54 replies to this topic

[zombi]

Just curious how people feel about this one. I see a lot of people predicting that Homer will be on the top line with Z and D.

It really seems that Homer is slowing down and may actually become a liability on the top line.

Is it time to put someone in his place? If so, who will replace him?

To me, I really think we should put in Cleary, Bert, or Mule on the top line. We can then move Homer to the third line and keep him primarily for the PP.

[Andy Pred 48]

Homer should be used as a 4th line PP specialist in my view. He wouldnt be doing anything new as that is where he was playing at the start of his career. Who should be on the top line is more of the question. Can Brunnstrom make the roster, and could he fit onthe top 6? An all Swedish 2nd line, Z Franzen and Brunnstrom? Can Cleary carry off a top line role or is Bert to slow for Dats on the top line? alot of questions for Babs and co to sort out. For me Eaves Helm and Mursak would be a great shut down line with their speed, and then that puts Homer off the 4th and on the 3rd but i think he wouldnt be cut out for that role. The big ? is will Homer being sitting in the press box alot this year. Will Hudler come to camp a different player and blow us all away and force himself on one of the top 2 lines? I cant wait to see all these problems unfold,and what opening day roster we put out. But one thing i think will happen is that we havent seen the end of any trades for us.

[Majsheppard]

No.

[GMRwings1983]

No, but we didn't really pursue any other top 6 players this offseason.

Hence, he'll still be on the top line some of the time.

[St. Michael (the Red Wing)]

2nd the no.

[zombi]

I'd like to see people's ideas for the forwards lines if he is going to be moved from the top.

[Dimaline312000]

I'd have to say I'm up in the air about this one, so yes and no. If we can find the right player to take Holmsy's place on the top line and do what he does than fine I'm willing to go along with it for the time being. I agree he is slowing down with age but he is still very crucial and I think it would be tough to find the right person to take his place on the top line. I hate that the refs are always watching him like a hawk when he's around the net and are very willing to call back any goal that is scored becasue of his interference but he does what he does so well that kind of stuff just can't really be helped.

[hooon]

Its tough to say. He still put up decent points the past two seasons, and playing with either Dats or Z, we know he'll get points.

The problem with Homer is that he is not as versatile as most of our other forwards. He basically NEEDS to play with the best players, or he is kind of useless. He's not a shutdown forward, and not fast enough for the third line, imo.

I think he'll probably start in the top 6, but might find himself on the 4th line or even in the pressbox on some nights.

Like others have mentioned though, he is pretty valuable to our PP.

[13dangledangle]

I feel should and could are two different things here. Can he play the top line with Z and D? Of course, but at this point with moves Holland has made it is obvious that torch passing time is among the older generation of Wings so I suspect he will see a lot less time and as some have said a PP specialist.

[GSBrooks13]

I feel like Hudler could probably put up about 70 points playing with Datsyuk on the 1st line..

Just kidding.

I have to think Holmstrom will get some first line minutes barring any moves before the season. But I could see it ending up being a rotation for most of the season unless someone really steps up and fills the role.

[WorkingOvertime]

He should be on the first line, but not because he's a first line player. In order for Homer to be effective, he has to player with linemates who will handle to puck most of the time. Dats and Flip/Z can do that. Also, Data has said that he likes playing with Homer because he opens the ice.

Homer on the fourth line wouldn't work because he isn't fast enough or good enough defensively. He should play first line because that's where he makes a positive impact.

I see Homer playing first line, but Cleary, Abby, etc. will likely be double shifted in his place a few times a game.

[joshy207]

Obviously, lines change month to month, week to week, game to game, even shift to shift. I can see Holmstrom spending time with Datsyuk and Zetterberg if they're playing together, and with either one of them when they're separated. I can also see Holmstrom playing on the 4th line and even being a healthy scratch some games. (I'd expect about 60, maybe 65 games from him, barring injury.) He can still produce points, but his advancing age and diminishing skill level will limit him. Best to keep him a little more fresh for the postseason, IMO.

Can Brunnstrom make the roster, and could he fit onthe top 6?

I highly doubt Brunnstrom makes the Wings' roster. He pretty much showed he can't play consistently in the NHL, and struggled to do so in the AHL with Toronto and Texas last year.

[DatsyukianDangles122]

No. In my opinion, the lines should be:

Hudler - Datsyuk - Cleary (This line was amazing last year and we NEED Hudler to produce in order to increase his trade value)
Filppula - Zetterberg - Franzen
Holmstrom - Abdelkader - Bertuzzi
Mursak - Helm - Eaves
Emmerton

And if Brunnstrom manages to make the roster, I think he should be placed on the top 6 in place of Filppula. But I don't really see that happening, so I'll stick with these lines.

[GoWings1905]

As others have stated, Holmstrom almost has to play with Datsyuk or he's useless at even strength. Unfortunately, his skating and passing is so bad that there are far better options on the first line. Obviously though Homer still has a ton of value on the power play. My guess is Babcock goes with Datsyuk and Zetterberg apart more often than not, which I prefer at this point because hopefully they can each individually make their own respective wingers better.

Franzen - Datsyuk - Holmstrom
Cleary - Zetterberg - Bertuzzi
Hudler - Filppula - Eaves
Abdelkader (Miller) - Helm - Mursak

Edited by GoWings1905, 20 August 2011 - 02:43 PM.

[hooon]

No. In my opinion, the lines should be:

Hudler - Datsyuk - Cleary (This line was amazing last year and we NEED Hudler to produce in order to increase his trade value)
Filppula - Zetterberg - Franzen
Holmstrom - Abdelkader - Bertuzzi
Mursak - Helm - Eaves
Emmerton

And if Brunnstrom manages to make the roster, I think he should be placed on the top 6 in place of Filppula. But I don't really see that happening, so I'll stick with these lines.

That third line is beyond brutal.

Also I believe Helm will be the 3rd line center over Abby, assuming Flip is in the top 6 on the wing.. Helm is faster, better defensively, better offensively, and is a better playmaker than Abby.

[WorkingOvertime]

IMO the lines should be...

Flip Dats Homer
Mule Z Bert
Huds Abby Cleary
Mursak Helm Eaves

[Red Wings Addict]

Homie, by my limited knowledge as a fan, really shouldn't be on the top line during 5 on 5 situations. However, Babs keeping putting him there possibly because he believes that Homie's effectiveness is dependent on linemates who are scoring line players.

Or, it's in both Datsyuk's and Homie's contracts that they play together as much as possible.

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary
Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi
Hudler-Abdelkader-Miller
Holmstrom-Helm-Eaves

[sputman]

No. In my opinion, the lines should be:

Hudler - Datsyuk - Cleary (This line was amazing last year and we NEED Hudler to produce in order to increase his trade value)
Filppula - Zetterberg - Franzen
Holmstrom - Abdelkader - Bertuzzi
Mursak - Helm - Eaves
Emmerton

And if Brunnstrom manages to make the roster, I think he should be placed on the top 6 in place of Filppula. But I don't really see that happening, so I'll stick with these lines.

brunnstrom is not going to make the roster. and the GMs in the league are not going to be fooled if hudler has a streak on the first line playing next to datsyuk. everyone knows his game by now. i'm afraid hudlers trade value is currently showing, i.e. no trades - no apparent interest.

[WorkingOvertime]

That third line is beyond brutal.

Also I believe Helm will be the 3rd line center over Abby, assuming Flip is in the top 6 on the wing.. Helm is faster, better defensively, better offensively, and is a better playmaker than Abby.

Abby has a higher offensive ceiling than Helm IMO. Also, Helm will likely be better with Eaves and Mursak than Abby.

[X13WINGS13X]

Filppula - Datsyuk - Franzen
Holmstrom - Zetterberg - Helm
Cleary - Hudler - Bertuzzi
Eaves - Miller - Abdelkader