Detroit to ice top line of Datsyuk, Zetterberg and…Damien Brunner
Jan 11, 2013, 10:50 AM EDT
Getty Images If fortune favors the bold, then Mike Babcock could be in for a big year.
On Thursday, the Detroit head coach announced he’d be starting the season with his two best players, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, playing together on the No. 1 line with Damien Brunner — an undrafted free agent signed out of the Swiss league.
It’s an interesting decision to say the least.
Datsyuk enjoyed great success last year with Johan Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi, while Zetterberg played strongly with Valtteri Filppula (who had a career year) and Jiri Hudler, now in Calgary.
But Datsyuk and Zetterberg have played together in the past, something Babcock alluded to when announcing the line.
“They’ve been playing [in Europe] and they’re in shape,” Babcock told MLive.com. “They play good together. Last year they started out slow, never got going.”
As for Brunner — well, talk about your golden opportunities.
The 26-year-old played on a line with Zetterberg during the lockout with EV Zug and led the Swiss league in scoring (25G-32A).
The soon-to-be Wings captain raved about Brunner’s skill and ability.
“He’s obviously a goal-scorer, but he’s got more qualities than that,” Zetterberg said. “He’s a good skater, sees the ice very well and he wants to win. That’s a good quality to have.”
As for Detroit’s other lines, it’s expected the second unit will consist of Filppula, Franzen and Mikael Samuelsson.
Darren Helm will center the third line between Bertuzzi and Dan Cleary, while the fourth line will be made up of Justin Abdelkader, Drew Miller and Jordin Tootoo.
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