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Guest blueadams

Pre-Season Line Hopes

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Guest blueadams

I'm re-doing the original post...

Here's what I think the lines will be:

Hudler-Datsyuk-Cleary

Filppula-Zetterberg-Franzen

Abdelkader-Helm-Bertuzzi

Holmstrom-Miller-Eaves

Brunnstrom

Emmerton

*IR*Mursak

Kronwall-Stuart

Lidstrom-White

Kindl-Ericsson

Commodore

Howard

Conklin

Here's what I'd like them to be:

Filppula-Datsyuk-Cleary

Hudler-Zetterberg-Franzen

Nyquist-Helm-Tatar

Brunnstrom-Abdelkader-Eaves

Bertuzzi

Holmstrom

*IR*Mursak

...Miller(GR)

...Emmerton(GR)

Kronwall-Stuart

Lidstrom-White

Ericsson-Commodore

Kindl

Howard

Conklin

Explanation:

I thought that our biggest problems against San Jose last season were...#1) a general lack of play-makers and natural scorers on the ice; and #2) Bertuzzi and Holmstrom being mis-matched against stud top-six forwards. So...yes...I want more play-makers and natural scorers in the lineup, and I want Bertuzzi and Holmstrom out of the top six (and probably out of the lineup altogether).

I realize that Nyquist, Tatar and Brunnstrom probably aren't ready, but this isn't a young team we're dealing with anymore. Lidstrom has 1, 2, maybe 3 years left. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Cleary, Kronwall and Stuart are all approaching their mid-30's. We need to have a sense of urgency here this season. We need to go all out for the cup. We need these talented young players to GET ready. And the best way to get them ready, IMO, is to put them out there on the ice against NHLers.

As far as the actual line combinations are concerned...

I've got Filppula and Cleary with Datsyuk. I don't know why Babcock doesn't play them together. They've got the best chemistry on the team (including Pav-Hank). They're the two best passers and play-makers on the team. When they're out there together, it's magic. Cleary makes an excellent net-front presence.

I've got Hudler and Franzen with Zetterberg. Zetterberg moves his line at a slower pace than Datsyuk. Hudler and Franzen are more comfortable at a slower pace, I think. That's why I've got them with Hank, and Filppula - who can play at 100mph - with Datsyuk.

I've got Nyquist and Tatar with Helm. This is going to be a very small line. But it's going to be a very, very fast line as well. The way the NHL's going, speed is better than physical strength defensively anyways. If they end up needing more grit, changes can be made. But I like this line because Helm's speed and takeaways create so so many beautiful opportunities offensively. The problem is that he's usually out there with Eaves, Miller, Cleary, Abdelkader, etc. Put him out there with a couple of guys that can keep up with him speed-wise and really do special things with the puck...and we could have a very dangerous third line.

I've got Brunnstrom and Eaves with Abdelkader. People seem to overlook how big Brunnstrom is. He's as big as Cleary. And he's fast. He could be a solid defensive player here. These three guys all have speed, a little scoring ability, and two of them are proven defensively.

...I love these lines. 4 lines, all with scoring potential, all very solid defensively.

I've also got Commodore in for Kindl. Hopefully we make a deal at the deadline to acquire a really good defenseman. Until then, I like Commie. Kindl really hasn't impressed me. And he's starting to get into his mid-20's. Nothing special offensively. Not physical. Not sound defensively. I'll take a big strong Commie back there with Ericsson for the time being.

...In order to get Nyquist and Tatar on the 23-man roster, I'd take my chances sending Miller and Emmerton to GR. These guys are depth defensive forwards. Hopefully we don't lose either. We'll probably lose both. And in the long and short run, it won't be that big of a deal. I don't think that you can release Homer or Bert. Homer's still real, real, real special in front of the net, and will be very valuable in the playoffs and in the regular season as a sub/injury replacement. And as sad as it is, Bertuzzi is the only intimidator we've got. We'll need him going up against certain guys.

Edited by blueadams

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I missed you so much.

Edit: Oh yeah and those lines are rather OK by me. I would have the third and fourth like this:

Hudler-Helm-Bertuzzi

Brunnstrom-Abdelkader-Eaves

Miller, Emmerton

When Mursak comes back and if there are no injuries I'd waive (or trade) whichever forward has been least useful. Probably Miller or Emmerton.

Edited by P. Marlowe

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Hell, it's been a few months, so I'll bite.

Flip- Dats- Homer

Bert- Z- Mule

Huds- Abby- Cleary

Brunnstrom- Helm- Eaves

Miller, Emmerton

Lids- White

Kronner- Stuart

Commie- E

Kindl

IMO Homer is most effective when playing with two skilled players, so he needs to be on the top two lines with Cleary, Eaves, Abby, etc double-shifting in Homer's position throughout the game.

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And I've been sober for 2 mths... so much for that...

I've missed the blueadamas drinking game oh so much.

Needless to say, any line-up that has Miller over Bertuzzi is a fairly crappy lines thread. Need not worry, in a couple days we'll see a new thread.

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He says that Bertuzzi isn't physical enough to be on a checking line, then he puts Hudler on.........you guessed it, a checking line.

:lol:

Last I heard was that Hudler was going to be on the point during powerplays while simultaneously playing in front of the net on same said power play.

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Guest blueadams

I missed you so much.

Edit: Oh yeah and those lines are rather OK by me. I would have the third and fourth like this:

Hudler-Helm-Bertuzzi

Brunnstrom-Abdelkader-Eaves

Miller, Emmerton

When Mursak comes back and if there are no injuries I'd waive (or trade) whichever forward has been least useful. Probably Miller or Emmerton.

Those lines might work out. More scoring potential. But even with Helm in between, can you afford to have Hudler and Bertuzzi on the same line defensively?

Hell, it's been a few months, so I'll bite.

Flip- Dats- Homer

Bert- Z- Mule

Huds- Abby- Cleary

Brunnstrom- Helm- Eaves

Miller, Emmerton

Lids- White

Kronner- Stuart

Commie- E

Kindl

IMO Homer is most effective when playing with two skilled players, so he needs to be on the top two lines with Cleary, Eaves, Abby, etc double-shifting in Homer's position throughout the game.

That's probably the best way to incorporate Bert into the lines, if you wanted to (though I'd probably swap Helm and Abby, gotta get him as much ice time as possible).

I've missed the blueadamas drinking game oh so much.

Needless to say, any line-up that has Miller over Bertuzzi is a fairly crappy lines thread. Need not worry, in a couple days we'll see a new thread.

I might be alone here, but I certainly don't think that bertuzzi is a clear cut favorite over miller in terms of overall value to the team.

He says that Bertuzzi isn't physical enough to be on a checking line, then he puts Hudler on.........you guessed it, a checking line.

:lol:

You misunderstand me.

IF we tried to put together a checking line, Bertuzzi wouldn't be aggressive enough to play on it.

The lines I drew up are two scoring lines, and two shut-down lines...with a little scoring potential. And yes, I realize that I have hudler on a "shut down" line. But with Helm and Eaves out there, I think you could call it a shut down line regardless of who the third man was.

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IMO Huds is going to be the same as last year unless hes with dats z or mule

Hudler Datsyuk Homer

Flip Z Mule

Bert Abs Cleary

Eaves Helm Miller

Can switch hudler and flip too.

Sign Brunnstrom and use him when Huds is struggling.

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Last I heard was that Hudler was going to be on the point during powerplays while simultaneously playing in front of the net on same said power play.

You forgot the part where he digs it out of the corner, slams it around the boards to himself, puts it back to himself at the point, and then swaps with himself at the other point before sending a slapper in for himself to redirect.

Now back to reality...

Babcock had these three lines together a while back.

Hudler/Datsyuk/Cleary

Filppula/Zetterberg/Mule

Abby/Helm/Bert

Which leaves us:

Homer/Miller/Brunnstrom/Emmerton/Eaves

Out of that group, I scratch Miller and Emmerton. That would leave Homer/Brunnstrom/Eaves, which would make a good scoring 4th line, if you guys can comprehend that. I haven't gotten to see much preseason, but if Homer's not being used in the top six he's far less useful as he's just a PP specialist at that point. Which makes scratching him for Miller or Emmerton much better; they're both better 5-on-5 players. Brunnstrom/Emmerton/Eaves would be good. I'd also like Brunnstrom/Emmerton/Bert and Abby/Helm/Eaves, as it puts the more offensive-oriented player on the more offensive-oriented line.

As for defense:

Kronwall/Stuart

Lidstrom/White

Kindl/Ericsson

Commodore

Give Ericsson until around the deadline to prove he's a quality defenseman and deserves to be playing. He's got value regardless, so he'll be easily replaceable in a trade if necessary, or simply removed. Pick up a guy like Suter in either a direct or separate trade? Sure.

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I haven't gotten to see much preseason, but if Homer's not being used in the top six he's far less useful as he's just a PP specialist at that point. Which makes scratching him for Miller or Emmerton much better; they're both better 5-on-5 players.

I never understood why the Wings coaching staff could never figure this one out. It seems fairly simple to me:

Cleary-Datsyuk-Hudler

Franzen-Zetterberg-Filppula

(Datsyuk/Cleary/Hudler [rotate them])-Helm-Abdelkader

Bertuzzi-Eaves-Miller

Holmstrom on the bench for Power Plays and back in the 5 on 5 mix when the team is up by 2 or more goals.

What's so hard about that?

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Guest blueadams

WHAT?! A BLUEADAMS LINES THREAD?! I've never seen one of these before...

s***E

some guy that keeps reading and responding in threads he doesn't like!? omg, i've never seen that before!

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Your other thread was deleted. So here's a tip...

Get the ******* message.

Brb sleep.

Edit: Remember this?

I've got a board i post on for pretty much every michigan sports team - wings, lions, pistons, tigers, uofm, etc. And I'm obviously not speaking for EVERYONE here...but...

This is BY FAR the MOST BITTER message board in all of Michigan sports. And it's not just responses to my posts. It's everywhere. 90% of the content I see posted here is b****ing and whining. I don't think I've ever - in three years - seen an optimistic thread here (that wasn't obvious, ala 'we love pav,' 'jimmy was great in that shutout'). If someone is ballsy enough to be optimistic, he gets completely ripped to shreds.

Isn't it ironic that the best team in the area, by far, has the most bitter fans? You're all just a bunch of hockey brats if you ask me. None of you have your own ideas. And there's nothing any of you enjoy more than shooting down others' ideas...or b****ing about the players...the coaches...the executives...

It's really pretty unreal. Bitter and pathetic people.

Edited by uk_redwing

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Guest blueadams

Your other thread was deleted. So here's a tip...

Get the ******* message.

Brb sleep.

Edit: Remember this?

okay...mr. "guy with nothing better to do than pick fights with internet strangers, stalk them, book-mark their posts, and then re-post them at times in which they're completely irrelevant."

have fun doing what you do!

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Your other thread was deleted. So here's a tip...

Get the ******* message.

Brb sleep.

Edit: Remember this?

To be fair, he's pretty spot on about the optimism thing. Myself and others who supported Osgood, or Hudler. Ripped to shreds. Filppula supporters. Bashed until he became a vital part of the team. Anyone who liked Kronwall and thought his contract was a good deal was called a blind homer, or worse. A great number of the highly prolific posters, as well as a majority of the casual posters, are very pessimistic about the team. It's almost like it's LetsGoLions or LetsGoSpartans; a site where fans should be expecting their team to crush their hopes and dreams. Not LGW, where fans have every reason to believe in their team's chances for victory.

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Since it's another thread on lines, I thought I'd at least try and make it relevant.

Homer to play on 4th line

Holmstrom will be on the 4th line and a PP specialist.

"We know what he can do," Babcock said. "He started for a long time, actually until I got here, he always played on the fourth line and then played on the power play, then he got moved into a top-six role. He's played there off and on -- mostly on, off sometimes. At this point, he'll be starting on the fourth line and playing on the power play."

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Guest blueadams

Since it's another thread on lines, I thought I'd at least try and make it relevant.

Homer to play on 4th line

Holmstrom will be on the 4th line and a PP specialist.

I started off the thread with what I WANTED the lines to be. But what do I think THEY WILL be:

Hudler-Datsyuk-Cleary

Filppula-Zetterberg-Franzen

Abdelkader-Helm-Bertuzzi

Holmstrom-Miller-Eaves

Brunnstrom

Emmerton

*IR*Mursak

The first two lines - Hudler-Datsyuk-Cleary and Filppula-Zetterberg-Franzen - Babcock has been using a lot. The third line - Abdelkader-Helm-Bertuzzi - is kind of a shut-down/checking line. The fourth line is specialists/subs, probably won't get much even strength time together.

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To be fair, he's pretty spot on about the optimism thing. Myself and others who supported Osgood, or Hudler. Ripped to shreds. Filppula supporters. Bashed until he became a vital part of the team. Anyone who liked Kronwall and thought his contract was a good deal was called a blind homer, or worse. A great number of the highly prolific posters, as well as a majority of the casual posters, are very pessimistic about the team. It's almost like it's LetsGoLions or LetsGoSpartans; a site where fans should be expecting their team to crush their hopes and dreams. Not LGW, where fans have every reason to believe in their team's chances for victory.

You're just figuring this out?

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Guest Crymson

You're just figuring this out?

Thanks for letting us on to the fact that you had a prior account. It lends itself to some interesting speculation as to why you felt it was necessary to begin posting under a new identity. Would you care to shed any light on this?

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Guest blueadams

Thanks for letting us on to the fact that you had a prior account. It lends itself to some interesting speculation as to why you felt it was necessary to begin posting under a new identity. Would you care to shed any light on this?

great, here comes another stalker.

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