33 replies to this topic

[JPT]

While Abdelkader may never develop his game much further he is a valuable player on the 4th line. He brings some energy, hustle and hitting. He'll never be more that a 4th liner but that's ok in my book.

[saven]

I just had to do some grave digging on this. Who woulda thought back in February that in may we would be happy to have Abby back one the first line.

Edited by saven, 11 May 2013 - 12:31 PM.

[wingsfan4795]

I just had to do some grave digging on this. Who woulda thought back in February that in may we would be happy to have Abby back one the first line.

It's nice to have a "New Holmstrom" who annoys the crap out of people and makes room for Dats and Z. All four of our goals last night were a direct result of screens in front of Hiller. 3 of those were Abby in front.

[Wings_Toledo]

It's nice to have a "New Holmstrom" who annoys the crap out of people and makes room for Dats and Z. All four of our goals last night were a direct result of screens in front of Hiller. 3 of those were Abby in front.

 

There will probably never be anyone better at screening the goalie and redirecting pucks as Tomas Holmstrom, but Franzen, Abby and Cleary do a pretty decent job of "Holmstroming by committee," if you will.  It seems like this season there have been a number of goals that bounced off of some part of Cleary's body just because he happened to be in the right spot.

[GMRwings1983]

I just had to do some grave digging on this. Who woulda thought back in February that in may we would be happy to have Abby back one the first line.

 
I think any player who plays with Datsyuk and Zetterberg is going to play above his weight and score some points. Early in the season, our two big guns weren't playing together.  
 
But yes, Abby has played much better, linemates and all.

Edited by GMRwings1983, 11 May 2013 - 01:47 PM.

[wingsfan4795]

 
I think any player who plays with Datsyuk and Zetterberg is going to play above his weight and score some points. Early in the season, our two big guns weren't playing together.  
 
But yes, Abby has played much better, linemates and all.

I disagree. Dats and Z have had several linemates over the years that haven't really worked out. That's why they keep having to be split up. Putting a lesser skilled player on a line with those guys allows us to have a good second and third line as well.

[LeftWinger]

Abdelkader was a great pick at the draft (much better than picking Kindl with the #19) and although he is mostly pegged to be a 4th line grinder, I think he has proven that he fits in in a scoring line just as good.  There is a reason he was scouted and listed so high and he is working out very well given the opportunity that he has.  Now if or when the Wings acquire that #1 scorer, he will most definitely get put back on his line, but he is getting loads of experience playing with Dats and Z.  He will take that experience and #1 line mentality back with him to the 4th line and probably make that line much, much better... Good for him for proving a lot of his critics wrong...

[Hockeymom1960]

It's nice to have a "New Holmstrom" who annoys the crap out of people and makes room for Dats and Z. All four of our goals last night were a direct result of screens in front of Hiller. 3 of those were Abby in front.

 

Don't mean to be disrespectful but there will never be another "Holmstrom".

[GMRwings1983]

I disagree. Dats and Z have had several linemates over the years that haven't really worked out. That's why they keep having to be split up. Putting a lesser skilled player on a line with those guys allows us to have a good second and third line as well.

 

Holmstrom is the only linemate I can remember playing with them an extended period of time.  And that worked out.  

 

They've tried other people here and there, but only for a game or so.   

[DeGraa55]

I hope they keep that same top line together next year. If we actually get a fa he can go non second line.

[Johnz96]

It's nice to have a "New Holmstrom" who annoys the crap out of people and makes room for Dats and Z. All four of our goals last night were a direct result of screens in front of Hiller. 3 of those were Abby in front.

2 of them were Franzen in front and one with Cleary.

[Crymson]

2 of them were Franzen in front and one with Cleary.

 

Two of them (#1 and #4) were Abby, one was Franzen, one was Cleary.

[kickazz]

 

Holmstrom is the only linemate I can remember playing with them an extended period of time.  And that worked out.  

 

They've tried other people here and there, but only for a game or so.   

Yeah that was when Holmstrom gave them the nick name Sasha and Pasha. Those were a good couple years.

[wingsfan4795]

2 of them were Franzen in front and one with Cleary.

I forgot about the franzen PP one, but that was the only one. Abby was there for 2.
Either way, if the wings don't have someone in front of the net at all times, I'll be pissed.
1st line: Abby always in front
2nd line: clears always in front
3rd line: andersson always in front
4th line: emmerton always in front
Powerfully: franzen always in front

Hiller clearly can't handle screens