As of now, what is your opening day lineup?

If the Minny game was the last of the pre-season what would your opening day lineup be? Right now mine would be something like...

Isbister-Smyth-Hemsky
Dvorak-Reasoner-York
Moreau-Chimera-Pisani
Torres-Horcoff-Laraque

Salmalinen and Sarno are in the press box.

Brewer-Semenov
Staios-Cross
Bergeron-Smith

Fergie is the odd man out.

Salo
Conklin

IMO until Comrie is back or traded Smyth is a center. Reasoner wins the #2 center job over Horcoff. Chimera moves back to center takes over Reasoner's job on the 3rd line. Salmo and Sarno crack the roster for opening night. I like having Bergeron playing with Smith simply because Smith is a solid veteren stay at home Dman who would watch out for Bergeron. What do you guys think?

IMO, it doesn't do Tony any good not to get extended amounts of playing time... I think it would do wonders for him to get top line ice time in Toronto playing alongside Stoll. The first time Tony's played a first line role is with Gratton and Ward in the playoffs. We don't nearly have enough room up here to give him the icetime he needs.

I think that until Comrie signs or we get a center back or York's hand heals fully, Horc will take seond line center. Nothing against Reasoner, I think he prolly has more offensive upside. But he is also better in the faceoff circle and defensively so needs to take the 3rd line job since it is harder.

Isbister - Smyth - Hemsky
York - Horcoff - Dvorak
Moreau - Reasoner - Rita
Torres - Sarno - Laraque

Pisani and Chimera are extra (remember this is opening day lineup - this will change game2 - MacT will want to show off his rookies in the first game, he generally does)

Brewer - Semenov
Smith - Staois
Cross - Bergeron

Fergie is 7th

Salo
Conklin

(C-LW-RW)

York-Smyth-Hemsky
Horcoff-Isbister-Dvorak
Reasoner-Moreau-Pisani
Stoll-Chimera-BG

Torres, Sarno

Brewer-Smith
Semenov-Staios
Cross-Bergeron

Salo
Conklin.

just my opinion but I think the Smyth-at-centre experiment carries over intot he season. These lines are obviously assuming the players we have now are here in 12 days and there is no change in the Comrie situation. (LW-C-RW)

Isibister - Smyth - Hemsky
Chimera - York - Dvorak
Moreau - Reasoner - Pisani
Torres - Horcoff - Laraque

X - Rita & Sarno/Stoll (haven't decided yet between the two).

Brewer-Smith
Staios-Semenov
Cross-Bergeron

X - Ferguson

Salo
Conklin

(C-LW-RW)

York-Smyth-Hemsky
Horcoff-Isbister-Dvorak
Reasoner-Moreau-Pisani
Stoll-Chimera-BG

Torres, Sarno

Brewer-Smith
Semenov-Staios
Cross-Bergeron

Salo
Conklin.

i'm going with LT here but just going to replace Sarno with Rita and have Ferguson has the 7th Dman

i'm going with LT here but just going to replace Sarno with Rita and have Ferguson has the 7th Dman

Smyth York Hemsky
Isbister Comrie (ha) Dvorak
Moreau Reasoner Pisani
Chimera Horcoff Laraque
Torres and Rita in the pressbox, if Comrie is moved for something other than a center then Stoll has a chance to stick ahead of Rita. Stoll is better served than Rita in Toronto at this point.

I agree with Bergeron as the no.6 d-man. Luoma played himself off last night.

barring a change with the Comrie situation I have two dif. lines:
Smyth @ center:
Isbister-Smyth-Hemsky
Horcoff-York-Dvorak
Moreau-Reasoner-Rita
Torres-Sarno-Laraque

MacT has said that Horcoff will be atleast the third line center - and I think that Moreau-Reasoner-Rita would be pefect. So that leaves Horcoff to play LW (which he can and does well) with York and Dvo. I REALLY like Sarno playing with Torres and Laraque. He sould help out the powerplay and would also add some offense to the fourth line (and he isn't as bad defensively anymore atleast).

Smyth@ LW:
Smyth-York-Hemsky
Isbister-Horcoff-Dvorak
Moreau-Reasoner-Rita
Torres-Sarno-Laraque

The first line is pretty obvious. The second line I think is too as like I said MacT said Horcoff will be alteast third line center, and I dont' see Reasoner playing second line. The bottom two lines are the same as the first line set.

My defense is pretty simple:
Brewer-Semenov
Staios-Smith
Bergeron-Cross

If preseason ended with yesterday's game:

Isbister Smyth Hemsky
York Horcoff Dvorak
Moreau Reasoner Pisani
Torres Stoll Laraque

Extras: Chimera, Salmelainen

Brewer Smith
Semenov Staios
Ferguson Bergeron

Extra: Cross (ya heard he!)

Nothing against Chimmer, he'd likely get back in the lineup a game or two after the opener, like was said...they like giving the rooks the season opener as a "you made it" moment.

Right now:

FORWARDS:
Isbister-Smyth-Hemsky
York-Horcoff-Dvorak
Moreau-Reasoner-Chimera
Torres-Stoll-Laraque

Pisani, Rita, Sarno, Salmo are press-box warmers.

DEFENSE:
Brewer-Smith
Staios-Semenov
Cross-Bergeron
Ferguson

Luoma and Allen are the call-ups from Toronto if anyone gets injured.

Salo will start in net.

And... if I could decide the starting lineups for the coaching staff as well, I would say that Simpson gets to stand behind the bench, at Moores expense if necessary.

Isbister Smyth Hemsky
York Horcoff Dvorak
Moreau Reasoner Pisani
Chimera Sarno Laraque

Extras: Rita, Torres

Brewer Smith
Semenov Staios
Ferguson Cross

Bergeron

Just an observation, how anyone can have Torres in the lineup ahead of Chimera is beyond me. Chimera wins that battle in every single element.

Just an observation, how anyone can have Torres in the lineup ahead of Chimera is beyond me. Chimera wins that battle in every single element.the only battle Chimera has not one was that he was not traded here for Janne Niinnima

the only battle Chimera has not one was that he was not traded here for Janne Niinnima

Exactly.

I can't believe most of you guys don't have Wright sitting in the pressbox.

Here are my lines:
Smyth York Hemsky
Isbister Horcoff Dvorak
Moreau Reasoner Pisani
Chimera Stoll Laraque
alt. Torres, Wright

D
Brewer Semenov
Smith Cross
Staios Bergeron
alt. Ferguson

BTW I am not saying that Cross is better then Staios but this evens out the pairings.

I can't believe most of you guys don't have Wright sitting in the pressbox. I haven't been able to see any pre-season games so I have no clue what Jamie Wright is all about.

I've been waiting for a while now to see what Rita and Torres can do in the big leagues and it's tough to sit them out now, especially Rita.

Smyth - York - Hemsky
Isbister - Horcoff - Dvorak
Moreau - Reasoner - Rita
Torres - Stoll - Laraque

Chimera/Pisani

Really didnt want to leave out Wright.


Brewer - Semenov
Smith - Staios
Cross - Bergeron

Fergeson


Salo
Conklin


But who knows what will happen once Comrie is traded???? My guess is that they will have 1 more centre and 1 more defence.

Hemsky - Smyth - Isbister
York - Horcoff - Dvorak
Moreau - Reasoner - Rita
Laraque - Sarno - Chimera

Pisani, Torres

Smith - Brewer
Staios - Semenov
Cross - Bergeron

Ferguson

Salo
Conklin

I think during camp Reasoner and Rita looked good on the same line so Mac T will give them a chance. Though this would mean the end to the RPM line, if Rita struggles after the first 5 games, Pisani goes back in. As much as I would like to see Stoll in the opening line up, he's young and some quality time spent on the first line of the Roadrunners will be better then limited time on the fourth line. Torres will come in for Laraque or Rita. By the end of October if Rita looks solid, Moreau will be packaged and moved (sorta like Rosey). Lowe is probally waiting to see how the team pans out without MC in the lineup then trade him in a package with Moreau.

GXL

Gonz0's lines:

Isbister-Smyth-Hemsky - The chemistry is undeniable.
Chimera-York-Dvorak - All about the speed.
Moreau-Reasoner-Rita - Moreau helps break in another rookie.
Torres-Horcoff-Laraque - Solid 4th line.

Brewer-Smith - Smith needs to step it up this year.
Staios-Semenov - should be a decent pairing.
Cross-Bergeron - simple case of stay at home with an offensive guy.

Salo
Conklin

P.B.-Pisani, Fergusson

TO.-Stoll, Wright, Sarno, Luoma - Unfortunately Stoll gets the bump, but is first in line to get the call up, adn will get tonnes of minutes in TO. Luoma will hopefully respond and get a lot of minutes to this way, helping him adjust to the NA game. Wright, no comment. Sarno, gets the 2nd line job behind Stoll.

Those lines proposed by Dr. GonzO are the ones i would go with on opening night; considering Comrie still isn't signed or traded and that KLO doesn't pull off any other moves between now and then!!!

I'll bet dollars to donuts that Comrie signs but is put on the second line.
I'll also bet that the injuries to York, Laraque and Brewer are worse than reported so they are not in the lineup for game 1.

Isbister-Smyth-Hemsky (go with it as long as it works)
Chimera-Comrie-Dvorak (we'll see how great Chimera can be this year)
Salmelainen-Horcoff-Pisani (fast, fast, fast)
Moreau-Reasoner-Torres (the opposition's first line will hate to play this line)

Smith-Staios (2 best healthy D-men we have)
Cross-Ferguson (steady)
Bergeron-Semenov (David and Golith)

Salo (needs an All-Star year)
Conklin (showing he's better than Valiquette already)

Press Box:
Wright (you always keep a guy like this around - he's a great utility player)
Rita (almost ready, but not yet)

Injured:
York
Laraque
Brewer

when these 3 return expect Salmelainen, Rita and Wright to be sent down with Torres and Bergeron assigned to the press box.

Gonz0's lines:

Isbister-Smyth-Hemsky - The chemistry is undeniable.
Chimera-York-Dvorak - All about the speed.
Moreau-Reasoner-Rita - Moreau helps break in another rookie.
Torres-Horcoff-Laraque - Solid 4th line.

Brewer-Smith - Smith needs to step it up this year.
Staios-Semenov - should be a decent pairing.
Cross-Bergeron - simple case of stay at home with an offensive guy.

Salo
Conklin

P.B.-Pisani, Fergusson

TO.-Stoll, Wright, Sarno, Luoma - Unfortunately Stoll gets the bump, but is first in line to get the call up, adn will get tonnes of minutes in TO. Luoma will hopefully respond and get a lot of minutes to this way, helping him adjust to the NA game. Wright, no comment. Sarno, gets the 2nd line job behind Stoll.

Can't argue with that. Stoll goes to TO and will probably be called up sometime in the year...

Here's my stab at it:

Isbister - Smyth - Hemsky
York - Horcoff - Dvorak
Moreau - Reasoner - Pisani
Torres - Chimera - Laraque

Rita
Stoll

Brewer - Semenov
Smith - Staios
Bergeron - Cross

Luoma
Ferguson

Salo
Conklin

Isbister-Smyth-Hemsky
Chimera-York-Dvorak
Moreau-Reasoner-Rita
Torres-Horcoff-Laraque
Pisani-Salameinen

Brewer-Semenov
Staios-Smith
Bergeron- Cross
Ferguson

Salo
Conklin