Babcock: Richards played well; Iginla still not 1st line material

[shadetree]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Frankly, Iginla belongs on the top line right now because the top line is only doing its job when he is there. If Crosby and Nash were producing with someone else, then its perfectly fine to leave Iginla in the energy role.

So Iginla is team Canada's Jamie Lundmark

I think the most frustrating thing is not the fact that Iggy is yo-yoing between different lines. It's that every time the "4th line" of Morrow-Toews-Iginla has a great shift, they have to wait 10 minutes to get another shift.

[Jetsfan]

Originally Posted by getbak

in 3 games, crosby and nash have been on the ice for 4 goals for and 3 goals against.

Iginla was on the ice for all of the goals for, and none of the goals against.

amen!!!

[Timbo]

Maybe Babcock using a cootie catcher to choose his lines?

[kirant]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Patrice Bergeron is so useless. Morrow and Toews work hard but Bergeron brings nothing really to the team.

Heatley-Crosby-Iginla
Nash-Getzlaf-Perry
Staal-Thornton-Marleau
Morrow-Toews-Richards
Bergeron

Which means that we'll see:
Bergeron-Thornton-Marleau
Staal-Getzlaf-Perry
Nash-Crosby-Richards
Morrow-Toews-Iginla
Heatley

[anyonebutedmonton]

Dreggers twitter has them:

Nash - Getz - Perry

Staal - Crosby - Iggy

Today in practice....

http://twitter.com/DarrenDreger

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by anyonebutedmonton

Dreggers twitter has them:

Nash - Getz - Perry

Staal - Crosby - Iggy

Today in practice....

http://twitter.com/DarrenDreger

I like the sound of this line.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by anyonebutedmonton

Dreggers twitter has them:

Nash - Getz - Perry

Staal - Crosby - Iggy

Today in practice....

http://twitter.com/DarrenDreger

Please tell me that Getzlaf and Perry aren't on the first line...and that Dreger was posting in whatever order he wanted...

[Jesse834]

Originally Posted by anyonebutedmonton

Dreggers twitter has them:

Nash - Getz - Perry

Staal - Crosby - Iggy

Today in practice....

http://twitter.com/DarrenDreger

Heater would look much better on that second line.

[burning_acid1]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Don't they need a shooter in the first period?

They should always need a shooter.

[Machiavelli]

Crosby needs to be on the first line.

[FanIn80]

Wait a minute, this makes sense. Obviously, when you think about it, since Nash played worse than Crosby and Iggy, it makes sense to keep him on the first line and move both Crosby and Iggy down to the second line.

If I was Babcock, that's exactly the way I would split them up. If I was Babcock, I mean. Like, literally if I was Babcock. As in, only Babcock would come up with an idea like this...

[Machiavelli]

Actually, I think Staal-Crosby-Iginla is the new number one line.

Not sure about Staal there but I guess it could be worse (Bergeron).

[FanIn80]

Yeah, that's kinda what I'm thinking too.

(Although it's much more fun to just keep hatin on Babcock. Plus, you get the added benefit of being able to legitimately bypass the forum's swear filter.)

[Mad Mel]

I wouldn't get too worried about what is the #1 or #2 line, whichever is playing best will get the ice time. If anything, whatever line has Crosby on it will be the default #1 line.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Actually, I think Staal-Crosby-Iginla is the new number one line.

Not sure about Staal there but I guess it could be worse (Bergeron).

I thought Staal was the best part of the Staal–Getzlaf–Perry line. This is an intriguing combination, but it still leaves the white-elephant quite squarely in the room:

WHY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NO LINES OUTSIDE OF THE SJ GROUP GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP ANY CHEMISTRY??!!

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I thought Staal was the best part of the Staal–Getzlaf–Perry line. This is an intriguing combination, but it still leaves the white-elephant quite squarely in the room:

WHY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NO LINES OUTSIDE OF THE SJ GROUP GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP ANY CHEMISTRY??!!

No kidding. It's almost like someone sat the staff down before the Olympics and said, "OK. So what's the best possible way we can absolutely guarantee that nobody outside that SJ line learns how to play with each other?"

Naturally, I'm choosing to blame Lowe for that preparation technique.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by Mad Mel

I wouldn't get too worried about what is the #1 or #2 line, whichever is playing best will get the ice time. If anything, whatever line has Crosby on it will be the default #1 line.

That certainly hasn't been the case so far in this tournament.

[Reign of Fire]

If Iginla is not on the top line the next game, Babcock must be watching a different game. It seems the only time Nash and Crosby line is dangerous when Iginla is on the line. I am all for management stepping in a taking the coaching reins away from Babcock and giving it to someone else. I mean they don't have to announce it, just do it internally cause this guys lost all his marbles. He thinks gold will be won by his coaching and not the players on the ice

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by llama64

Seems to me Iginla is being used as the go to piece to get lines going. He's not a fixture of any line likely due to his age - we all know goal scoring is predominantly a young man's domain and Iggy is in his twilight. But he's a big emotion player - put him on with Crosby and Nash during a major push (last 2 min of the game against USA) and he'll play lights out like no other person on that team.

Perry and Pronger are the two players on Team Canada that I wish weren't there. Neither is effective and Pronger is actively targeted as a weakness.

You make it sound like Iginla is retiring this year. In the 5 olympic games he is playing and the 12-14 minutes of ice time he can go pedal to the metal (as can all the forwards).


This having 12 or so 25-year olds on the team is a bigger problem than first envisioned. It is like Canada decided to prepare for 2014. Getzlaff, Perry, Bergeron, Seabrook definitely not ready for prime time and Weber, Richards, Toews and Staal looking to find their way.

Crosby and Doughty are the young guns that belong.

In 2002 the youngest two guys on the team were Gagne and Ignlia. They were 23 and 24 years old.

Keith is 27 and hitting his peak and it shows.

Hope that the young guys are able to grow up in the next 2-3 days and are able to follow Iginla and Morrow (and Crosby) who are playing like leaders and winners.


Doan and Smyth and Brad Richards would do what it would take and play whatever role they were asked (Like Iginla is doing)

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by anyonebutedmonton

Dreggers twitter has them:

Nash - Getz - Perry

Staal - Crosby - Iggy

Today in practice....

http://twitter.com/DarrenDreger

Ugh. I don't like it. I know other people seem to like the look of this cause Crosby and Iginla playing together have looked so good but it's been a total line of Crosby/Iginla/Nash that have been playing out of this world when together. Don't mess with a good thing - just leave that as your first line and be done with it.

Also, bench Perry.