One of these days, and I think it'll be this year, people will realize that Holmstrom needs to NOT be on the top line. He's a horrible fit with Pavel/Hank. He's flat footed, slow, has no playmaking ability, and no shot if he isn't planted with his butt end right in front of the crease for deflections. He's above average at garbage goals as well, but he doesn't work as a top line player. Watch him any time they are forced to pass it to him while he's waiting at the blue line. Instant turnover because he isn't capable of handling the puck... at all...
The problem is that he DOES work in the Wings system as a top unit power play member, along with Pavel and Hank. Because in those sets he has time to get in position and actually make it to the front, and the Wings have enough time to get it to him with multiple shots. And it's hard to justify having a guy on the top PP unit, but a #3 or #4 line.
But where else would you put him? He's too slow to be on the checking line, his +/- would plummet along with his linemates. He isn't skilled enough to take the heat off 2nd or 3rd line centers, so he wouldn't really work there. The only players that can work, despite having him on their line, is the tandem of Datsyuk/Zetterberg. He ends there almost by default, but not because he belongs or it's actually a good fit... It's just the only place he can actually help at all. There's a reason why Bowman thought he'd only last a few years in the league, he simply doesn't FIT anywhere.
That said, in my mind, you have to put him on a 2nd or 3rd line this year. Hossa on the top line is simply too perfect a fit to pass up. Holmstrom can function reasonably well on a line with, say, Samuelsson and Cleary/Hudler. Guys that aren't too flashy but can still hold on to the puck reasonably well and have some decent shots, and can also get back on the defensive end to compensate. It'd be a somewhat ugly line, but would work well enough. Hossa is the winger that Datsyuk and Zetterberg have always needed, a true finisher. The Wings haven't had that in years. It's what Bertuzzi would have been if he was still playing like his Vancouver days; but he wasn't. The Wings are loaded with snipers, dekers, and players capable of getting garbage goals. But they never had a finisher. Franzen is the closest they have. Someone who can receive a pass in tight, and has good enough hands to stuff it in the net instead of just throwing it toward the net in hopes of it ricochets in. It's the only reason they haven't hit 100 points in a season yet, because no matter how great of a play they make, how great of a pass, whoever receives it still muffs it as often as they get a decent chance out of it.
Hossa/Zetterberg/Datsyuk
Franzen/Filppula/Hudler
Samuelsson/Cleary/Holmstrom
McCarty/Maltby/Draper/Downey/Abdelk
ader/Helm/Kopecky/whomever you want on your checking line on a day to day basis.
On a side note... Maltby is essentially useless now. He always had a decent wrist shot, but he can't get in position to use it anymore, and his defensive game has slipped noticeably. Draper is in the same boat, but his speed still leaves him with some utility, but his overskating and shot fumbling are frustrating to watch (I don't think I've seen a single player miss more open nets from 3 feet away). So is his horrible penchant for taking bad penalties in crunch time. His game doesn't force teams into mistakes the way it used to as much anymore... and when it does, he can't take advantage. As a lifelong Wings fan I love these guys, but they are sliding down the slope rather quickly.
Oh, and Drake needs to go ahead and retire :)
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