It's gotta be asked....What's up with Hank?

[Motown4013 350]

I hate that I am writing this thread but over the last 5-8 games I have really noticed that Hank has been a non factor. I have a hundred ideas why this is happening....He looks a bit slower so I am wondering if he is 100% healthy. Maybe his back has flared up or something? This is not a rag on Franzen thread but to me, Franzen appears to be an albatross on the line he plays with.

Even when Zetty isn't scoring, he's sound defensively but I also think he has been average in that department as of late. The guy is my favourite player so it's certainly not a "hater" thread whatsoever- just wondering what people think. He started off on fire and appears to be struggling. Thoughts?

The guy is all heart and he never quits- he just needs to get a few lucky bounces to get his mojo back. Maybe the bromance of he and Gus has cooled and he needs some new mates? If you were going to insert Z onto a line, who do you put him with to get him going again?

GO wings!

PS it's so hard to change up the lines right now because the D-H-T line has been lights out

[rick zombo 3,739]

He’s pacing himself. Which is great. They don’t need ​everyone to be awesome all the time.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

It's been so long since he's been healthy in an 82 game schedule, people forget he always has his lulls offensively during the year. Like you said, still an ace defensively. He'll come around soon, and Franzen seems to make every line he plays on worse lately. Hurry back Abby.

[Echolalia 2,961]

From what I've read through the forums I don't believe there are many folks who think Zetterberg is completely healthy, myself included, although its a bit confusing that he wouldn't be resting if he wasn't 100% considering how conservative the Wings have been this season with regard to injuries. Having said that, Franzen and Nyquist are also both in cold spells, and when nobody on the line is taking charge, everyone's going to suffer all the more because of that.

But like you said, Babcock can hardly break the lines up, because production has been solid throughout the other three lines, and at the very least the Zetterberg line hasn't been a liability defensively, so if Z, Nyquist, and Franzen can break even, Babcock still has two (sometimes three) other lines to carry the offensive burden, at least for now. Perhaps when Abdelkader comes back he can be put into that line to get a spark going, or if Zetterberg is injured perhaps the team will be more inclined to rest Z up at that point.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Once Abby is back that line should have more tenacity and traffic in front of the net, which has been a huge part of our scoring. Mule isn't willing to take a beating night in and night out so there's less space being cleared for Gus and Z. That line has been sound defensively often going up against the opposing top line and still chipping in here and there. Everyone is going to go through some lulls, it's encouraging that other lines have proven they can score on a consistent basis. He does look tired some nights, but never a detriment. I just think he needs a little rest and to play the maple leafs

[Desert Rat 78]

I do keep expecting him to break out and it just isn't happening. I believe his last goal was an empty netter so maybe he just needs to get one by the goalie to get going. He was an assist machine for a while there but I alway prefer him scoring goals because they tend to be of the clutch variety.

[Guest DeGraa55]

Age and health are my concerns.

[marcaractac 3,963]

Hank has always had his stretches during the season of not scoring a whole lot. He seems to step it up the more important the game is. Definitely seems to just be pacing himself with the team playing great. I have no doubt he will turn it up when the games start meaning more.

[Wheelchairsuperhero 1,453]

He's still putting up points, just not an absurd amount and they're all assists. I think we're really just finally seeing him healthy for a stretch and it's showing that he's human and can't be clutch every single night. I have trouble believing he's injured just because I feel like with how well the team is rolling they would've risked giving him a day off by now if he needed it. Obviously I could be wrong, he does look off, but it's happened before.

[RusDRW 155]

Am I the only one who thinks he is fine? Zetter is at his best when we need his most. He has that second or third gear he could turn on when needed. Now when everything is fine with the team as we get scoring from all the lines he is just fine.

[wings_fanatic 677]

Watch zetty destroy the leafs tomorrow night haha! Honestly he is fine. Babs is spreading out minutes to conserve energy and balance our attack and its working. I have no doubt that when we need Hank, he will get the job done for us.

[Guest DeGraa55]

Watch zetty destroy the leafs tomorrow night haha! Honestly he is fine. Babs is spreading out minutes to conserve energy and balance our attack and its working. I have no doubt that when we need Hank, he will get the job done for us.

I agree with this as well.

Glendening had 16 minutes in a game not to long ago...

[WhiteLightning91 105]

My thought is that it's just one of those inevitable rough patches that even the best players experience throughout the duration of an 82-game season. Even Crosby is a bit snake-bitten right now, scoring just twice in his last 18 games.

The fact that Z is ading the forwards in points, ice team, shots, and is only behind Pavel in FO% makes me think his recent struggles are not due to injury or diminshing skills, but more a result of the bounces not going his way.

The only concern I have regarding Z is that him, Nyquist, Franzen are the only 3 forwards without a positive +/-. Not too sure what to make of that.

Edited December 9, 2014 by WhiteLightning91

[joesuffP 1,746]

isn't he still leading our team in points

[frankgrimes 1,836]

The guy has had surgery in the summer and for sure he is going to say "everything is fine" but recovering from back surgeries takes time and so far I'm impressed that he is still producing.

As long as he gets his other gear when it matters the most, he the beard should be fine

[Guest DeGraa55]

My thought is that it's just one of those inevitable rough patches that even the best players experience throughout the duration of an 82-game season. Even Crosby is a bit snake-bitten right now, scoring just twice in his last 18 games.

The fact that Z is also leading the forwards in ice team, shots, and is only behind Pavel in FO% makes me think his recent struggles are not due to injury or diminshing skills, but more a result of the bounces not going his way.

The only concern I have regarding Z is that him, Nyquist, Franzen are the only 3 forwards without a positive +/-. Not too sure what to make of that.

I'd assume and yes I'm just assuming I don't know how you'd look up these stats to be sure. But u assume it's because they're playing against the other teams top lines? Especially when the three were together? And it's fine if they're the only 3. That means everyone else is doing a great job then against their competition.

[WingsAlways 486]

Hank could be backing off (on scoring) and enjoying the youth aspect that's been winning games for us. We've had a few bad years where he and Datsyuk did the majority of the scoring and people considered us a one line team. Maybe he wants it to be known that he doesn't have to be the hero anymore. The depth is starting to take hold and we have four deadly lines now and a powerplay that I just heard called something that I haven't heard it called in years...lethal.

Don't worry about Hank, he's racking up the assists, playing defensively and when it counts, he WILL score. Guy is the most clutch player I've ever saw.

Franzen, he can bite my ass.

My 2 cents.

[gcom007 1,465]

When it came up in the last GDT, this is what I said:

"I hope I'm eventually proven wrong of course, but I never expected Z to come back as the same player from that injury. Back issues typically never fully go away, and they only become harder to deal with as time goes on. Z's going to be an important player on this team no matter what though. He's a great leader and it's not like he's utterly failing to rack up points. The shape of his game is likely to continue to change, but I'm not too worried about the impact it'll have on the team. He might not contribute as much offensively, but he'll likely compensate by contributing more in other ways. Other people will pick up the slack on offense. Hell, just look at what Dats is doing offensively this year. He's picking up all the scoring slack himself and some. And Z's still plenty capable of lighting it up when the opportunity strikes. But whether he gets the scoring going again or not, I fully believe Z will remain as valuable to this team as he ever was."

Basically, whether Z scores goals or even puts up points like he used to or not, I think he's going to remain as valuable to this team as he ever has been in some way for as long as he plays. Players like Zetterberg find a way to contribute, and he's a great leader. I'm really not worried. He was bound to start slipping in some ways with age eventually, and his back issues are not really new problems. But all that said, he's still a fantastic guy to build a team around.

[toby91_ca 620]

It may be tough to admit, but I think both D and Z are beyond their prime years. Both will still have stretches of greatness, but I don't think either would sustain for a real lengthy period of time. It's just the way things work.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

It may be tough to admit, but I think both D and Z are beyond their prime years. Both will still have stretches of greatness, but I don't think either would sustain for a real lengthy period of time. It's just the way things work.

And yet Datsyuk has been playing as good as ever for a while now. So it's just a stretch of greatness? We'll see.

Not too worried about Zetterberg. He's was coming back from surgery and still leads the team in points. Not everyone on the team will be at the top of their game all at once. I'm happy that now we have a deep enough team that certain hot streaks can cover others cold streaks.

Edited December 9, 2014 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[Red Crazy 201]

I got the chance to both meet him and watch him very close in warm ups when they were in Winnipeg. I noticed right away how stiff he walks and skates. He is not even close to 100% healthy in my mind.

[CMatt89 63]

During the early regular season, someone asked about the wings best playoff performer....captain, conne smythe, stanley cup winner...go drink a coke zero.

Edited December 10, 2014 by CMatt89

[NAVYWING 2]

My thoughts are that other teams are putting their top defenders against his line. He is still our leading scorer (points). This I believe is why the other lines are doing so well. Our 2nd and 3rd lines are scoring better than our first. I chalk this up to how the opposition is playing us.

[Guest Playmaker]

Too much puffy hearting Emma?

Sheesh, Henrik Zetterberg is probably last on my list of concerns for this team. Despite the myth that he gives 100% every game and shows up every shift, this is what Z does every season. He always goes through an extended pointless streak or what not. But when the team needs him, he's there. Every guy isn't always on a hot streak at the same time. That's the difference this year with the team's depth. Different guys are brining it on any given night. That's what makes for a winning team.

[canadian wings fan 305]

Zettebergs annual goal droughts are as bad as they come. I cannot wrap my head around how he has 1 real goal in about 20 games? Like seriously how?