Red Wings' playoff lines and priorities

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Babcock said he hasn't decided if Datsyuk and Zetterberg will be split. Could depend on whether Abdelkader is available, he said.

My bad hasn't been confirmed

As great as they are together there also getting up in age so could be smarter to split them up and insert them in between kids and hopefully justin

[wings7 62]

Yeah on paper but they didn't dominate against the canes or Habs

No on paper and in the games.

In those two games when they were reunited they both were averaging 2pts/game.

[GoalieManPat 1,007]

Yeah on paper but they didn't dominate against the canes or Habs

You must have missed those games because one or both of them figured into all 3 of the goals against the Canes and 2 of the 3 goals against the Habs.

Edited April 13, 2015 by GoalieManPat

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

I agree, partially. Part of me wants them together, because I think they'll produce more offense, but I don't think our other lines would match up well against Tampa's kid line. Palat-Johnson-Kucherov vs. Tatar-Sheahan-Nyquist wouldn't end well, IMO. Need Z and D separate to run against their scoring lines.

You'd think a Tatar sheahan nyquist line should play great against them , can back check .. Can score and has speed as well but I think the safe smarter play would be splitting them up ... If it wasn't for Ferraro I'd try a miller glendening and someone else against the 2nd line to maybe hit them at every time they can

Uncertain who I'd put on the 4th but I like these as top 3 and think the 3rd could go against the 2nd ?

Tatar datsyuk abdelkader

Zetterberg sheahan nyquist

Jurco Helm glendening

Although I don't see glendening being taken out of centering the 4th line

Edited April 13, 2015 by nyqvististhefuture

[joesuffP 1,746]

You must have missed those games because one or both of them figured into all 3 of the goals against the Canes and 2 of the 3 goals against the Habs.

I think depth is a lot more important in the playoffs. We can throw out a third line that's an actual threat to score. The young guys have their most success with these lines as well

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Is Franzen dead?

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

I want to know more about Abby's status. I've seen in some places that he broke his hand, but now they're saying that he's day-to-day and might play the first game. What's the truth?

[joesuffP 1,746]

They said Abby was skating today... Helm is the only one not skating due to a sickness

[kickazz 5,459]

If Z and D are split, poor decision on Babcocks part. It's early in the playoffs the last thing you want is to tire out an already slow Zetterberg. He does better when he has less responsibilities. We need these guys to last, it wont be an easy run.

Edited April 13, 2015 by kickazz

[joesuffP 1,746]

Put Z and D together we have 1 trustworthy line that can play all situations. They were separated all year and Z managed to lead the team in points. They've played 3 games together and suddenly it's unthinkable to seperate them

[kickazz 5,459]

Put Z and D together we have 1 trustworthy line that can play all situations. They were separated all year and Z managed to lead the team in points. They've played 3 games together and suddenly it's unthinkable to seperate them

Z managed to lead the team but by his standards it was a pretty bad season overall. His production went down as the season progressed. A 4 day break won't necessarily help him get his speed back. Either way if they split them up I hope it's for good reason. i.e use Z to shutdown Stamkos.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Put Z and D together we have 1 trustworthy line that can play all situations. They were separated all year and Z managed to lead the team in points. They've played 3 games together and suddenly it's unthinkable to seperate them

If anything, I think their reunion was a long time coming. Z was struggling, Tatar was struggling on Pavel's wing - the time for a change was long before the move was made, IMO.

For this series, though, I definitely think splitting them up is the right move. As I said above, I think some of the other players would have a hard time containing Johnson's line. If I'm not mistaken, they were one of (if not the best) lines in the league at even strength. I think Sheahan has grown quite a bit this season, but I'm not sure if he's good enough to shut down that line.

If Babcock puts Z-Pavel back together, I would prefer for him to put Helm at center on a line against the Johnson one. Maybe something like Tatar-Helm-Jurco? Frees up Weiss-Sheahan-Nyquist as the third line. Depends on how Babcock matches up, but I'd like that line against Drouin-Filppula-Paquette.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Did any of the beat writers tweet out what the lines looked like at practice?

[kickazz 5,459]

Is Franzen dead?

Out for playoffs, hasnt been practicing. The concussion symptoms must have not subsided. Sucks because I'd prefer him in over Ferraro -___-

Edited April 13, 2015 by kickazz

[nawein 324]

Khan Tweeted:

Tatar-Datsyuk-Cleary (holding Helm spot)

Weiss/Abdelkader-Zetterberg-Nyquist

Andersson-Sheahan-Jurco

Miller-Glendening-Ferraro

Edited April 14, 2015 by nawein

[kylee 727]

Not too thrilled about that 3rd line, Sheahan w/ 2 anchors

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Out for playoffs, hasnt been practicing. The concussion symptoms must have not subsided. Sucks because I'd prefer him in over Ferraro -___-

I figured he was out, I just haven't seen any official announcement from the team shutting him down.

[kickazz 5,459]

I figured he was out, I just haven't seen any official announcement from the team shutting him down.

No official statements, just based off articles from our reporters at the practices and stuff.

[matthewdanna 143]

You separate Pav and Z at the start and play a tight checking defensive game... especially on the road where TB gets the last change, makes sense to separate them for matchups.

If we take the lead, keep em separated... we need a goal late 2nd or the 3rd, they get put back together.

Depends on the situation.

But that's not the worry. Defensive zone turnovers are the worry.

[krsmith17 7,191]

Everyone healthy with the exception of Franzen and Cole

In Tampa

Helm - Datsyuk - Tatar

Nyquist - Zetterberg - Abdelkader

Weiss - Sheahan - Jurco

Miller - Glendening - Ferraro

In Detroit

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Abdelkader

Nyquist - Sheahan - Tatar

Helm - Weiss - Jurco

Miller - Glendening - Ferraro

Match Datsyuk's line against Stamkos' line, Glendening's line against Johnson's line, Sheahan's like against Filppula's line and Weiss' line against Boyle's line...

[Yzerfan87 146]

Everyone healthy with the exception of Franzen and Cole

In Tampa

Helm - Datsyuk - Tatar

Nyquist - Zetterberg - Abdelkader

Weiss - Sheahan - Jurco

Miller - Glendening - Ferraro

In Detroit

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Abdelkader

Nyquist - Sheahan - Tatar

Helm - Weiss - Jurco

Miller - Glendening - Ferraro

Match Datsyuk's line against Stamkos' line, Glendening's line against Johnson's line, Sheahan's like against Filppula's line and Weiss' line against Boyle's line...[/white]

I like Weiss and all, but I would put Helm as center instead because he's more defensively responsible. Our forwards are going to have to be very tight defensively in this series because Tampa has a lot of offense.

[wings7 62]

Everyone healthy with the exception of Franzen and Cole

In Tampa

Helm - Datsyuk - Tatar

Nyquist - Zetterberg - Abdelkader

Weiss - Sheahan - Jurco

Miller - Glendening - Ferraro

In Detroit

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Abdelkader

Nyquist - Sheahan - Tatar

Helm - Weiss - Jurco

Miller - Glendening - Ferraro

Match Datsyuk's line against Stamkos' line, Glendening's line against Johnson's line, Sheahan's like against Filppula's line and Weiss' line against Boyle's line...[/white]

I like Weiss and all, but I would put Helm as center instead because he's more defensively responsible. Our forwards are going to have to be very tight defensively in this series because Tampa has a lot of offense.

I like this - but Andersson isn't getting bumped for Weiss. Not likely at least.

[kipwinger 8,500]

Stephen Weiss will never play center for Mike Babcock. I don't know why, but he won't. So I don't even bother letting myself think about scenarios in which he hypothetically does.

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Stephen Weiss will never play center for Mike Babcock. I don't know why, but he won't. So I don't even bother letting myself think about scenarios in which he hypothetically does.

Zetterberg - Weiss - Nyquist

Abdelkader - Datsyuk - Tatar

Helm - Sheahan - Pulkinnen

Miller - Glenfiddich - McGrattan

Edited April 14, 2015 by GMRwings1983