Lines Thread

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Absolutely. How do some of you not remember the assignments Glendening was given last season. As a rookie he matched up and was able to shut down the likes of the Crosby line and Bergeron line. He is a great shut down guy and every team needs these guys on their 4th line.

Not when Datsyuk was healthy. A 4th line with Helm or Sheahan at center is far better than one with Glendening at center.

[krsmith17 7,191]

That's a matter of opinion and I disagree. I've been lobbying for years to put Helm on the wing, his speed will be much more of a threat along the boards then down the middle in my opinion. Sheahan definitely isn't a 4th line center, 3rd and hopefully 2nd in a couple years. Glendening is the exact type of player I would want on my 4th line.

[number9 3,297]

Not when Datsyuk was healthy. A 4th line with Helm or Sheahan at center is far better than one with Glendening at center.

Sheahan and Glendening are both natural wingers who can also take a FO. You're just nitpicking at this point.

[Guest DeGraa55]

Sheahan and Glendening are both natural wingers who can also take a FO. You're just nitpicking at this point.

I thought Sheahan has always been center? At nd and gr he was anyways.

[kipwinger 8,522]

Sheahan is not a natural winger. He's played center since his days in St. Catherine. I can't speak for Glendening though.

[wings4thecup06 504]

I'm really excited to see how this plays out. After a day of thinking about it, it could work really well. Helm might get a breakaway per game if he plays with D and Z

As for the 4th line debate, I agree with Krsmith. Andersson had one good year, but IMO doesn't bring enough even to warrant 4th line playing time. With his limited offensive upside, he's better suited to the 3rd line, but now we've got Sheahan. And I'd rather have Glendening on the 4th line. There's a reason he played against some of the toughest lines in the league last year. He might have stone hands, but so what? His career potential is a 4th line shut down guy, not a 20 goal scorer. Yes he needs to improve his face-offs, but he's well aware of his strengths and weaknesses.

[T.Low 1,011]

I'm really excited to see how this plays out. After a day of thinking about it, it could work really well. Helm might get a breakaway per game if he plays with D and Z

As for the 4th line debate, I agree with Krsmith. Andersson had one good year, but IMO doesn't bring enough even to warrant 4th line playing time. With his limited offensive upside, he's better suited to the 3rd line, but now we've got Sheahan. And I'd rather have Glendening on the 4th line. There's a reason he played against some of the toughest lines in the league last year. He might have stone hands, but so what? His career potential is a 4th line shut down guy, not a 20 goal scorer. Yes he needs to improve his face-offs, but he's well aware of his strengths and weaknesses.

Yeah, and Datsyuk trailing Helms breakaway! It could work.

[kipwinger 8,522]

This whole thing makes me think of that time Babs put Filppula on the wing. I can't imagine this turning out any better. Which isn't to say Fil was bad on the wing. He was ok on the wing. But I'd rather have a winger. Plain and simple.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

This whole thing makes me think of that time Babs put Filppula on the wing. I can't imagine this turning out any better. Which isn't to say Fil was bad on the wing. He was ok on the wing. But I'd rather have a winger. Plain and simple.

The only year in Detroit Filppula scored more than 40 points was the year he spent most of his time on Zetterberg's wing.

Not when Datsyuk was healthy. A 4th line with Helm or Sheahan at center is far better than one with Glendening at center.Sheahan and Glendening are both natural wingers who can also take a FO. You're just nitpicking at this point.

Sheahan is a natural center. Glendening was a winger until last year when he started working at center to try and increase his value. I don't see why anyone can argue that he'd be better than either Sheahan or Helm.

[kipwinger 8,522]

The only year in Detroit Filppula scored more than 40 points was the year he spent most of his time on Zetterberg's wing.

Sheahan is a natural center. Glendening was a winger until last year when he started working at center to try and increase his value. I don't see why anyone can argue that he'd be better than either Sheahan or Helm.

Agreed. He had the big year on Z's wing, but then he remained there the following year and it was a disappointment (albeit he was injured throughout the season). But he just posted 58 pts. as a center in Tampa, leading me to believe that his production increase that year with Z had less to do with his position and more to do with his linemates/ice time.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

Agreed. He had the big year on Z's wing, but then he remained there the following year and it was a disappointment (albeit he was injured throughout the season). But he just posted 58 pts. as a center in Tampa, leading me to believe that his production increase that year with Z had less to do with his position and more to do with his linemates/ice time.

Filpulla was great on Z's wing. Then the following year he got injured and was bad for a year due to his injury.

You said that you couldn't imagine Helm going to wing would be any better. So...by your own comparison, Helm will have a career year where we all think he has fulfilled his potential. Then we just hope he doesn't get injured. Sounds good to me!

[kipwinger 8,522]

Filpulla was great on Z's wing. Then the following year he got injured and was bad for a year due to his injury.

You said that you couldn't imagine Helm going to wing would be any better. So...by your own comparison, Helm will have a career year where we all think he has fulfilled his potential. Then we just hope he doesn't get injured. Sounds good to me!

I know, that's why I said that. Filppula was good for a year and bad for a year. But considering he's maintained that level of play after moving back to center suggests that it was more about him taking a big step forward in his development, and less about some positional advantage.

[TripleS 46]

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2014/09/red_wings_to_move_darren_helm.html

Looks like Helmer will be on Syuk's wing this season

[number9 3,297]

Sheahan is not a natural winger. He's played center since his days in St. Catherine. I can't speak for Glendening though.

Sheahan played LW a lot as well. Glendening played RW for U of M

[kipwinger 8,522]

Sheahan played LW a lot as well. Glendening played RW for U of M

When?

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

This line is going to be defensively amazing.

I had helm centering z and d but admittedly that uses Pav wrong, here's to hoping they all stay healthy.

[number9 3,297]

When?

Throughout his career. He's still listed as a LW on spotrac, even though he played almost entirely at C this last year.

When?

Throughout his career. He's still listed as a LW on spotrac, even though he played almost entirely at C this last year.

Edit: phone F'ed up and double posted

Edited September 4, 2014 by number9

[wingfan1991 221]

Soooooo excited to hear this news.. helm with datsyuk will be magic, love it! Helm needs to be playing 20 min a night. A healthy group of front and wings will do damage!

[kipwinger 8,522]

Throughout his career. He's still listed as a LW on spotrac, even though he played almost entirely at C this last year.

Throughout his career. He's still listed as a LW on spotrac, even though he played almost entirely at C this last year.

Edit: phone F'ed up and double posted

I think it's a pretty big stretch to say that he's a "natural wing" when he's played the vast majority of his career since juniors at center, included every single game he played in the AHL and NHL. He may have played the odd game at wing here or there, but he was drafted as a center and has never deviated from that in any meaningful way.

Again, you had a point with Glendening, but you're stretching with Sheahan. I mean, Spotrac? Really?

[number9 3,297]

I think it's a pretty big stretch to say that he's a "natural wing" when he's played the vast majority of his career since juniors at center, included every single game he played in the AHL and NHL. He may have played the odd game at wing here or there, but he was drafted as a center and has never deviated from that in any meaningful way.

Again, you had a point with Glendening, but you're stretching with Sheahan. I mean, Spotrac? Really?

He played LW in the AHL. He didn't play an odd game here or there at LW throughout his career. He's only played C in the NHL and all of the sudden he's pigeon-holed as that. I remember reading when he was drafted that he was more suited for the wing position being a Franzen type.

[Guest DeGraa55]

He played LW in the AHL. He didn't play an odd game here or there at LW throughout his career. He's only played C in the NHL and all of the sudden he's pigeon-holed as that. I remember reading when he was drafted that he was more suited for the wing position being a Franzen type.

Except he is a two way player that uses his size and is an amazing passer who plays hard....but other then that JUST like Franzen LOL.

Also the games I was at he was center for the griffins and I go to quite a few.

Edited September 5, 2014 by DeGraa55

[Rivalred 630]

So to understand better posters on here don't mind if Abby plays with D and Z, yet Jurco isn't ready somehow. Jurco plays bigger then Abby and has way more skill.....

Abby put up 30 points last year in 70+ games while playing with two of the best players.

Jurco put up 15 points in 36 games while playing 3rd line minutes.

Yea something doesn't make sense.

One would think Abby is filling the void that was left by Homer; grinding in the corners and positioning in front of the net

[kipwinger 8,522]

He played LW in the AHL. He didn't play an odd game here or there at LW throughout his career. He's only played C in the NHL and all of the sudden he's pigeon-holed as that. I remember reading when he was drafted that he was more suited for the wing position being a Franzen type.

That's not even remotely true. He did not play Left Wing for Grand Rapids. At all. Again, he was drafted as a center, and has always played center. I have no idea where you're getting this.

I'm really not trying to be contrary here, but you're just not right on this one. The most recent example I can give you is that a year ago, when the Wings were eliminated, Sheahan centered Jurco and Callahan for GR.

Go to the player page for every team he's ever played for and he's listed as a center. Go to press releases for when he was drafted and they'll say "Detroit selectes center Riley Sheahan".

Aside from one random sports website that nobody has ever heard of or used, nobody has ever listed Sheahan as a left wing.

I have no idea why you're making this your Alamo. Get over it. Sheahan is a center.

Here's an article referencing his position at St. Catherine's...http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2010/04/30/riley-sheahan-arrested

Here's an article discussing him being a center at Notre Dame...http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2010/06/red_wings_pick_riley_sheahan_2.html

Here's one referencing his center position in GR...http://www.cbsnews.com/news/red-wings-prospect-riley-sheahan-found-clad-in-teletubby-costume-faces-dui-charges/

Edited September 5, 2014 by kipwinger

[DannyD 79]

I don't know if I mind Helmer on the 1st line but I think I would rather see something like this...

Z-D-Sheahan

Franzen-Weiss-Goose

Tatar-Helm-Jurco

Miller-Glendening-Abby

Sheahan has shown he has really good hands in front of the net and isn't afraid to go to the dirty areas to score goals. He can also use his big body to protect the puck and take some punishment away from Datsyuk and Z.

Franzen and Goose played well last year when paired together. I'd like to start them off on the same line and see if they can't find some of the chemistry again.

That third line... talk about energy! Two guys with fantastic hands and a speed demon in Helm who can lock it down defensively and really stretch the ice.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Sheahan has been played at center, exclusively, for the entirety of his career. I really can't recall a time when he wasn't slated at C, so I'm not sure where that came from. That being said, I wouldn't mind trying him in Helm's spot. He really is good around the net - he worked as the net-front presence on the 2nd PP for a good portion of the season. He reminds me of poor man's JVR at times, with his ability around the net.

My biggest worry with Helm is his durability. Coming off so many injury riddled years, is he really the guy we want playing top minutes, grinding it out in the corners and in front of the net? When he came back last season, the guy seemed to magically develop a set of hands, but it seemed like his defensive game fell off a bit. I imagine they'd still play him on the PK, not the PP... but still. I'd almost prefer for him to play on that 3rd line with Tatar and Alfie. I think they'd be able to chip in quite a bit.