Lines Thread

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Just imagine how much better we'd be if we just landed 1 of Erhoff, Wisnewski or Suter

Suter would make the Red Wings one of the best teams in the league. I think you could argue he's the premier d-man in the NHL right now. I still believe the Red Wings biggest need is a top-four defenseman that moves the puck well and can contribute offensively. I can't fault Holland for missing on Suter, though -- he just chose to play elsewhere.

As for the lines, I want Z and Pavel reunited when Weiss returns.

Z - Pav - Alfredsson

Franzen - Weiss - Nyquist

Tatar - Helm - Abby

Miller - Andersson - Bertuzzi

[dirtydangles 1,328]

With our current assets and logjam you'd think any other GM would look at making a move perhaps to help our D a bit. Holland will sit and ponder up until the day the DD is healthy then panic and trade Tatar for a 3rd.

[T.Low 1,011]

I don't know why everyone thinks Tatar is so great, he has a lot to learn. No way Babcocks gives him top 6 minutes. Nyquist on the other hand is Datsyuk-like with his Hard work and commitment to Defense. If he can bring that every night then he deserves to be in the top 6

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Alfredsson

Nyquist-Weisse-Franzen

Abdelkader-Helm-Tatar

Cleary-Andersson-Bertuzzi

Agreed. Tatar has flashes of brilliance but has a bit to learn. He's exciting to watch.

3rd line will draw a more favorable D pairing for him while he learns.

Edited November 23, 2013 by T.Low

[greenrebellion 415]

With our current assets and logjam you'd think any other GM would look at making a move perhaps to help our D a bit. Holland will sit and ponder up until the day the DD is healthy then panic and trade Tatar for a 3rd.

What would you move? Most of the assets Wings fans would want to move have little to no value. Tootoo, Eaves, Samuelsson, Miller, Cleary, Abdelkader, Emmerton, Bertuzzi, Quincey.

[dirtydangles 1,328]

What would you move? Most of the assets Wings fans would want to move have little to no value. Tootoo, Eaves, Samuelsson, Miller, Cleary, Abdelkader, Emmerton, Bertuzzi, Quincey.

We have prospects - many prospects - with so little space. We have draft picks as well. Put in one of the players you listed for cap reasons and you have something that could resemble a package for a player (not a top player but one that can help).

[Echolalia 2,961]

Weiss Datsyuk Bertuzzi

Franzen Zetterberg Alfredson

Nyqvist Helm Tatar

Abdelkader Anderson Miller

Kronwall Dekeyser

Ericsson Smith

Kindl Quincey

Like those above me, I want to see whether Weiss can establish himself playing with Datsyuk. I decided to leave Bert on Datsyuk's wing also, mostly because I think its the only place he can actually contribute. I also like that both of the top two lines has a big body in Bert and Franzen. Nyqvist being on the third line might put a lot of folks off, but just LOOK at that third line. That line is chaos, pure and simple! I would LOVE to see what they could do against some other team's third liners. Abby I think deserves to be higher than the 4th line, but I don't know if I could justify him anywhere else over someone else. Maybe replacing Bert on the top line if he isn't producing. Defensively, I want Smith to play with Ericsson. Smith needs a partner who can cover for him while he learns to incorporate HIS game into Babcock's system. Quincey can't provide that. I think Ericsson can. I also think its time to give Ericsson more of a leadership role on defense, and Smith would be a good apprentice to start off with.

If and when Weiss gets going, this team is really going to have some options. I think all of the lines suggested in the past few days have serious potential, and I'm looking forward to Babs working it all out on the ice.

[wingedominance13 112]

When both Weiss and Alfie are healthy I would love these lines for a game or two

Z, Pav, Bert

Nyquist, Weiss, Alfie'

Franzen, Helm, Tatar

Miller, Andy, Abby/cleary

[txhoo12 5]

I somehow have a bad feeling that babs might still split hank and pavel once alfie and weiss come back. Hopefully its not permanent as I love that pavel, hank, bert line. I could see him icing something like

Cleary Pavel Bert

Franz Z Alfie

Nyq Weiss Tatar

Miller Helm Abby

I wish something like this would actually pan out though...

When both Weiss and Alfie are healthy I would love these lines for a game or two

Z, Pav, Bert

Nyquist, Weiss, Alfie'

Franzen, Helm, Tatar

Miller, Andy, Abby/cleary

In the end, a line with Franz Weiss Alfie is simply too slow. Franzen gets pushed and plays better when hes around fast high-motor guys like helm, nyq, etc. Cant help but be reminded of this... haha

“We just have to find a way to keep up with Helms in the middle,” Franzen said. “I’m going to look really slow next to him. He’s a great athlete. He just flies out there. To our eyes his legs look like the same like they were before, but he’s still the quickest and we need him.”

[Guest mjtm77]

I personally like

Zetterberg Datsyuk Bert

Nyquist Weiss Franzen/ Alfie

Tatar helm franzen/ Alfie

Miller andersson Abby

Doubt this or anything really happens as babs likes to mingle with the lines every game .

But just for fun lgw in my lines which forward do u pencil in on the second line (Alfie or mule) and why

[nawein 324]

I personally like

Zetterberg Datsyuk Bert

Nyquist Weiss Franzen/ Alfie

Tatar helm franzen/ Alfie

Miller andersson Abby

Doubt this or anything really happens as babs likes to mingle with the lines every game .

But just for fun lgw in my lines which forward do u pencil in on the second line (Alfie or mule) and why

These are the lines I like too. I would put Alfie with Weiss and Franzen with Helm. Mostly because it makes Franzen move his feet and that line was dominating other teams second lines a few games ago. This is more of a 1, 2, 2a, 3 situation to me if Weiss can find his offensive form. But I do agree with you that we likely won't see these lines. Edited November 23, 2013 by nawein

[Dabura 12,206]

What about if Weiss centers the second line but with Zetterberg on his left wing? (Now that I think about it, surely someone has already suggested this?)

Edited November 23, 2013 by Dabura

[dirtydangles 1,328]

Nyquist - Datsyuk - Franzen

Zetterberg - Weiss - Alfredsson

Tatar - Helm - Abby

Miller - Andersson - Bert

[Red Crazy 201]

Bert-Pav-Tatar

Mule-Z-Gus

Alf-Weis-Abby

Miller-Helm-Andy/Cleary

[joesuffP 1,746]

I've always been in favour of splitting up Zetterberg and Datsyuk.

Weiss-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi

Franzen-Zetterberg-Nyquist

Abdelkader-Helm-Tatar

Cleary-Andersson-Sammy

Looks deadly to me

Edit: forgot Alfie. We need to trade some forwards

Edited November 28, 2013 by joesuffP

[Spongewingredpants 75]

lines threads are great on paper. in reality, Babcock likes Clearly

[dat's sick 1,002]

I've always been in favour of splitting up Zetterberg and Datsyuk.

Weiss-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi

Franzen-Zetterberg-Nyquist

Abdelkader-Helm-Tatar

Cleary-Andersson-Sammy

Looks deadly to me

Edit: forgot Alfie. We need to trade some forwards

Alfie on the 3rd, bump Abby to the 4th, Miller is also in, meaning Cleary and Sammy are OUT.

Can't split up the Franzen-Z-Nyq line. If we get Weiss+Datsyuk going we would have 3 scoring lines. The alternative is putting Z and D back and letting either Weiss or Helm center the 2nd line and hope it clicks half as well as it's done with Z.

[NyquistianDeke 43]

After watching the game last night, 3 of the lines were fantastic, so I would have trouble splitting them at this point.

For me I would role

Weiss-Pav-Bert

Franzen-Hank-Nyquist

Abs-Helm-Alfie

Miller-Andersson-Tatar

I could see flip flopping Bert and Tatar but Bert seems to play well with Datsyuk and the Miller-Andersson-Tatar line was very good

[joesuffP 1,746]

Alfie on the 3rd, bump Abby to the 4th, Miller is also in, meaning Cleary and Sammy are OUT.

Can't split up the Franzen-Z-Nyq line. If we get Weiss+Datsyuk going we would have 3 scoring lines. The alternative is putting Z and D back and letting either Weiss or Helm center the 2nd line and hope it clicks half as well as it's done with Z.

I love Abby's play this year I think he's too good to be on the fourth

[Nev 1,085]

No way can we split up the Franzen - Z - Nyquist line, they are absolutely on fire, even Franzen has woken up (2 great assists last night).

Abdelkader - Helm - Alfie has been great as a 2nd line, imagine what they can do with as a 3rd line.

Bert can stay with Dats on the 2nd line as they always play well together, then let Weiss or Tats provide the speed and energy on the other wing. Tatar if you need a goal, Weiss if you're protecting a lead.

That leaves Tatar/Weiss - Andersson - Miller on the 4th line with Cleary and Sammy on the outside looking in. Not only are they playing themselves out of a spot, the other guys are keeping them out.

[Guest Crymson]

lines threads are great on paper. in reality, Babcock likes Clearly

Presumably you mean Cleary. Anyway, why do you so often say things like this? Have you not actually been watching the games? Babcock is Cleary's self-professed biggest fan, but even he has obviously run out of patience. After being given every opportunity by Babcock---certainly to a fault---to get going, culminating with the chance last week to play alongside Datsyuk, Cleary was demoted to the 4th line. Even before that, he'd had his ice time greatly slashed. He had the 4th least ice time on the team in the game against Carolina and the third least against Buffalo, and he was dead last in ice time against the Bruins last night. Meanwhile, the guy who found himself in the minors as a result of Cleary's return to the team has more points in four games than Cleary totaled in 25, and Cleary looks to be even lower on the depth chart than Samuelsson.

In other words, you're simply wrong.

[CMatt89 63]

Drop Cleary and Sammy, add Datsyuk, Bertuzzi Reunite the first line, Helm Franzen Alf, Tatar, Weiss, Nyquist Andersson, Miller, Abdelkader. Swap in Dekeyser for Quincey. 3 lines that can score, and a 4th line that wont get scored on. It's a good dream.

Edited November 30, 2013 by CMatt89

[paulwoodsfan 52]

I'm loving the chemistry three lines seem to have right now:

Franzen-Z-Nyquist

Alfie-Helm-Abdelkader

Miller-Andersson-Tatar

So I'd go with Bert-Pav-Weiss when B and P come back, and sit Cleary/Samuelsson. It might get Weiss going, and Pav/Bert seems to be a good combo.

Andy and Tats really seem to have something going chemistry-wise, and the top two lines are gunning on all cylinders right now.

[DRW Dominance 255]

I'm loving the chemistry three lines seem to have right now:

Franzen-Z-Nyquist

Alfie-Helm-Abdelkader

Miller-Andersson-Tatar

So I'd go with Bert-Pav-Weiss when B and P come back, and sit Cleary/Samuelsson. It might get Weiss going, and Pav/Bert seems to be a good combo.

Andy and Tats really seem to have something going chemistry-wise, and the top two lines are gunning on all cylinders right now.

I agree. I was coming to post this exact same comment. Imagine this team by just adding Pav and Bert and subtracting Cleary and Sammy!

Sharing ice time will be the only problem with the lines so spread out.

Edited November 30, 2013 by DRW Dominance

[Timezown 3]

Bert-Datsyuk-Tatar

Franzen-Z-Nyquist

Abby-Helm-Alfie

Miller-Weiss/Andersson-Sammy

I don't want to break up our two lines that are on fire at the moment. Datsyuk defaults to #1 center because he's datsyuk. Putting bertuzzi up there will be good because he's physical and plays with a lot of grit, has some skill too. Tatar is a high skill guy and is fast, and that speed/energy will bring a lot to that line. I want to see Tatar get some time with Datsyuk

If this top line performs well, we will have three scoring lines- something we haven't had in a hell of a long time.

I really don't want to see Sammy out there, it should be Eaves Tootoo or Emmerton. Unfortunately Cleary screwed up their careers

something to consider: bringing helm down to the 3rd line is very beneficial in the long run. He wont log as much ice time as a top 6 forward, so we can preserve his longevity. He's a speed guy, once he loses that (with age) he will be a lot less effective. If he's playing less his legs will be fresher and he'll be around a lot longer with his greatest asset: speed.

[T.Low 1,011]

I'm loving the chemistry three lines seem to have right now:

Franzen-Z-Nyquist

Alfie-Helm-Abdelkader

Miller-Andersson-Tatar

So I'd go with Bert-Pav-Weiss when B and P come back, and sit Cleary/Samuelsson. It might get Weiss going, and Pav/Bert seems to be a good combo.

Andy and Tats really seem to have something going chemistry-wise, and the top two lines are gunning on all cylinders right now.

Agreed.