Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff ponders several possible factors weighing into coach Jeff Blashill’s evaluation of the Red Wings’ probable lines, via an article written for Detroit Hockey Now Plus subscribers. Among Duff’s ponderings:
Perhaps Blashill will experiment with familiarity and play the so-called Guelph line of Suter-Fabbri-Bertuzzi. All three were teammates and occasional linemates with the OHL’s Guelph Storm.
Going this way would leave Larkin between the two Czechs, Vrana and Zadina. That could offer the potential to be an intriguing and potentially potent trio.
If Erne scores like he did last season (11 goals in 45 games) he’s a top-nine forward. Should he score like he did in 2019-20 (two goals in 56 games), he could find himself back on the fourth line.
Likewise, if Namestnikov rediscovers the touch that made him a 22-goal scorer in 2017-18, or even a 17-goal scorer in 2019-20, he’d be jumping up into a top-nine role.
Continued (paywall)
I have had my fingers crossed the entire off season that Blashill will play Zadina and Vrana with Larkin. Zadina and Vrana had very good chemistry in their short time together last season, and Bertuzzi and Fabbri have shown very good chemistry together as well. If Suter can click with Bertuzzi and Fabbri we could have two legitimate scoring lines for the first time in a long time.
I wouldn’t mind seeing some “Czechmates” with Larkin or a Guelph Storm line at all. Whatever works chemistry-wise is fine by me. I hope Blashill remains flexible there.