Forward Line Combos/Discussion

[LeftWinger 4,949]

Great flyers won and are now 2 points away from the wings ... We keep playing 500 hockey we won't be making the playoffs , time to wake the f*** up

First thing I think we should do is bring back the Larkin zetterberg abdelkader line , maybe that'll get Larkin going again ... Mantha needs to be called up for some games ASAP , he won't be the reason we get in alone but if he can help us get a few wins with that shot he needs to be here ..and it'll actually give pavel someone with a lethal shot on his wing for once

Zetterberg Larkin abdelkader

Tatar Datsyuk mantha

Jurco athanasiou nyquist

Glendening sheahan helm

While I like the idea, I have hard time seeing them sit Richards, even though he has been just as invisible as a lot of players, I think Jurco gets sat if Mantha comes up. Although, I think maybe giving Nyquist or Tatar a night or 4 off may get them the message...but it may be too late with only 16 more games left...

[kickazz 5,459]

While I like the idea, I have hard time seeing them sit Richards, even though he has been just as invisible as a lot of players, I think Jurco gets sat if Mantha comes up. Although, I think maybe giving Nyquist or Tatar a night or 4 off may get them the message...but it may be too late with only 16 more games left...

You do realize that the last three posts about possible line combos are just what people like to envision and something that would likely never happen in reality with 16 games left in the season.

With 16 games left and our team declining out of a playoff spot, they would never scratch Richards, boost Mantha up to first or second line in his first NHL career game or put Jurco top line after scratching him and giving him 4th line minutes for majority of the season. The sky would fall before those 3 things all happen at once.

I might win the daily lotto before those 3 things happen together.

Edited March 9, 2016 by kickazz

[Buppy 1,720]

While I like the idea, I have hard time seeing them sit Richards, even though he has been just as invisible as a lot of players, I think Jurco gets sat if Mantha comes up. Although, I think maybe giving Nyquist or Tatar a night or 4 off may get them the message...but it may be too late with only 16 more games left...

Nyquist and Tatar are not our problem right now.

[joesuffP 1,746]

I''m really not a fan of Richards in this lineup. Trying to stick him on a line and it's like what does he offer? How is he going to contribute? You almost have to give him 2nd line duties with great wingers just to make him work out somewhere in the lineup

Nyquist-Z-Abby

AA-Dats-Larkin

Jurco-Sheahan-Tatar

Helm-Glen-Richards

Funny that Blshill will never use this 2nd line. He's already got the two fastest skaters playing together anyways and he's tried so many half-brained line schemes but no way the rookies can be defensively responsible enough to be in that 2nd line role together in his mind. AA has proven he can be an effective NHLer time to give him more opportunity.

It may be fun to watch and effective when we're in a pinch but I don't think it makes much sense, based on our team makeup, to have our two best centres playing together.

Edited March 9, 2016 by joesuffP

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Fix the pp first by bringing up Frk and keeping Frk and Pulkkinen in the Ovechkin spot, one on each unit. Having 5 lefties on the pp is the stupidest thing I've seen in sports. I have zero idea why these NHL coaches do not know why you need right handed players. It's mind boggling. Fill the 5 on 5 lines out however you want after that. I'd get Richards out of the lineup immediately, though. He is a complete drag on this team.

[HockeytownRules19 902]

Wow Lines definitely shaken up this morning for the Jets game:

Abdelkader-Zetterberg-Larkin

Tatar-Datsyuk-Athanasiou

Nyquist-Sheahan-Pulkkinen

Helm-Glendening-Richards

Jurco

[krsmith17 7,191]

I like that Athanasiou is getting some time with Pav in the top 6, but why the f*** is Jurco a healthy scratch again? Makes no sense. And Smith out again as well. Blashill is a f***ing a** hat...

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Wow Lines definitely shaken up this morning for the Jets game:

Abdelkader-Zetterberg-Larkin

Tatar-Datsyuk-Athanasiou

Nyquist-Sheahan-Pulkkinen

Helm-Glendening- Geralt of Rivia

Jurco

Fixed

[joesuffP 1,746]

Smith in for Marchenko

All these lineups are moot if Blashill doesn't keep them together. Everyone wants to see more AA. The kid took it upon himself to fire this team up and fight against a pretty scary Blue Jackets team when we were flat. Kind of embarrassing for the wings but this kid is fired up to be in the NHL

[Learn2LuvIt 245]

Wasn't quite sure what thread to put this comment in, I think this may be the best since it's about line-ups.

Watching the CBJ game on Tues I was disgusted. In the 2nd period, after the whistle blew, Abby gets pounded on, in front of the CBJ net by one of their forwards (can't recall who). The guy is punching Abby in the face while he's down on the ice and trying to get up. After he gets up, CBJ's goalie starts punching him in the face with his blocker. He's getting double teamed. Where was his teammates? Skating toward the bench and didn't seem too concerned. I re watched again thinking our players must have not have seen what was going on. NOPE. Our on-ice players saw what was happening to Abby (as this incident lasted a bit)....THEY DID NOTHING!!! What in the hell is wrong with this team chemistry. AA gets in a fight to stick up for HIMSELF (which was great to see), but I don't get the sense at all that these guys have each others backs as a team. I did scream the words "soft #%@#$%^ Euros!!!" However, I don't know if it's that. But, something is wrong. These guys watch their teammate getting wailed on and don't even care enough to change directions and skate in the direction of their teammate getting pounded on by two guys?? You don't have to be a "fighter" to have your teammates back and provide support. I just don't get it. The days when we'd shy away from after the whistle garbage because we were looking to draw a penalty so we could use our deadly PP to our advantage are DONE....that was 10 years ago. Why don't these guys stick up for each other? Weak, weak, weak. Lack of leadership? Lack of North American physical hockey leadership? Not sure, but it's shameful.

Lastly, to the point above, I watched the St. Louis v Chicago game last night. There's no way in hell we could handle either of those teams in a 7 games series. Those guys were hitting everything that moved, and not just shoulder bumps, they were crushing people. Both teams played with such intensity....it was fun to watch. Our team, on the other hand, seems to lack intensity (wait, scratch that, we have some intensity but we only show it when we are down 3 goals with 4 minutes left and we've pulled our goalie).

Edited March 10, 2016 by Learn2LuvIt

[joesuffP 1,746]

Larkin and Datsyuk and probably AA (if he gets off that leash of Blash's) are like spark plugs. Move them into any line and they really get their linemates going. Need people that get the motors going

[NyquistianDeke 43]

Larkin and Datsyuk and probably AA (if he gets off that leash of Blash's) are like spark plugs. Move them into any line and they really get their linemates going. Need people that get the motors going

I agree with this and that is why I believe they need to be spread throughout the lines: So I would roll with

Larkin - Z - Abs

Tatar - Datsyuk - Jurco

Nyq - AA - Richards

Helm - Glendening - Sheahan

For those who don't like Richards put Pulk there.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Please no more #17.

[matt198913 932]

Can I ask if Pulkinnen and Jurco are just going to play 4th line minutes, why don't they just call up Tangradi or Nosek? I get they are important to GR but Tangradi would be a great reason not to go after a Red Wings rookie. Plus he's shown a lot of offensive punch. Can play the 4th line and put on a hard forecheck? Much better than Jurco or Pulkinnen in that role

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Can I ask if Pulkinnen and Jurco are just going to play 4th line minutes, why don't they just call up Tangradi or Nosek? I get they are important to GR but Tangradi would be a great reason not to go after a Red Wings rookie. Plus he's shown a lot of offensive punch. Can play the 4th line and put on a hard forecheck? Much better than Jurco or Pulkinnen in that role

Agreed. Those 2 arent checking line guys.

[joesuffP 1,746]

I guess we don't see the practices but you'd think Blashill would want to get Jurco going for the sake of the team because of how small we are. He may look unimpressive sometimes but he's doing no worse than other guys on that third line scoring role. Getting his mojo going would be huge for the team going forward

[DickieDunn 2,571]

I like that Athanasiou is getting some time with Pav in the top 6, but why the f*** is Jurco a healthy scratch again? Makes no sense. And Smith out again as well. Blashill is a f***ing a** hat...

Because they're focusing on getting younger guys playing time by not playing them. Duh.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Because they're focusing on getting younger guys playing time by not playing them. Duh.

Ha ha ha. Yah, the Wings confidence booster = play you 6 minutes a game and with 2 other players who are career grindèrs at best.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Weiss>Richards

Imagine if he got Richards usage he would putting up similar if not better numbers

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Maybe it was because it was later in the game, but I'm pretty sure they rolled out Tatar-Datsyuk-Abdelkader and Larkin-Zetterberg-Glendening more than once last night. I hope they're not already finished giving AA a shot in the top-six, but I wouldn't be shocked.

Edit: Yep. Looks like it's over already.

Andreas Athanasiou started Thursday's game on a line with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Tatar but logged only 8:51. "I didn't think he was quite as sharp defensively," Blashill said. "Certainly the four-on-four goal against (by Tyler Myers) was at a time where it gave him an opportunity to be in a big moment and he didn't execute to the level he needs to execute at. He did some good things, too, set up Tats on a back-door play. He's got to make sure with added minutes come added opportunities and not added negatives. He's been one of those players that in seven to 10 to 12 minutes can create lots of opportunities but then when it gets higher than that do you still continue to create more opportunities or do you give up more? There were moments of good and moments he needs to be better."

Edited March 11, 2016 by Jesusberg

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Ha ha ha. Yah, the Wings confidence booster = play you 6 minutes a game and with 2 other players who are career grindèrs at best.

Then the coach tells the media you've been playing great 5 minutes before scratching you

Maybe it was because it was later in the game, but I'm pretty sure they rolled out Tatar-Datsyuk-Abdelkader and Larkin-Zetterberg-Glendening more than once last night. I hope they're not already finished giving AA a shot in the top-six, but I wouldn't be shocked.

Edit: Yep. Looks like it's over already.

Zetterberg misplayed it, AA gets blamed

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Mrazek needs to roll from here on out. This squad of schmucks can win if he's on point.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Larkin-Hank-Abdelkader

Tatar-Datsyuk-Mantha

Nyquist-AA-Jurco

Helm-Glendening-Sheahan

Play the kids and win or lose with them

[VM1138 1,921]

Athanasiou is one of the only guys generating offense. Scratching him would be retarded. Judging defensive lapses in a game where everybody decided to play with their heads up their rears is also stupid.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Athanasiou is one of the only guys generating offense. Scratching him would be retarded. Judging defensive lapses in a game where everybody decided to play with their heads up their rears is also stupid.

Who said sit AA? Blashcock?