AA to 3rd Line Center if Hank doesn't play

[lhsgolf19]

Interesting

Click to read more...

 

[Pavels Dog]

Exactly as expected. Frankly I think AA should be 3rd line C regardless.

 

[jkutswings]

Barf. Those will be some sort shifts, with a center who doesn't play defense, trying to back check after cherrypicking in the offensive zone.

The silver lining: top 5 pick, here we come.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

I guess AA at 3C is worth a shot, however improbable, despite his defensive shortcomings, subpar faceoffs, unengaged play, poor positioning, mediocre playmaking...Helm can take draws in the D zone.

Bert/Z/Raz--Larks--Mantha
Bert/Z/Raz--Nielsen--Nike
Bert/Raz/Helm--AA--Vanek
Raz/Helm--Glen-Abby
Frk & Witk.

Z=Zadina.

 

[ricky0034]

eww,not even touching on defense playing AA at center goes against his strengths as a player so much

not sure why i'm even surprised though wish this team had a real coach,Blashill's probably gonna blame AA when it doesn't work out and use it as an excuse to bench him or play him 10 minutes/night too

 

[Claypool]

Bertuzzi-Larkin--Mantha
Abdelkader-Nielsen-Nyquist
Rasmussen-Athanasiou-Vanek
Helm-Glendening-Frk
Witkowski

My guess is Zadina starts the season in Grand Rapids until a roster spot opens up.

 

[JoesuffP]

You’d think posters would have accepted the team is bad and rebuilding by now. Imagine being a fan of a team that wasn’t one of the most successful sports franchises in the last twenty years. They find ways to talk about their team without whining in every single post. We get it. The team is bad

 

[ricky0034]

You’d think posters would have accepted the team is bad and rebuilding by now. Imagine being a fan of a team that wasn’t one of the most successful sports franchises in the last twenty years. They find ways to talk about their team without whining in every single post. We get it. The team is bad

god forbid anybody complain about a bad decision that literally just happened

lets go talk about how the Wings won the Cup a decade ago instead

 

[Ezekial]

Bert-Larkin-Mantha
Zadina-Nielsen-Nyquist
Vanek-AA-Rasmussen
Abby-Glenny-Helm

I like it.

 

[JoesuffP]

god forbid anybody complain about a bad decision that literally just happened

lets go talk about how the Wings won the Cup a decade ago instead

Bad decision because you say so? Because Blashill is bad and everything he does is wrong? These posts go to the same place every time. People have an emotional feeling towards the team and can’t think logically. Watch some other teams for a while it’s not that bad

 

[kliq]

Bad decision because you say so? Because Blashill is bad and everything he does is wrong? These posts go to the same place every time. People have an emotional feeling towards the team and can’t think logically. Watch some other teams for a while it’s not that bad

Very good point. There is nothing wrong with criticizing the Wings, but some people just can't assess things with logic and they unfortunately base their opinions on emotion.

I can't say I have a problem with this. If we were contenders and putting AA at 3C hurt our chances at a playoff spot or cup, I would completely see the logic of being against the move.

The way I look at it, if AA sucks at 3C, who cares as we want to finish bottom 5 anyways. If AA excels at 3C, then we have a trio of Larkin-Veleno-AA as our 1-2-3 C's for the next 5 years OR we have a valuable trade chip as C's have more worth then wingers. It's win-win.

 

[ricky0034]

Bad decision because you say so? Because Blashill is bad and everything he does is wrong? These posts go to the same place every time. People have an emotional feeling towards the team and can’t think logically. Watch some other teams for a while it’s not that bad

bad decision because it literally goes against everything AA is as a player

his weaknesses are he's bad defensively,he doesn't put in enough effort,he sucks at faceoffs,his hockey iq sucks and his strengths are better suited to playing on the Wing as well

hey here's a great idea let's try and make him a center for some reason even though it goes against both his weaknesses and his strengths

either Blashill's a total idiot,he's trying to set AA up to fail so he has an excuse to bench him/barely play him,or both,there's really no middle ground here

 

[Flowah]

bad decision because it literally goes against everything AA is as a player

his weaknesses are he's bad defensively,he doesn't put in enough effort,he sucks at faceoffs,his hockey iq sucks and his strengths are better suited to playing on the Wing as well

hey here's a great idea let's try and make him a center for some reason even though it goes against both his weaknesses and his strengths

either Blashill's a total idiot,he's trying to set AA up to fail so he has an excuse to bench him/barely play him,or both,there's really no middle ground here

I like AA, well sorta, and I like this decision. He's had a couple years. I think it's sink or swim time.

He will either rise to the challenge or he'll fail and we'll know we can let him go for whatever to a team that would like a speedster who can get them a game changing goal in 10 minutes of IT a game.

Zetterberg gone is a GIANT hole at the center position AND minutes. AA has a huge opportunity here like he's never had before. That's been his attitude this whole time. "Give me a chance." He's going to get a chance is Z is gone. It's all on him now. More minutes, center position, big responsibilities.

Like I said, sink or swim.

I would imagine this is similar to what the Wings' brass is thinking. At least I hope it is. The fact they signed him to another contract to me says they haven't given up yet but obviously they're not in love with him either, that much has always been clear.

 

[JoesuffP]

bad decision because it literally goes against everything AA is as a player

his weaknesses are he's bad defensively,he doesn't put in enough effort,he sucks at faceoffs,his hockey iq sucks and his strengths are better suited to playing on the Wing as well

hey here's a great idea let's try and make him a center for some reason even though it goes against both his weaknesses and his strengths

either Blashill's a total idiot,he's trying to set AA up to fail so he has an excuse to bench him/barely play him,or both,there's really no middle ground here

If you say so. Not even agreeing with your assessment of him but young players do develop skills in the NHL

 

[jkutswings]

You’d think posters would have accepted the team is bad and rebuilding by now. Imagine being a fan of a team that wasn’t one of the most successful sports franchises in the last twenty years. They find ways to talk about their team without whining in every single post. We get it. The team is bad

Being bad is fine. Making stupid decisions isn't. The next time AA acts like a center will be his first.

 

[WingsMJN2965]

You gotta look at the positives...

... Next year it'll probably be Larkin/Hughes/Nielsen down the middle.

 

[JoesuffP]

Being bad is fine. Making stupid decisions isn't. The next time AA acts like a center will be his first.

You do know AA has spent time at center before right

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

You gotta look at the positives...

... Next year it'll probably be Larkin/Hughes/Nielsen down the middle.

Win that and we might actually be Hughes/Larkin/Veleno down the middle. Tons of fun playing that team in transition.

 

[turkeyslurpees]

I'd like this a lot. At least to begin the season to see how it works.

 

[Wingsfan 4 life]

I guess its worth a try, but I really can't see it lasting long.

 

[Grimm]

Am I the only one upset that they are wasting away Larkin's wheels and youth for a bottom feeder garbage roster under Jeff Tankhill Trashill Blashill?

 

[Flowah]

Am I the only one upset that they are wasting away Larkin's wheels and youth for a bottom feeder garbage roster under Jeff Tankhill Trashill Blashill?

?????????

Implying if we got rid of Blashill, this roster might be a contender?????????

If you have problems with the "garbage roster" your problem isn't with Jeff Blashill.

 

[datsyukfan]

Barf. Those will be some sort shifts, with a center who doesn't play defense, trying to back check after cherrypicking in the offensive zone.

The silver lining: top 5 pick, here we come.

Does it really matter? The nhl doesn’t play defensive systems where the centerman has to be low in the d zone to support the d if one of the wingers is F1( first forward back) he’s gonna act like the center and take those responsibilities

 

[datsyukfan]

bad decision because it literally goes against everything AA is as a player

his weaknesses are he's bad defensively,he doesn't put in enough effort,he sucks at faceoffs,his hockey iq sucks and his strengths are better suited to playing on the Wing as well

hey here's a great idea let's try and make him a center for some reason even though it goes against both his weaknesses and his strengths

either Blashill's a total idiot,he's trying to set AA up to fail so he has an excuse to bench him/barely play him,or both,there's really no middle ground here

Maybe he’s trying to give him more responsibility and make him into a better more complete player. I don’t necessarily think center is bad for him I actually think he can be dynamic with his speed and skill up the middle as the middle of th ice is a way more dangerous area then the walls

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Helm's on a pretty sweet contract for a 4th line winger.

(I'll get over his contract eventually but apparently not yet. )