In the process of answering some reader emails, Ansar Khan lists his projections for the lines once everyone’s healthy:
1. Pavel Datsyuk-Henrik Zetterberg-Tomas Holmstrom
2. Todd Bertuzzi-Robert Lang-Mikael Samuelsson
3. Johan Franzen-Kris Draper-Kirk Maltby
4. Dan Cleary-Valtteri Filppula-Kyle Calder
(with Jiri Hudler and Josh Langfeld as reserves)
Can’t say I disagree with them, since they’re pretty similar to what I recently projected myself. I still think, though, that the right wing spot on the second line will be open to debate, depending on whether or not it’s Mikael Samuelsson, Kyle Calder, or Johan Franzen who is scoring the most at any given time. The reverse goes for the right wing on the fourth line: the slumping player will get slotted there. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if Dan Cleary and Johan Franzen swap spots every once in a while with those lines.
So, basically, I agree with Khan, except that I don’t think they’ll be static.