Ok, here’s possibly the final edition of my ATD Detroit Red Wings. I’m really happy with the way this team turned out. I think it has a great mix of everything, and I managed to get a few players I’ve always wanted while also bringing back some old favourites.
Detroit Red Wings
Coach: Tommy Ivan
spares: Paul Henderson, Marty Walsh
Sweeney Schriner - Ted Kennedy - Jarome Iginla
Paul Thompson - Marty Barry - Frank Foyston
Jack Walker - Phil Watson - Ron Ellis
Craig Simpson - Edgar Laprade - Ken Wharram
Red Kelly - Fern Flaman
Bob Goldham - Edward Ivanov
Barry Beck - Tommy Anderson
Tomas Jonsson
Dominik Hasek
Percy LeSueur
I wasn’t planning on it, but one of the things I like most about this forward group is the options Ivan will have for switching up the lines. Foyston, Walker, and Watson all played all 3 forward positions, Henderson could play on both wings, and even Barry played occasionally at LW. Tom Anderson also played most of his career at LW and could be moved up to forward if necessary. It leaves some interesting possibilities, Walker-Foyston won 3 Cups playing together and they can be re-united on a line. Henderson – Watson – Ellis is similar to the great ’72 Summit Series line with Phil Watson as a poor man’s Clarke, he played a very similar game from what I can tell. Here’s one other possible line-up:
Schriner – Kennedy – Iginla
Thompson – Barry – Wharram
Walker – Laprade - Foyston
Henderson – Watson - Ellis
Even Kelly could be moved up to C just for kicks, although it would deplete my D quite badly:
Schriner – Kennedy - Iginla
Thompson – Kelly – Watson
Walker – Barry - Foyston
Henderson – Laprade – Ellis
I like the defense I ended up with as well. I wanted to start my team with Kelly, so it was a good start landing him with my 1st pick. Flaman is an ideal partner for him, imo. He was the best defensive defenseman in the O6 and will allow Kelly to play his game without worry, and jump into the rush. Flaman also brings the tough, nasty game to offset Kelly’s clean play. Both Kelly and Flaman were also among the very best fighters in the Original Six.
Goldham and Ivanov seem to be similar players, both simple defense-first defensemen that excel at the tough thankless jobs like blocking shots, and clearing the crease. Ivanov also brings the puck moving skills that Goldham lacks, so hopefully my team won’t suffer in transition when that D pairing is on the ice.
Anderson is a bit of a wild card, I believe he only played a single full season on D, although he was a 1st team all-star and Hart trophy winner that year, so I doubt he was poor defensively. Beck is in a perfect spot for him to play, imo. He won’t have any pressure on him, and he can play tough defense to wear opposing forwards down and play the point on the 2nd pp unit with his great shot. Jonsson makes an adequate fill-in for Anderson if Tommy needs to be moved to forward for a stretch of games, or for Beck if he runs into injuries.
Hasek needs no introduction he’s one of the all-time greats, and besides Bowman I think Ivan was the best coach possible for my team.