lets talk hossa...

[dman2143]

ok. he's on detroit. lets talk the basics

1. what line do you feel he'll play on? obviously, detroit will most likely not put their top 3 scoring threats on the top line. who will his line mates be?

2. do you try to trade him while his value is high?

3. he did only sign a 1 year deal. he could still end up on a "devils" type team next year, where offense doesnt exist. do you try to trade him before the year is over if detroit somehow combusts and sucks?

[Hamsterkill]

1. No idea. I'm not in tune with how Detroit does their lines. My wild guess shot in the dark would be that Zetterberg and Datsyuk get split up between the top two lines -- both playing center and Hossa paired with the top center.

2. Kind of a general statement on trading here... if the deal is right, take it.

3. No point in making moves with star players based on hypotheticals. It's Hossa, and he's in his prime. Don't trade him for less than he's worth.

[gNaRKiLL]

Hossa is a lock for 82 points. He is a good bet for 100+ points. I bet he ends up with a +/- > 30 based on the way he (and Detroit) backchecks.

All of this as a RW...I don't see how he is not at least a top 10 fantasy player next year. Unless you can get Crosby or Ovechkin, I don't trade him.

[secol]

I like a Holmstrom/Dats or Zets/Hossa line with a Franzen/Zets or Dats/Samuelsson or Cleary......agree with Hamsterkill but keep in mind that the big 3 will probably together with Lidstrom + Rafalski on the PP1 though but definitely gauge his value and go from there

[Dubz]

Hossa is a lock for 82 points. He is a good bet for 100+ points. I bet he ends up with a +/- > 30 based on the way he (and Detroit) backchecks.

All of this as a RW...I don't see how he is not at least a top 10 fantasy player next year. Unless you can get Crosby or Ovechkin, I don't trade him.

Well I have Malkin and Vinny....would you rather Hossa?

[dw13]

Well I have Malkin and Vinny....would you rather Hossa?

Nope :D

[PMStick]

ok. he's on detroit. lets talk the basics

1. what line do you feel he'll play on? obviously, detroit will most likely not put their top 3 scoring threats on the top line. who will his line mates be?

2. do you try to trade him while his value is high?

3. he did only sign a 1 year deal. he could still end up on a "devils" type team next year, where offense doesnt exist. do you try to trade him before the year is over if detroit somehow combusts and sucks?

Not gonna happen

[chgorman]

I like a Holmstrom/Dats or Zets/Hossa line with a Franzen/Zets or Dats/Samuelsson or Cleary......agree with Hamsterkill but keep in mind that the big 3 will probably together with Lidstrom + Rafalski on the PP1 though but definitely gauge his value and go from there

I'm not so sure about this. Their PP philosophy (at least the past few yrs) revolves around having Homer or Franzen in front as much as possible. If they put the big three together on the PP, who stands in front screening the goalie, tipping shots and bashing in rebounds? That's certainly not Datsyuk's game. Zetts could do it, but he's much better utilized elsewhere, along the boards, behind the net, side of the net, etc. Doesn't seem like that's Hossa's game either. I'm not sure how they'll split it up, but I expect Homer to be in front on PP1, Franzen in front on PP2, and one of the following three scenarios 1)Homer with Dats/Zetts (since the 3 have worked so well together in the past) on PP1, with Hossa, Franzen and Filppula/Cleary/Hudler on PP2, 2) Dats/Hossa/Homer PP1, Zetts/Franzen/ Clearilppuludler on PP2, or 3) Zetts/Hossa/Franzen, Dats/Homer/Hudlippuleary.

Really tough to say at this point, but guess I'm just saying that I kinda doubt they put the big 3 together often, as a big part of the Wings PP philosophy is having Homer/Mule in front at all times. Maybe they'll change the philosphy a bit to get all three big guns on the ice at the same time on PP1, stick Homer in front on PP2 and let Franzen do a little more freewheeling on PP2 with whomever else, but pretty tough to say at this point.

[secol]

well either way he will play on a lethal PP for sure :)

[chgorman]

well either way he will play on a lethal PP for sure :)

No doubt!

[Sponge Bong Beer Pants]

the question I am left with is how (if at all) is the Wings PP going to be affected by the loss of McLellan? Wasn't he primarily responsible for coaching them on the PP ?

[chgorman]

the question I am left with is how (if at all) is the Wings PP going to be affected by the loss of McLellan? Wasn't he primarily responsible for coaching them on the PP ?

Yes, he was, but I don't see him leaving as having much of a negative effect, assuming they continue to employ the same philosophy and techniques. If the team had a bunch of new guys that would have to learn the system then it could be a problem, as they'd need a guy like him to properly explain it to them and get everybody on the same page, but Hossa is the only newb, and Dats/Zetts/Lids should have no problem educating him in the nuances of the PP, and I don't see him having any problem fitting right in. Everybody else knows and understands their PP philosphy, as they've all been playing under it for the past few yrs and know what's involved.

The only issue I could see is if they go in a different direction and try to employ a new/different strategy/philosphy on the PP that everybody will have to re-learn, but the current model worked so well last year, I don't see any reason for an overhaul, and the personnel is pretty much the same aside from Hossa.

Def sucks losing somebody like McLellan, but I don't see it changing much in terms of the PP or the overall performance.

Put it this way, IMO, any negatives arising from McLellan's departure will be offset by the added skill Hossa brings to the table.

[chicagohockey]

1. what line do you feel he'll play on? obviously, detroit will most likely not put their top 3 scoring threats on the top line. who will his line mates be?

I could see the lines going something like this :
1) Zetterberg/ Datsyuk / Holmstrom
2) Hossa/ Filpula /Samuleson
3) Cleary/ Franzen/ Hudler (?)
4) and whoever else makes the team.

I just can't see them breaking up that top line, the team doesn't seam as productive when they do.

2. do you try to trade him while his value is high?

This always depends on what you can get for him. If you can get a big name player for him do it.

3. he did only sign a 1 year deal. he could still end up on a "devils" type team next year, where offense doesnt exist. do you try to trade him before the year is over if detroit somehow combusts and sucks?

I hope he has a big year and try to trade him for a Malkin/ Spezza or something like that (best case scenario.

[l33t p33t]

I think his value is less than in pittsburgh. I think he has the opportunity to put up solid numbers however I would not expect 100+ (think of selanne and kariya in colorado...well not to that extreme :) )

I think his value is still incredibly high, however I think there will be some in your league that will over value and over pay with his move to detroit.

His stat line I predict

80 GP 38 G 47 A 85 P 27 +/- 45 PIM 310 SOG

[szuturon]

Well seeing as Zetts is a very good two way player as is. Would it be out of question if they take one of the Dmen off the powerplay to put Hossa on PP1? Zetterberg could play the point i think.

[chgorman]

Well seeing as Zetts is a very good two way player as is. Would it be out of question if they take one of the Dmen off the powerplay to put Hossa on PP1? Zetterberg could play the point i think.

But Zetts is so good down low, I'm not sure that would be the best idea. If anything, I'd consider Hossa on the point. But then which D do you take off the PP? Stuart? Def not Lids, Raffy, Kron. They've already got Sammy playing the point on PP2 as well as Stuart occasionally, so I guess they could sub Hossa in for them, but you might as well put him at forward if you're gonna have him on PP2. I dunno, you may be on to something, but it just doesn't make much sense to me to put Hossa or Zetts on the point IMO.

[Hamsterkill]

Well seeing as Zetts is a very good two way player as is. Would it be out of question if they take one of the Dmen off the powerplay to put Hossa on PP1? Zetterberg could play the point i think.

But Zetts is so good down low, I'm not sure that would be the best idea. If anything, I'd consider Hossa on the point. But then which D do you take off the PP? Stuart? Def not Lids, Raffy, Kron. They've already got Sammy playing the point on PP2 as well as Stuart occasionally, so I guess they could sub Hossa in for them, but you might as well put him at forward if you're gonna have him on PP2. I dunno, you may be on to something, but it just doesn't make much sense to me to put Hossa or Zetts on the point IMO.

Yeah, the DET Dmen are just so good at playing the point already in Lids and Rafalski there really isn't much point in subbing Hossa in for one of them... I think it's more likely they would try and have all 3 at forward and bump Holmer down than bump one of the point men down.

[egostatistical]

Here are the likely PP units:

PP1: Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom - Lidstrom - Rafalski
PP2: Hudler - Franzen - Hossa - Samuelsson - Kronwall


This is a little bit scary.

[two24four]

I still think Hossa will be on PP1.

[egostatistical]

I still think Hossa will be on PP1.

There's no room for him on PP1.

[chgorman]

I still think Hossa will be on PP1.

There's no room for him on PP1.

Agreed. Like I've mentioned numerous times before, they won't take Homer away from the front of the net on PP1, and they won't take Franzen away from the front of the net on PP2, meaning they could have Dats/Zetts or Dats/Hossa or Zetts/Hossa on PP1 with Homer, but not all three of Dats/Zetts/Hossa. I'm guessing they rotate at the start of the season to see what gets Hossa going and what works best. As silly as it may seem, I could see Zetts on PP2 with Franzen and Filp or Cleary, since that's probably who he'll end up playing wiht ES as well.