Saturday, February 25, 2012

Wings should think outside of the box.

The Wings biggest problem right now is lack of chemistry. Much of that has to do with not having the right guys going to the net to take advantage of the skills we already have.

Cleary, Bertuzzi, Franzen, Homer... they all go to the net. None of them mesh well in the top two lines to make it work. Mostly because only Cleary is fast enough to get there in time, but not big enough to push his way there. Combine that with the fact that Val, Hudler, Zetter, and Pavel all are players who can't push their way there and are better suited away from the net., and you have problems.

I think Brown and Morrow fit this build of having that combination...

Now you can also add a sniper to find soft spots away from the front and make it work. Once again, they need to mesh with the passers. I think Semin, Vanek, Pomminville, and Selanne fit the bill...

I kind of doubt anything is going to happen with either of these routes.

The big problem here is who ever could be had will be costly, and at the same time you have to make sure, you would be able to make both top lines work.

I think if we were to add Semin, we could find him working well with Pavel on the top line, but then you really have the same problem on the second line. If you put him on the second line, who would you move to the top line? Bert, Franzen, Hudler, Cleary, all have issues. Anyone you add, the second line STILL has the same problem of having unworkable or at least inconsistent, chemistry.

I believe the best set up would be Zetter, Pav, and Brown or Franzen on the top line. Getting a player who can shoot from the outside and go at the net while allowing the second line to have the other guy. Bert, Fil, and Franzen have all shown an inconsistent but workable scoring touch. Really if Bert would pick up some speed, all of our problems could be solved without any moves, and the same goes for Franzen.

They both act like anchors for the top two lines. That is why I would put them both together perhaps with Abs, Helm, or Fil and hope they can manage to keep up enough not to allow so many scoring chances. Yet, they need someone to make the Euro Twins finish. I would kill to have a Hull type show up.

I would like to say, that if Holland was really smart, (and he has been so often) he would find someone who isn't a big name and that can fill a role such as what I described.

You should be able to find a “nobody” whose style of game would fit in. I mean look at how some other duos in the league can add anyone and they become point producers. Mikael Samuelsson did that with the Wings once and the Canucks once. We should be able to find someone like that, but not him as he has his faults, which are well known.

We could fix the top two lines by adding people that go to the net, or just adding people whom might have the right mix of other skills to compliment what we do have.

Brown would be the best addition.

Others that might work well include:

Jason Pominville

David Clarkson

Scott Hartnell

T. Plekanec

Milan Michalek

Drew Stafford

Kris Versteeg

Michael Ryder

Blake Wheeler

Matt Cullen

Shrewd moves would include:

Justin Williams: He might be a great add if not Brown. He has an affordable contract that will last for a few years but is only 30 years old and brings almost everything the Wings are missing. Quick and gritty in the traffic areas, shoots first and has hit 30 goals before in a similar system in Carolina. He would fit in extremely well on the top line or the second line freeing up Johan to go up top for a power line with Pav and Hank.

Daniel Winnik: This guy has a ton of shots on net, 151 at time of writing this and fits the right handed big defensive depth role we were supposedly looking to acquire. Winnik, with his size and grit and the fact he shoots the puck a ton, could be put on the top line with Dats and Zetter to form at the very least form a shutdown line. My hunch is that he could at the best turn into a huge goal scorer the same way Bertuzzi did when getting a shot with a couple of elite players a while back in Vancouver.

Bryan Little: Younger and better than Hudler, even if he plays a similar game. Yet has a better shot, which makes all the difference in the world. He would score more goals in the same role as Hudler. Has two years on the contract, and could be flipped next year in a deadline deal. If you doubt it, check the scouting report. "Is a good playmaker who can be employed on the wing, as well as his natural center position. Owns a good wrist shot and sound defensive instincts. Is a tireless worker. Can snipe, too." The problem here is Winnipeg most likely would not trade him. I would at least inquire.

Milan Hejduk: Right handed with quick release. He could be a Hull type fixture with the Euro Twins while coming cheap. He might not fit in though with our past history with the Avs, and he is one of the only players on their roster left you can say that about.

PA Parenteau: I really like the look of this kid, and think his game is on the rise. UFA and therefore could be cheap. Parenteau is a right-handed player who will shoot the puck and is ready for a bigger role offensively. The problem is he is a pass first type and would be a better addition to the second line with Val. I still believe if you added him next to Val, that you would have a similar set up to the top line with the Euro Twins. Then, perhaps, you can use Franzen on the second and Bert on the first and have two top lines that are balanced. Unfortunately, each will be streaky.

Kyle Brodziak: His contract is friendly though long, so he likely would not be moved from Minnesota. Described as a checking line center, we could be shrewd and use him in a bigger role as he will shoot before he passes. He is defense first, and on the top line with Zetter and Pav, he could focus more on offense. The problem is he would contribute to the poor skating problems of the top two lines. If he didn't pan out, we make the logjam at the bottom problem worse while taking money away from resigning our major players.

Ray Whitney: Yeah, we all know what he does not bring. I just think he is one of the cheaper major point producers available while adding a righty. We could do worse out of a rental.

Patrik Elias: Okay, getting him would mean taking ourselves out of the Parise sweepstakes next season, and would allow NJ to keep them. Now here is why it would be a shrewd. One, the move it allows us to make the Devils happy, and create a stronger trading partner in the future. Two, it would give us a PPG player for two seasons that would mesh extremely well on either top line. Three, it would make it easier for Bert and Franzen to produce more by creating balance in the top six. Four, it would allow Hudler someone to emulate his game upon in a countryman. Five, he also would help the power play. Elias would be the biggest star we could add at the deadline, and would actually help the leadership of the strongest leadership team in the league. His contract would expire in time for our hardship year at the cap, and he could return on a vet level cheap contract afterwards. He provides the best opportunity to add a PPG player the Wings have without sacrificing the future.

This is just some ideas, to think outside of the box. Unfortunately, it seems as if these moves are less likely than the world ending at the end of the year. Instead, the Wings will add Paul Gaustad who will not bring anything to the team, but some bad penalties and less ice time or a lost roster spot for players like Emmerton and Mursak. I still say if we are to lose either of those players, I would rather it be a part of a trade for someone with a bigger impact than Gaustad or Moen. I would rather keep what we have than force something stupid. I would rather think outside of the box and take a run at someone like I described.

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