mosare 1 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 Our best sniper and maybe skater as well, has been downgraded to the third line and has only about 12 min ice time!! I really can't see any reason for that. What do you think about? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 No goals in 8 or 9 games, and he's not a Babcock favourite. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyphoenix 153 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 He has a better shot against Vancouver's lower lines than playing against the Sedins all game. I'm sure he'll be back up next game unless Babcock thinks these lines are working based on the 5-2 win. 1 T.Low reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoalieManPat 1,007 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 Babcock is working on this new strategy that involves having 4th liners play on your top two lines. He believes it will take the league by storm. 3 13dangledangle, b.shanafan14 and T.Low reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigWillieStyle 662 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 He hasn't really done anything in 10 games. Maybe the league has figured him out. Miller has been playing above his game lately, and is better defensively. Like said above, he probably got moved down, away from the Twins. He better start chipping in on offense, or he'll be watching games from the press box. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoalieManPat 1,007 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 He hasn't really done anything in 10 games. Maybe the league has figured him out. Miller has been playing above his game lately, and is better defensively. Like said above, he probably got moved down, away from the Twins. He better start chipping in on offense, or he'll be watching games from the press box. If Franzen can go 15+ games without a goal multiple times the last couple years and never drop off the top two lines then Brunner should be safe from the press box. Especially since Brunner has more points and twice as many goals as Franzen this year. 6 SaCkaveli20, 13dangledangle, b.shanafan14 and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigWillieStyle 662 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 You seem to forget how Babcock likes to motivate his players. Especially a rookie who still has a lot to prove. Ville Leino looked great his first few games too. We all know how that turned out. And Franzen has earned his spot, remember, he led the team in goals last year. Even when he took a month off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mosare 1 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 He hasn't really done anything in 10 games. Maybe the league has figured him out. Miller has been playing above his game lately, and is better defensively. Like said above, he probably got moved down, away from the Twins. He better start chipping in on offense, or he'll be watching games from the press box. he played better than Z the last 10 games, so your argument is invalid. he need good passes to score, but either Z nor franzen was able to do that! dats and brunner would be a beast together! 1 Rick D reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigWillieStyle 662 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 Neither of them have done anything on offense, but Z still is our shutdown center. Brunner has a lot to learn in his own zone. That's why he got bumped down against The Sedins. Is that too hard to understand? 1 T.Low reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigWillieStyle 662 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 he played better than Z the last 10 games, so your argument is invalid. Stats don't show that. Unless you mean that one more assist he has. Your argument is weak and not based on watching the games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Number19 159 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 You seem to forget how Babcock likes to motivate his players. Especially a rookie who still has a lot to prove. Ville Leino looked great his first few games too. We all know how that turned out. And Franzen has earned his spot, remember, he led the team in goals last year. Even when he took a month off. Leino never looked great that's why we got rid of him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spongewingredpants 75 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 ot they just want to make his signing cheaper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nev 1,085 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 He hasn't really done anything in 10 games. Maybe the league has figured him out. Well, him Dats and Z all started like a house on fire before slowing down. I wonder if they hit the ground running because they had their legs, lungs and timing from playing in Europe. Now that the rest of the NHL is match-fit they no longer have that advantage. Not to mention that most rookies hit a wall at some point in their first NHL season. It is a grind, and all those high-intensity games in a short period, with all the travel, they take their toll on those who haven't experienced it before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manny>Ozzie(by a long shot) 55 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 (edited) Leino never looked great that's why we got rid of him. Go back and watch his first season. I wanna say end of 2008 he played in the final 10-20 games or so and lit it up. Edited March 17, 2013 by Manny>Ozzie(by a long shot) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jollymania 162 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 He didn't hold the puck for more thaan 2 seconds at a time last night. He is obviously dealing with some confidence issues. Extremely obvious why this was made, Miller has been great all season and deserved the bump up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted March 17, 2013 (edited) Yikes. Seeing people on this board freak out at every minor change Babcock makes is getting really, really old. Brunner was ineffective last night. He got dropped to the third line and soon afterward helped set up a goal against easier opposition. And in case anyone has completely forgotten, the Wings dominated the 2nd and 3rd periods last night and ran away with the game. It is not in the least bit unusual for a player to get demoted when he is having a very difficult game. Any of you who watch a lot of hockey should know that. If Franzen can go 15+ games without a goal multiple times the last couple years and never drop off the top two lines then Brunner should be safe from the press box. Especially since Brunner has more points and twice as many goals as Franzen this year. He's not in danger of being dropped out of the lineup. Edited March 17, 2013 by Crymson 3 Frozen-Man, dobbles and T.Low reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cupforwings 138 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 He set up a nice goal on the third line today. He probably won't stay there, but playing against lesser competition might be better for him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BottleOfSmoke 5,965 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 I was a bit salty about this last night as well, but if playing against easier opposition helps him regain his confidence then faster pussycat, kill kill. I don't see it as a lack of faith, because if I remember correctly Babs still put him out on the PP with Dats and Z. I'm also kind of excited for him to be on the third line if Helmer comes back on Wed, that puts him on a line with a big body that can create space (Joakim) and a fast body that can create time (Helmer). He might really be able to open the flood gates! 1 T.Low reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 (edited) Yeah I was surprised to see Brunner on the third line but I'm not gonna complain about it. Could be a number of reasons why Babs decided to do this in Vancouver. Hey it worked. Edited March 17, 2013 by St. Michael (the Red Wing) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftWinger 4,963 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 Well, what is being lost in this discussion is that finally Dan Cleary has been put back on the 3rd line! 1 jthiel86 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 I don't mind him on the 3rd last night because he did look good. What I did hate was Mickey Redmond talking s*** about his lack of goals, then basically telling everyone Datsyuk has a hard on to play with Abby and Cleary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buppy 1,720 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 If Franzen can go 15+ games without a goal multiple times the last couple years... Except he hasn't. Since his breakout he's had one major slump. At the end of '10-11, where he went 14 games, then another 8 right after finally getting one. From March '08 to that point his longest slump was 6 (twice), and he only hit (or missed, maybe you'd say) 5 three other times. Last year he went 6 games early in the year, then 8 near the middle. Those were the only times he went more than 4. This year he went 6 (3 before his injury then 3 after). He's not nearly as streaky as people seem to think. Some people just hate Franzen, but Brunner still has that new car smell. For Franzen, going 2 games without a goal is like Brunner going 20. If you want someone prone to goal slumps, it's Zetterberg. This year already he's gone 11, then 9. Last year 13 then 9, plus a 6 and four differest 5s. '10-11 he went 11, 9, three more 5s. '09-10 he had a 12, a 9, three more 5s. His tendency to go cold is why he's gone from scoring 30+ to low 20s. But he's a hero so we don't care about that... 1 kipwinger reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 Except he hasn't. Since his breakout he's had one major slump. At the end of '10-11, where he went 14 games, then another 8 right after finally getting one. From March '08 to that point his longest slump was 6 (twice), and he only hit (or missed, maybe you'd say) 5 three other times. Last year he went 6 games early in the year, then 8 near the middle. Those were the only times he went more than 4. This year he went 6 (3 before his injury then 3 after). He's not nearly as streaky as people seem to think. Some people just hate Franzen, but Brunner still has that new car smell. For Franzen, going 2 games without a goal is like Brunner going 20. If you want someone prone to goal slumps, it's Zetterberg. This year already he's gone 11, then 9. Last year 13 then 9, plus a 6 and four differest 5s. '10-11 he went 11, 9, three more 5s. '09-10 he had a 12, a 9, three more 5s. His tendency to go cold is why he's gone from scoring 30+ to low 20s. But he's a hero so we don't care about that... Probably has something to do with Zetterberg actually doing other important things for the team. Franzen would be cut some slack if he exhibited 50% of the effort Zetterberg does. 2 SiLkK19 and Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted March 17, 2013 Franzen would need to have 20 hits per game in order for anyone to give him a break. He has been playing with hustle ever since his return. 1 kipwinger reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Travis 576 Report post Posted March 17, 2013 I don't mind him on the 3rd last night because he did look good. What I did hate was Mickey Redmond talking s*** about his lack of goals, then basically telling everyone Datsyuk has a hard on to play with Abby and Cleary. I know it's off topic, but I was irritated by this during the Edmonton game, too. Mickey seemed especially hard on Brunner for no particular reason. It's not like he's getting some established super star getting paid big bucks and not lighting the lamp. He basically just got to the NHL, no need to single him out in such a way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites