13dangledangle 965 Report post Posted November 13, 2013 (edited) I just read on Freep (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013311120161) that babs is finally happy about his 2nd line...Just wondering everyone's thoughts of Helmer on line 2 with Mule & Alfie? -From what I saw of them last night I liked Helms speed-as always, I loved Franzens edge he had-really used his size and strength (tho not always wisely). Alfie appeared slow and butterfingery until his shoot out goal to me but I feel he could easily find a role with these two... Edited November 13, 2013 by 13dangledangle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Son of a Wing 1,644 Report post Posted November 13, 2013 I thought Franzen looked pretty good. Nice to see him show some emotion and look engaged in the game. Point is he was very noticeable when on the ice. He wasn't just floating around like he's known to do at times. Helm's improving but kind of a square block in a round hole in that position. Even in that article Babcock stresses Helm is not a second line center. I think we all know that though. Alfie has never been an issue and has easily been our 3rd best forward this year. We NEED Weiss performing in that second line center position. It will be a huge factor in our success. I believe he's as much an X factor as Franzen is for this team. 1 Namingway reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,207 Report post Posted November 13, 2013 The case can be made that Tatar deserves top-six minutes. 1 esteef reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted November 13, 2013 Franzen mishandled a few pucks, but having missed so much time that was expected. When he figures that out, if he can continue to be engaged in the game while playing the wing, we'll be better for it. But we all know that's not how the Mule has operated the last few years, to break out of this mini slump we're on he has to put pucks in the back of the net. Overall, the line was pretty good last night. Helms just getting back to speed too, and I love what Alfie brings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422 Report post Posted November 13, 2013 It looks good on paper. Last night they were pretty good that line. That line though won't last unless they start scoring obviously. However I can see why Babs likes it. Let's hope they can start scoring. "Consistently." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWang 422 Report post Posted November 13, 2013 The article Dabura posted says it all. Tatar makes this team and everyone he plays with better. He needs more ice time to continue to develop and gain experience/confidence. Id much rather his speed and ability to make things happen be on the 2nd line than franzen (who i believes career is over). When Weiss is back id like to see lines 2 and 3 look something like: Tatar-Weiss-Alfie Mule-Helm-Abby Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T.Low 1,011 Report post Posted November 13, 2013 When Weiss returns slot him into the 3rd line between nyquist and Tatar until AllStar break to get the system down. Could prove to be a great third line during that period, then we have three pretty good lines for a change. 1 13dangledangle reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Son of a Wing 1,644 Report post Posted November 13, 2013 The case can be made that Tatar deserves top-six minutes. I don't put much faith in corsi numbers when it's such a small sample size and doesn't even factor in things like zone starts. I think they're number picking here to help their position. If you're going to use advanced stats than you better be prepared to factor in everything and have a decent sample size. I love Tatar but he has to get better without the puck. There's a reason he rarely is on the ice for face-offs in our own end. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themcityblues 249 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 it doesnt take statistics to see that tatar makes everybody else on his line better 3 ben_usmc, Hockeymom1960 and DatsyukianDekes reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Son of a Wing 1,644 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 it doesnt take statistics to see that tatar makes everybody else on his line better It's easy to notice offensive flash as opposed to defensive zone coverage and picking up your man through the neutral zone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wings87 1,290 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 Yeah the line looked good but it won't score much. Helm while a good defensive player won't create enough and Franzen is streaky. Tatar though should move to the 2nd line when Weiss gets back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoWings1905 2,694 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) I think we all love Darren Helm, but second line center is not suited for his game. Weiss needs to get healthy soon and hopefully start putting up numbers offensively. I thought Franzen's effort was good against Winnipeg, though two goals in one game this season speaks for itself. Alfredsson just needs to bury some scoring chances; otherwise he has been very strong. The Red Wings turning from a mediocre team into one that could be far better hinges on secondary scoring. If Weiss and Franzen in particular get going, then it takes away from 13 and 40 carrying the load entirely. If not, we are looking at another season of goals being hard to come by because the bottom-six and defense especially probably aren't going to chip in very many. The sooner Nyquist comes up too, the better this situation will get resolved. He's not a cure-all, but his skill set would dramatically improve the offense. If Babs wants to shelter him still, put him on the third line with Helm and Tatar. Three rookies made up the third line in the playoffs and they more than held their own. Now, Helm is an upgrade over Andersson and Tatar could match Brunner with someone like Gus setting him up. Edited November 14, 2013 by GoWings1905 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWang 422 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 Z dats bert Mule weiss alfie Tats helm nyq Abby andy miller Is as good as we'll see upfront this season i think. Damn good lookin ifya ask me. Thats a bottom 6 that should really produce some points. 1 Nev reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShanahanMan 473 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 Z dats bert Mule weiss alfie Tats helm nyq Abby andy miller Is as good as we'll see upfront this season i think. Damn good lookin ifya ask me. Thats a bottom 6 that should really produce some points. I like Bert but I'm still not convinced he belongs on the 1st line. I'd say switch Bert and Alfie and see how that goes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ally 448 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 Bert with Dats is always my favorite 1 BadgerBob reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amato 3,210 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 I've never been more excited for a line than I am for a Tatar-helm-nyq third line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 Bertuzzi is like Holmstrom, he's really only good when playing on the top line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DatsyukianDekes 2,428 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 Bertuzzi is like Holmstrom, he's really only good when playing on the top line. Which doesn't matter because he's better than any other option we have right now up there. He does everything right for that line, and is way better option then Abby. 1 fixxxer reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 Bertuzzi is effective up there. That may defy logic to some people solve he's "old and slow" but it is what it is. Our top line is set. 2 13dangledangle and Dabura reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
13dangledangle 965 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) Bertuzzi is effective up there. That may defy logic to some people solve he's "old and slow" but it is what it is. Our top line is set. & I like it! Bert is obviously passed his prime but he was a very, very highly skilled power forward with incredible hands. He easily pulls moves no one but Dats can at the moment and sees the ice in a very creative way, it boggles me how people on here dislike his game so much. Can someone explain the waiving thing to me, what I mean is can we waive cleary? sammy? eaves? miller? Simply if the brass want to ice the best team night in and night out the 11 for sure forwards imo should be... Zetterberg, Dats, Bertuzzi, Franzen, Wiess, Alfie, Tatar, Nyquist, Abby, Helm & Andersson- This leaves one spot open to one of the above mentioned names (or Glendening but I dont think so;) If you guys could keep one of MIller, Cleary, Sammy or Eaves who would it be? Edited November 14, 2013 by 13dangledangle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BadgerBob 297 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 This leaves one spot open to one of the above mentioned names (or Glendening but I dont think so;) If you guys could keep one of MIller, Cleary, Sammy or Eaves who would it be? I'd have to pick Eaves. No good reason why, just like how the kid plays. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,207 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 The article Dabura posted says it all. Tatar makes this team and everyone he plays with better. He needs more ice time to continue to develop and gain experience/confidence. Id much rather his speed and ability to make things happen be on the 2nd line than franzen (who i believes career is over). When Weiss is back id like to see lines 2 and 3 look something like: Tatar-Weiss-Alfie Mule-Helm-Abby I think I'm down with Mule on the third line, but, holy jumpin', that is one very smallish, non-physical scoring line. (I believe Weiss is secretly 5'9 and 170-ish. He looks so small on the ice.) It'd be one thing if we had a sure-thing goal-scorer on it (Datsyuk or Zetterberg). But as it is - I mean, the way you have it...I'd worry about that line. I'd almost want to flip it with the third, so Mule - Helm - Abby becomes our second line. Man. So much is riding on Weiss. I'm very fond of my Franzen + Nyquist + Tatar + 1st for Giroux idea, but it looks like Giroux is getting good again, and Holland is emphatically promising NO MORE TRADES. FOREVER. So, yeah. Tatar is pretty much awesome, but I think it's pretty official now that Babs is not his biggest fan in the world. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nyquistfan14 489 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 I honestly think franzen plays better with helm because when helm is on the ice the game is so much faster and such up tempo that it forces him to move his feet and get engaged in the game. 1 DatsyukianDekes reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,207 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 I honestly feel we should make Smith a forward. Zetterberg Datsyuk Bertuzzi Smith Weiss Alfredsson Tatar Helm Franzen Miller Glendening Abdelkader Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
13dangledangle 965 Report post Posted November 14, 2013 I honestly feel we should make Smith a forward. I thought the exact same thing about Ericsson before! I heard that he started as a forward but was moved back to D at some point in his career-I'm sure early on-but I have always thought about it...Smith would probably do really well up there, can't do worse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites