Larry Wigge Weighs in on Wings’ Lines
Larry Wigge takes a look at the line juggling head coach Mike Babcock has done to try and wring as many goals as possible out of the Detroit lineup:
[Henrik] Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom were carrying the team [at one point]. But there was a time when the team’s No. 2 line of Robert Lang, Dan Cleary and Michael Samuelsson was winning games on a regular basis
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In a 3-0 victory over Columbus on April 3, Datsyuk was centering the No. 1 line with Bertuzzi and Holmstrom on the wings, Lang was between Jiri Hudler and Calder, Draper was working with Maltby and Cleary, while Johan Franzen, Valterri Filppula and Samuelsson were playing together.
When Kyle Calder first joined the Red Wings the line of Calder, Robert Lang and Johan Franzen was very good. The big question is twofold: is Henrik Zetterberg going to be able to play when the playoffs start, and if he is, where do you play him? Do you take a guy who has missed seven weeks of hockey and make him your top-line center?
For the time being I think Detroit will continue to play the following players at center:
Pavel Datsyuk
Robert Lang
Kris Draper
Valtteri Filppula
Hopefully Henrik Zetterberg will be available for the start of the playoffs. If he is this is probably what the lines will look like:
Henrik Zetterberg - Pavel Datsyuk - Tomas Holmstom
Kyle Calder - Robert Lang - Todd Bertuzzi
Johan Franzen - Kris Draper - Kirk Maltby
Dan Cleary/Mikael Samuelsson - Valtteri Filppula - Jiri Hudler
Dan Cleary and Johan Franzen have the most flexibility in terms of where they can play. Cleary could play on the third line and Franzen could play on any line, for instance he could be moved to the top line late in a game in place of Holmstrom if the Wings have a lead. He can also be placed on the fourth line if you want to have Cleary on the third line.
Robert Lang has shown a bit of energy the last couple games so that is a good sign. He has been paired with two very solid wingers so if he can continue to play at the level Mike Babcock expects that line could be very solid. With Samuelsson and Hudler on the fourth line the team has two legitimate scoring threats on the fourth line. Red Wings
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