, as he proved in the final minutes of the 3rd Sunday. Franzen isn't close to that, so having another big body on a line with him (Bert) could take some of the heat off him and give him more room. Just my HO. That first line was regards to recent experience this year as Huds and Datsyuk were absolutely dynamic while on a line with Cleary. I agree that Huds was getting knocked off the puck in game 2, but i did not feel that way about him in game 1 or the entire pheonix series. People get mad at Huds a lot on these forums (sometimes I can't blame them) but they fail to see the good sides of Huds. Yes he had one bad game and it happened to be a really bad game, but up until that point he was playing some of his best hockey of the season. I just feel that it would be a huge mistake to take him out of the lineup as we know with Huds he can strike at any moment with a goal, or he can make a slick pass for a goal. And with a team who are struggling to score goals I feel taking out Hudler would be the wrong move and ultimately hurt are scoring depth, as well as our powerplay depth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vladifan 680 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 Filpula Datsyuk Homstrom Cleary Zetterberg Franzen Abdelkader Helm Hudler Bertuzzi Draper Eaves/Miller/Modano I think we are really missing a shoot first mentality on the PP right now Mo would bring that playing the point. Toss up though our Pk hasnt been that bad. Totally agree. And that goes for 5 on 5 play too. I don't care who they put in where. JUST SHOOT THE DAMN PUCK. And yes, I was yelling. Wings have to start playing guys who want to skate. Roll with 3 lines or 2 lines. Then maybe guys will start getting it. Some are not competing. Modano-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi Zetterberg-Filppula-Cleary Helm-Hudler-Abdelkader Franzen-Draper-Holmstrom Wings got to get scrappier in front of NIEMI. This, too! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernHockeyHoney 20 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 DISCLAIMER: Since we all know Babcock isn't sitting in front of his computer reading this, really the entire discussion is moot. However, since this is all about opinions and fantasy anyway, let's have some fun with it! Alright, Flipper, I'll bite. That first line was regards to recent experience this year as Huds and Datsyuk were absolutely dynamic while on a line with Cleary. I agree that Huds was getting knocked off the puck in game 2, but i did not feel that way about him in game 1 or the entire pheonix series. People get mad at Huds a lot on these forums (sometimes I can't blame them) but they fail to see the good sides of Huds. Yes he had one bad game and it happened to be a really bad game, but up until that point he was playing some of his best hockey of the season. I just feel that it would be a huge mistake to take him out of the lineup as we know with Huds he can strike at any moment with a goal, or he can make a slick pass for a goal. And with a team who are struggling to score goals I feel taking out Hudler would be the wrong move and ultimately hurt are scoring depth, as well as our powerplay depth. I know this will sound a bit crazy (read DISCLAIMER above) how about this: A lot of people here have said that Huds is a "natural center". What if we put Hudler on that line as center, and Dats on his wing? You'd still have the chemistry you talked about and we'd have more strength on the boards. The only drawback here is in the face-off circle, but with the way the officials are tossing people out left and right, how big an impact would this have? I'm still CRAZY about that Franzen-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi line! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mmamolo 287 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 (edited) Spizzirri on Hockeybuzz.com is saying the Wings practiced this morning with the folliwing lines: Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Cleary-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi Abdelkader-Filppula-Hudler Draper-Helm-Eaves Despite blogging for the unbelievably uncredible Eklund, Spizzirri is actually a decent read most of the time and has some good info. But take it for what it's worth Also, from Ansar Edited May 3, 2011 by mmamolo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpIkE 17 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 Spizzirri on Hockeybuzz.com is saying the Wings practiced this morning with the folliwing lines: Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Cleary-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi Abdelkader-Filppula-Hudler Draper-Helm-Eaves Despite blogging for the unbelievably uncredible Eklund, Spizzirri is actually a decent read most of the time and has some good info. But take it for what it's worth Also, from Ansar Datsyuk and Franzen back together :/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HankthaTank 1,100 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 DISCLAIMER: Since we all know Babcock isn't sitting in front of his computer reading this, really the entire discussion is moot. So are most of the threads in here but thanks for the disclaimer!!!! freep The way that article is sounding, Miller is most likely odd man out with Draper coming in. Lines they practiced with: Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Bertuzzi-Zetterberg-Cleary Hudler-Filppula-Abdelkader Draper-Helm-Eaves Not pumped about these as Franzen needs to be switched with Bert but Pav has got to have some sort of scorer (Franzen being that guy???) on his line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsfan_54 10 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 Just an update...i was watching the post practice interviews today, and there was 1 with Mike Modano, at the end the reporter asked if he feels he'll play game 3 where he replied saying as of today it doesn't seem like it. I really hope he's wrong, and I hope him and Draper are in tomorrow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 Holmstrom - Modano - Hudler Eaves - Draper - Abdelkader Helm needs an opportunity to play with some better players. this guy generates offense when playing with fourth line grinders every game give him a chance. Possibly the worst line combo I've seen posted all season. All three of these guys have had a noticeable lack of chemistry playing with the others; this is mainly because neither Modano nor Holmstrom are really puck-possession players. Hudler is also the best defensive forward on the line, so the line isn't exactly a shut-down unit. That's why neither work with Hudler, whose biggest strength is puck control. Homer and Modano don't work well together because Modano is best on the rush, and gets sort of lost in extended puck control situations, while Homer is pretty much ineffective unless his teammates can set up in the zone and get shots on net. Franzen-Dats-Modano Homer-Z-Cleary Berts-Flip-Abdelkader Helm-Drapes-Eaves Huds doesn't deserve to be in the lineup. Flip has to be on the ice, even if he should be sended to the Griffins, with his brother What exactly has Hudler done that he doesn't deserve to be in the lineup? Hudler has been one of the team's best forwards all playoffs. He's been strong offensively, solid defensively, good physically. He's been better than just about every forward on the team (including Franzen, whose playoff performance - or lack thereof - is somehow immune to criticism), and in the only game he didn't play well he still played as well or better than Franzen, who you're rewarding with first line time for his ineffectiveness. Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary Abdelkader-Modano-Bertuzzi Draper-Helm-Eaves Miller/Hudler(bring it on, eva) Hudler has outplayed just about every other Wings forward all playoff. He had one game where he was not up to par. If you're going to scratch him, you should be scratching most of the team. Second, Hudler has been completely worthless in both the regular and post season with Datsyuk, and terrific with him, so let's get those two back together. Hudler was playing great and has been one of the team's top forwards since Christmas. Hudler scored 4-10-14 in 11 games with Datsyuk. Hudler scored 5-12-17 in 32 games after Christmas. Franzen scored 13-12-25 in 33 regulation games after Christmas, not including the stretch where Hudler played with Datsyuk. Big difference? Thing is, Franzen was playing with Datsyuk for the entire stretch after Hudler was taken off Dats' line, and Z before that. So what happens if you take Franzen's 4 assists in 9 games while Huds was with Datsyuk and stretch that to 32 games, while stretching Huds' 11 games to 33 games? The answer is, Hudler has 17-42-59 in 65 while Franzen has 13-26-39 in 65. Oh my. And yes, I realize that I am leaving Hudler's 30-game slump at the beginning of the season out of the calculation. But if that's a beef of yours, perhaps I should base Franzen's goal numbers on his last 27 games of the season? 2 goals from our "elite" sniper? Both Hudler and Darren Helm each scored 6 goals in that span. As for lines, ultimately the lines should be put together as such: Huds/Dats/Cleary: The best line we've had all season; all three were on 100-point pace - it was only broken up to get Franzen's ass off the couch. Didn't even work. Modano/Z/Bertuzzi: Modano's speed works to offset Z working back in from his injury, and provides a good shot from the wing. Bertuzzi provides size and strength. Franzen/Filppula/Holmstrom: Franzen and Flip have worked in the past, this combo is similar to BFF except Holmstrom swaps in for Bertuzzi. Draper/Helm/Eaves: Win. If Modo/Z/Bert isn't working out, either swap out the wingers on the second and third lines, or switch Flip/Modo and Bert/Homer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nyquistfan14 489 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 DISCLAIMER: Since we all know Babcock isn't sitting in front of his computer reading this, really the entire discussion is moot. However, since this is all about opinions and fantasy anyway, let's have some fun with it! Alright, Flipper, I'll bite. I know this will sound a bit crazy (read DISCLAIMER above) how about this: A lot of people here have said that Huds is a "natural center". What if we put Hudler on that line as center, and Dats on his wing? You'd still have the chemistry you talked about and we'd have more strength on the boards. The only drawback here is in the face-off circle, but with the way the officials are tossing people out left and right, how big an impact would this have? I'm still CRAZY about that Franzen-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi line! IMO it shouldn't really matter who is playing center and who is playing wing other than faceoffs ( which Pav should be doing). Now here me out. Being a center iceman should only matter in the defensive zone and quite frankly whoever is the 3rd man high in the o-zone or first man back needs to be the one playing down low in the d-zone ( the centermans responsiblity). So weather it be Dats or Huds or Cleary whoever is the first man back should be taking over the centermans responsibilities. So I personally don't like or even understand why people put so much thought, attention, or worry into who is playing center or who is playing wing as players should all be moving (swing) off the boards towards the boards in the neutral zone and should be buzzing all over in the o- zone. Franzen- Z-Bert line should light it up!!! But Huds with dats or even Z is scary and trust me it would be a thorn in the side of the sharks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mmamolo 287 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 If Modano gets into the line up I wouldnt mind seeing Modano - Filppula - Holmstrom. If I remember correctly that line was together briefly and had some chemistry. It puts two strong skaters and stick handlers together with a net pressence. Also, both Fil and Holmstrom are good down low and Modano can be the shooter. That also allows something along the lines of: Hudler - Datsyuk - Cleary Franzen - Zetterberg - Bertuzzi Modano - Filppula - Holmstrom Draper - Helm - Eaves Miller, Abdeldaker I don't necessarily think ABs should be out of the line up but if he is going to sit I would start the game with those lines. It's also good because you could flip Dats and Flip and not miss a beat. Or you could switch Hudler with Franzen in case putting Franzen and Zetterberg on the same line is too much as they are both coming off injuries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadaBoy 151 Report post Posted May 3, 2011 I'd like too see Modano play with Hank or Pavs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wings4Life19 150 Report post Posted May 4, 2011 put Mule with Z. in 2008 vs colorado and mules 4 & 5 goal games came when they were playing together Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
