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Z and D for the C

What changes do you think we'll see with Blashill?

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I'm most curious to see how he uses our players in lime combinations. One my my gripes about Babcock is how he set up his lines. Babcock was really into the "Shooter, Passer, Big Body" combo and while I think that can work, he used it a little too religiously. I'm also curious to see if he'll be giving Weiss more of a chance than Babcock ever did.

I agree regarding the big body. Abby did a good job, but he'll never be Homer no matter how much babs wanted him to be.

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Well for one we should be waiting to see what happens in Free Agency. We might get some right handed dmen and that will change the PP a lot.

We also lost our PP coach to Toronto, so bringing up last years numbers doesn't translate to this year as the entire philosophy changes and Smith very well could be on the PP.

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Well for one we should be waiting to see what happens in Free Agency. We might get some right handed dmen and that will change the PP a lot.

We also lost our PP coach to Toronto, so bringing up last years numbers doesn't translate to this year as the entire philosophy changes and Smith very well could be on the PP.

I agree with you, but only to a point. Sure things might be a little different. But if the new coaches don't look at what our PP did successfully last year, with roughly the same personnel, (and try to recreate that success) then they're dangerously stupid and should immediately be fired.

If you had the second best PP a year ago, and you had almost the exact same personnel, the largely the same system, most of the same coaches, and access to all the technical information and game footage a person could ask for, would you completely scrap everything and start from scratch?

Neither would anybody else. Surely Blash is smart enough to build of past successes, and try to improve upon past failures. Reinventing the wheel would just be dumb. The powerplay was our biggest success last season. I wouldn't expect too much to change in that regard, unless of course, it begins to struggle.

Edited by kipwinger

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And Dekeyser-Kronwall is too top heavy if Quincey is bad Quincey and Kindl doesn't have a bounce back year. I don't want Quincey with Kronwall because I think they'd be bad together. I have no basis for that other than a gut feeling. It could be worth a shot.

EDIT: I actually waived Weiss because we have the cap space to keep him for now. You can buy him out next season and save us a year of cap hit down the road when we might actually need it. If someone claims him, great, if not, buy him out later. We don't need to buy him out now.

I definitely see that as possible. DD-E also isn't the best match since neither is very offensive minded (Though DD is adding that a bit). I really think unless we add a player or Marchenko, Smith, Kindl take a big step and become top 4 guys then the playoff pairs will be what we see next year. I just suggested Q with Kronwall would be something to switch it up and because E has struggled on the top pair.

Edited by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

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Will people stop bitching that our PP sucked because we weren't leading the league. We finished 2nd in PP even if we did drop off in second half. Its a season long stat (that they didn't carry forward into the playoffs), but goddam... if anyone who isn't the best at something all of a sudden sucks. This leagues has a lot of s***ty teams. Like 29 of them.

Almost all arguments using the Wings having a bad PP as their evidence, pretty much fall flat if you take one second to look up what our PP % ranking was.

Edited by Rhah

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I agree with you, but only to a point. Sure things might be a little different. But if the new coaches don't look at what our PP did successfully last year, with roughly the same personnel, (and try to recreate that success) then they're dangerously stupid and should immediately be fired.

If you had the second best PP a year ago, and you had almost the exact same personnel, the largely the same system, most of the same coaches, and access to all the technical information and game footage a person could ask for, would you completely scrap everything and start from scratch?

Neither would anybody else. Surely Blash is smart enough to build of past successes, and try to improve upon past failures. Reinventing the wheel would just be dumb. The powerplay was our biggest success last season. I wouldn't expect too much to change in that regard, unless of course, it begins to struggle.

I just hope they get rid of the stupid no look drop pass that is way too predictable.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Yeah we should just keep players like smith in the lineup. hahahah what a joke

and to keep jurco!? What did he do all season again?

He scored more points than Clarkson, Umberger, and M Richards in about the same number of games... and for a lot less money

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Line combos should be different, if that proves to be better we'll see. More active d-men would be nice too see. I hope, more than anything, we can continue to have good gaps and sticks, but actually hit people. GR was relatively physical from what I watched and heard, would be nice to see us improve our forecheck and corner play with a bitta body contact.

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I have written in a post long ago that Jurco was a little soft.

But I am for the Wings keeping him. He is young, he has size, he has skill, has grit.

He was slightly misused under Babcock. A better fit, a season or two and he'll be a top 6 player on this original six team. I'll bet you.

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The D is an interesting situation because with free agents and promotions it could be very different, but equally it might be the same.

I suppose the biggest question is will the coach keep the Babcock tight positional play that has been reasonably successful or take a risk and go for a more offensive style? The answer to that will determine the futures of many players on the roster, including kindl, smith, weiss, jurco and possibly Pulks, all of whom would be keen to see the latter.

One of the interesting questions for the new set up is can they get the playoff version of Brendan Smith to show up in the reg season. In the post season he has looked like a top 4 dman, but in the 82 games he can fluctuate from top 4 to #8 without warning. Kindl also has question marks...although he gets the easy ice time, his points to games ratio is not bad at all, and he is one of the few of our D who actually can hit the net on the PP, and he plays great stretch passes. Can they get him to overcome his indecision and lack of fight in his own end? Big asks, but either coming off would be a big help. Can Big Rig get his confidence back with a healed hand and actually look a top 4 damn? Will DD continue to progress? Will KFQ be able to maintain last seasons form without babs? Or might he even surpass it and re-find his offensive touch as seen in LA and Colorado? We know Marchy and XO can cope with Blashill, but can they REALLY step up?

And of course, one can assume KH will try to find a FA upgrade. Landing any of the current options creates spare assets. A trade for an upgrade seems unlikely, but the cap space of others may yet change that, especially from teams out west.

As for what I'd like to see...

If we can't get Green or Franson at a reasonable price, i would consider Martin, Sekera or maybe even Erhoff or Meszaros (if cheap cheap) if we can swing send some other assets away for an upgrade. Otherwise leave along. Up front, Drew Stafford is an obvious option, Joel Ward as an outside choice but really there isn't much and I'd probably prefer to stand pat.

Again if we trade assets, maybe Shawn matthias, glencross,Justin Williams or possibly at a push Frolik come into, but only would be worth considering if we can shift others out to bring an upgrade on the back end.

In net, I can't see Jimmah leaving, so no change except possibly in GR.

If no trades or signings of note happen, I'd be tempted to shake up some of the lines. Tats works well with D but also with Sheahan so I'd be tempted to go with.

Z - D - Abby

Tats - Sheahan - Jurco

Franzen/Pulks - Helm - Nike

MIller, Glen, Ferraro

NK - BS

KQ - DD

JE - AM

Of course Weiss and Kindl if not traded will rotate in, and I wouldn't be surprised if the former bounces back to complicate things no end!

But I would only do so on the basis of situational line rotation and fairly equal ice time for the top 3 lines. Its tricky because it would mean Tats/Sheahan/Jurco would be the only balanced line really. Nyquist has great chemistry with Zetterberg, but the only other person he seems to really have that telepathy with is Franzen and I can't see him coming back or staying back. Otherwise that's a good line because of Franzen's size, and Nyquist's speed taking some of the physical pressure of Z, but only really works if Z and Franzen can rotate central duties as I don't see Z as a full time center from here on in.

Dats can kind of play with anyone as long as there is at least someone providing good forecheck pressure. Pulks I can see moving up and down the line up until he finds a fit as his shot makes him a threat on any line that gets offensive zone time.

Certainly the 4th line picks itself as the roster stands.

On the back end the only pair that works for both is KQ and DD, and I'm scared of having Kronwall and Ericsson together as Kronner's skating has declined and Ericsson's first 5 yards is SLOOOOW. Smith on the first line IS a massive risk, but he seems to play better when a) given more responsibility and b) with someone really smart! In an ideal world someone comes in alongside Kronner or Marchenko suddenly takes 3 steps forward. We all know our back end is horribly imbalanced and suffers from quantity over quality, so unless we get someone in from outside then there is no really satisfactory solution. I know Smith higher up the line-up might go horribly wrong, but if nothing changes roster wise, i'd prefer to take the risk first up and give him a chance and the confidence to utilise his strengths. Like many, I suspect he just doesn't have what it takes between the ears, but he does seem to switch on when pushed front row centre. As for PP, I only think smith works if we play 2 d- men and he can roam, effectively being a demi forward, so if the current set up works with the coaching changes I'd use him sparingly. I say utilising him there is less of a priority than getting the Pulkcannon in positions to use that slap shot. Our finn has much development to do, but he has the best slapshot and one of the best wristers on the roster and he WILL shoot, so if he's on the team that has to be utilised, and not too close to the crease. His release and ability to find space will never match Brett Hull's but he's the closest this club has seen since.

Edited by lomekian

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Weiss will not spend another year in the press box. He will either play or be traded. What I hope to see all depends on what Holland can accomplish between the draft and training camp.

I hope to see Weiss, Smith & Kindl (I'd prefer Q gone over K) traded, Andersson unsigned (Babs loves him, so maybe trade his rights to Toronto) and would love to see TWO new defensemen here, if not then give Kindl the shot and just add one.

I need Abby and Helm back in the bottom 6 and a #2 center signed. Soderberg would be nice in between Nyquist and Z.

I think if Blash had a llneup like this given to him, he would get serious consideration for the Jack Adams:

Tatar - Dats - Pulk

Nyquist - Soderberg - Z

Jurco - Sheahan - Helm

Miller - Glenny - Abby

Ferraro/Callahan

Kronwall - Franson

Ericsson - Green

Dekeyser - Kindl

Jensen

Mrazek

Howard

Now that is what I'd LOVE to see! Trade Weiss/Smith/Q/Andy all for draft picks!

Abby scored 20+ goals last season and you want him on the fourth line?

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Abby scored 20+ goals last season and you want him on the fourth line?

I've always liked Abby but I think there are players with more potential to put in the top 6 with Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I also think he's too good for the bottom six. Perhaps he could be good trade bait.

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Abby scored 20+ goals last season and you want him on the fourth line?

We gotta make room in the top six for a 20+ goal scoring power forward, who's big, gritty, and plays in the hard areas. Once we get Abby out of there the only problem will be finding a guy like that.

I've always liked Abby but I think there are players with more potential to put in the top 6 with Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I also think he's too good for the bottom six. Perhaps he could be good trade bait.

I'd trade half a dozen guys on this team rather than Abby. The NHL is a man's league, and Abby plays a big boy game.

Trade Nyquist or Pulkkinen before you trade Abby. He's practically the only guy on our team who A) can score goals, and B) isn't a complete pantywaist.

If anything we need more guys like him (Drew Stafford anyone?), not less.

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I've always liked Abby but I think there are players with more potential to put in the top 6 with Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I also think he's too good for the bottom six. Perhaps he could be good trade bait.

The team needs to add grits, not remove it. Abby has become too important to this team to simply trade away.

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Helm and Abby are good, but they are not top 6 guys. If you aren't going to put offensive minded guys in the top 6, then trade them, because Jurco and Pulkkinen are NOT bottom 6 guys. Keep Abby and Helm in the top 6 and trade Pulk and Jurco then.

People seem to forget ALL the games where we couldn't score goals or even get shots on the net, you will never realize the potential of Jurco and Pulk while playing with Glenny and Andersson as their centers. Abby and Helm have great chemistry with all the guys in the bottom 6 and most likely would make those lines better. Continue to use Helm on top PK lines and Abby on top PP lines, that is fine, but we are wasting the talent of Pulk and Jurco if they are out there playing 5 minutes a game and in a checking role. No offense to Abby, I like the guy, I live 30 miles north of Muskegon, he is an icon over here. I know Jurco and Pulk haven't proven anything yet, but that is because they were stuck in the bottom 6 with our last coach. BOTH players were drafted because of their offensive capabilities. Sure they need to play both sides of the puck, but they are more O than D.

I give Abby all the credit in the world for scoring 23 goals amongst 44 points, but both Pulk and Jurco have the potential, with the skills they have, to get near 30. Sure, AHL doesn't always convert to NHL, but the one thing I hated about out last coach was the way he utilized certain players. If Blash is anything like him, then we all know line combos will change a million times over the season. I just would like to see both Pulk and Jurco put in positions to take advantage of their particular skill set. Demoting Abby is in no way knocking him, it's almost a compliment because his skill set allows him to be that versatile. He would make the bottom 6 better, besides, if Jurco is on the 3rd line with Sheahan and Helm, is that truly a bottom 6 line? I understand I actually have Jurco on the 3rd line, so technically, he is in the bottom 6, but by numbers only. That line could be a great two-way line, with Helm 's D and Sheahan's two-way along with Jurco's offense potential.

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