Creative Line Trios For The Playoffs

We all know the standard line trios that have been speculated about endlessly. What about new creative line trios that no one is talking about?
To ground them in reality, here are a couple of qualifications:

1. Spezza and Heater will not be split up. There is no way Murray could seperate a top playmaker from a pure sniper.
2. Smolinski will not be benched. Too much experience to leave out of the lineup.

I'll give it a shot:

Heater/Spezza/Alfie
Eaves/Fisher/Havlat
Schaefer/Vermette/Neil
Arnie/Kelly/Smoke

The lines aren't too radical or too creative. But hey, I never did well in art class.

PS: All this changes if Arnie can gel with Havlat.

Personally I think the main duos should be Spezza-Heater, Fisher-Havlat. Fisher can elevate his game to easily become a 2nd line center in the playoffs. In the past these two have had some good chemistry. I'd put Vermette on that left wing if possible...that line would be DEADLY with their speed. No 2nd pairing defense would ever be able to keep up.

Heatley - Spezza - Alfredsson
Schaefer - Fisher - Havlat
Eaves - Arnason - Smolinski
Vermette - Kelly - Neil

heater-spezza-alfie
eaves-arny-havlat
schaf-fisher-neil
vermette-kelly-smoke

arny doesnt deserve to be on the 4th line...as soon as he gets havlat he'll start doing something

When Havlat comes back:

Heatley - Spezza - Alfie
Smoke - Arnie - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Vermette - Kelly - Eaves

If Havlat and Arnie don't gel:

Heatley - Spezza - Alfie
Schaefer - Fisher - Havlat
Eaves - Smolinski - Neil
Vermette - Arnason - Kelly

Personally I think the main duos should be Spezza-Heater, Fisher-Havlat. Fisher can elevate his game to easily become a 2nd line center in the playoffs. In the past these two have had some good chemistry. I'd put Vermette on that left wing if possible...that line would be DEADLY with their speed. No 2nd pairing defense would ever be able to keep up.


I completely agree, I think they should at least give this line a shot and see what happens :jump:

Heatley-Spezza-Eaves
Schaefer-Arnason-Havlat
Vermette-Fisher-Alfredsson
Smolinski-Kelly-Neil

Went Jaques Martin style and split up the scoring.

Went Jaques Martin style and split up the scoring.
Ugh. Now that's probably the LAST thing I would want Murray to try.

Ugh. Now that's probably the LAST thing I would want Murray to try.


:biglaugh: Same here. I tried to be as creative as I could be making new lines.

Eaves - Spezza - Alfredsson
Heatley - Arnason - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Smolinski
Vermette - Kelly - Neil

Now, I know I broke the Spezza-Heatley stipulation but what says that Heatley won't play well with Arnie? Arnie may have some flaws defensively, work-ethic and goal scoring (for now) but he is a pretty creative playmaker therefore he might gel well with Heaters goal scoring ability. I would try this for a few games (in the regular season hopefully) and if it doesn't work, you go back to Spezza. Also, we all know that Spezza -Heatley look like sometimes their work ethic collectively gets sloppy. Well, put Spezza with Eaves and Alfie and that is likely not to happen. How about this for the PP:

Eaves - Spezza - Havlat
Redden - Alfredsson
Heatley - Arnason - Neil
Pothier - Mez

You want creative? Put Pothier as a wing. :sarcasm:

Originally posted by jimmypage
Eaves - Spezza - Alfredsson
Heatley - Arnason - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Smolinski
Vermette - Kelly - Neil

Even though it broke the qualification, I have to say I like the lines for one simple reason. It divides the top four offensive talent between two lines and that is something I have always wanted.

As much Arnason's lack of intensity bothers me, the guy is capable and I think should be given every oppertunity to succeed.

You want creative? Put Pothier as a wing. :sarcasm:

I've always thought Pothier would make a decent forward.

I like the following:

Heatley-Spezza-Alfie
Vermette-Arnason-Havlat
Schaefer-Fisher-Neil(why bust up a good thing)
Smolinski-Kelly-Varada

or:
Heatley-Spezza-Havlat
Fisher-Vermette-Alfie
Schaefer-Smolinski-Neil
Kelly-Arnason-Varada

with PP as follows:

PP1: Spezza-Heatley-Havlat-Alfie-Redden
PP2: Fisher-Arnason-Vermette-Chara-Meszaros

You want creative? Put Pothier as a wing. :sarcasm:

Psht, you really want creative? Spezza and Arnie for top 2 D-men! :handclap:

or:
Heatley-Spezza-Havlat
Fisher-Vermette-Havlat
Schaefer-Smolinski-Neil
Kelly-Arnason-Varada


As much as I'd love to support double shifting Havlat on the first two lines... :D

I'm pretty sure it'll go down like this for game 1:

Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson
Smoke-Arnason-Havlat
Schaefer-Fisher-Neil
Vermette-Kelly-Eaves

However, me, I'd like to see:

Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson
Vermette-Fisher-Havlat
Schaefer-Arnason-Neil
Smoke-Kelly-Eaves

When Havlat comes back:

Heatley - Spezza - Alfie
Smoke - Arnie - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Vermette - Kelly - Eaves

We have a winner. Perhaps not creative, but the most logical option Murray has. How strong is that with 2 guys on the 4th line with 20 goals? The Fisher line is the the ideal 3rd "energy" line, and while the Sens greatest "weakness" is the 2nd line, any line with Havlat on it is dangerous. Smolinski can swap with Arnason for faceoffs.

Heatley - Spezza - Alfie
Smoke - Arnie - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Vermette - Kelly - Eaves

Switch Neil and Eaves and you have my ideal line-up.

Switch Neil and Eaves and you have my ideal line-up.
I would tend to agree, but the chemistry between Schaefer, Fisher, and Neil can't allow me to do that. Also, Eaves has shown he plays well with Vermette, and that adds a deadly dimension to the 4th line.

I like the following:

Heatley-Spezza-Alfie
Vermette-Arnason-Havlat
Schaefer-Fisher-Neil(why bust up a good thing)
Smolinski-Kelly-Varada

or:
Heatley-Spezza-Alfie (I assume)
Fisher-Vermette-Havlat
Schaefer-Smolinski-Neil
Kelly-Arnason-Varada

with PP as follows:

PP1: Spezza-Heatley-Havlat-Alfie-Redden
PP2: Fisher-Arnason-Vermette-Chara-Meszaros

If we're going fantasy, those make me very happy. In reality, I'm all for:

Heatley - Spezza - Alfie
Smoke - Arnie - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Vermette - Kelly - Eaves

Either way, I'd like to see someone like Vermette get some PP time over Neil every once in a while.

Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson
Smolinski-Arnason-Havlat
Schaefer-Fisher-Eaves
Vermette-Kelly-Neil

Eaves has to play on one of the top 3 lines in my eyes...he scores the types of goals that are more commonly scored come playoff time. I could even see Eaves move up to the second line in the above scenario and move Smoke down to line 3...or Arnason gets scratched, and we get

Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson
Eaves-Smolinski-Havlat
Schaefer-Fisher-Neil
Vermette-Kelly-Varada

Psht, you really want creative? Spezza and Arnie for top 2 D-men! :handclap:

:biglaugh: You win!

Give Havlat a shot with Arnason

Heatley - Spezza - Alfredsson
Vermette - Arnason - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Eaves
Smolinski/Varada - Kelly - Neil

If that doesn't work then I hope to see this

Heatley - Spezza - Alfredsson
Schaefer - Fisher - Havlat
Vermette - Arnason - Eaves
Smolinski/Varada - Kelly - Neil

When Havlat comes back:

Heatley - Spezza - Alfie
Smoke - Arnie - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Vermette - Kelly - Eaves


Yup. That's a tremendous fourth line.

[QUOTE=Sting004]As much as I'd love to support double shifting Havlat on the first two lines... :D

I'm pretty sure it'll go down like this for game 1:

Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson
Smoke-Arnason-Havlat
Schaefer-Fisher-Neil
Vermette-Kelly-Eaves

Agreed, I'd like to see

Eaves, Smoke, Alfredson - hard working - 1 finisher
Kelly, Spezza, Heatley - 1 hard worker, 2 finishers
Vermette, Arnason, Havlat - rediculous speed
Shaefer, Fisher, Neil - banger line, all hard workers, great chemistry

Good mix of the hard work and responsibility needed for the playoffs.

Heatley - Spezza - Alfredsson
Eaves - Arnason - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Vermette - Kelly - Smolinski

Sens4Cup' first version with Vermette instead of Eaves works for me too but I think Eaves and Arnason might compliment each other well: in the few games I saw Arnason liked to drive to the net without much success but put a guy like Eaves who loves rebounds and it might just work.

WHen i play NHL on XBOX these are my lines

Eaves - Spezza - Heatley
Alf - Vermette - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Kelly - Smolinski - Varada

I would personally go with something liek that, even balanced on almost all lines

WHen i play NHL on XBOX these are my lines

Eaves - Spezza - Heatley
Alf - Vermette - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Kelly - Smolinski - Varada

I would personally go with something liek that, even balanced on almost all lines

Alfredsson doesn't play LW nor does Eaves

Alfredsson doesn't play LW nor does Eaves

Yeah Eaves plays left wing. He played it in the world juniors and he has done it multiple times this year.

Heatley Spezza Alfredsson
Schaefer Arnason Havlat
Smolinski Fisher Neil
Vermette Kelly Eaves

I think Schaefer and Havlat should defenitely play together, they have great chemistry.

Can Neil play LW? I'm going to assume he could as all he really does is skate up the boards and go to the corner and then go out front....can't see him having a problem doing that on the left side.

In which case I'd simply take Varada off the Arnason line (from last game) and plug in Havlat. Neil would be able to go to the net and tap in the chances that Arnie and Havlat generate, he would also create space for the 2 creative players less physical players.

Arnason must be used on the 2nd line, he doesn't have the intangibles you need to play a 3rd/4th line role, he is simply an offensive player. I know he hasn't scored yet but he has created chances and I'd imagine having Havlat on his wing will make him alot more dynamic.

That being said I'd go with:
Heater-Spezz-Alf
Niel-Arnie-HAvlat
Shaef-Fish-Smoke
Vermette-Kelly-Eaves (best 4th line in the playofs...by a considerable margin)

*if Neiler can't handle LW I'd simply switch him and Smoke around.

Anybody else disappointed Murray is not even giving Arneson a chance to play with Havlat before the playoffs?
If they could have clicked we could have had three very threatening lines.

The fact is Murray will most likely be cycling three lines and the fourth will only play a few minutes a game.
The lines have to change if Murray wants the best on those three lines

So what will be those top three lines be? We should see something like this from Murray tonight as he will be testing his playoff lines
Heatley Spezza Alfredsson
Schaefer Fisher Havlat
Vermette Kelly Eaves

Varada Smolinski Neil

Or

Heatley Spezza Eaves
Schaefer Fisher Havlat
Vermette Kelly Alfredsson

Varada Smolinski Neil

Heatley - Spezza - Alfredsson
Eaves - Arnason - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Vermette - Kelly - Smolinski

Sens4Cup' first version with Vermette instead of Eaves works for me too but I think Eaves and Arnason might compliment each other well: in the few games I saw Arnason liked to drive to the net without much success but put a guy like Eaves who loves rebounds and it might just work.

This is what I like.

Heatley Spezza Alfredsson
Schaefer Arnason Havlat
Smolinski Fisher Neil
Vermette Kelly Eaves
Varada Mcgratton

Does no one realize the 4th line will barely be used? The top three lines will be the best players... The talent won't be spread through 4 lines IMO

Have you been watching the Senators this year?

The 4th line has been the Senators' BEST line in quite a few games this year.

The Vermette-Kelly-SparePart combo is a sight to behold.

Does no one realize the 4th line will barely be used?

Why is this?

It generally depends on how many special teams opportunities there are. If there's mostly 5 on 5 play, you're going to see the 4th line play quite a few minutes.

Playoff hockey is tough and fresh troops are better than tired ones.

Teams don't shorten their bench until the 3rd period in general.

All these line combos sound good but know one has ever said anything about havlat being on the top line with Heater and Spezz adding his speed and puck handling will greatly add to this line which does lack speed especially when carrying the puck. And what about using Arnason on the 2nd PP to help him gain back some of his scoring touch its not like smolinski is doing much out there with schaefer and neil.

All these line combos sound good but know one has ever said anything about havlat being on the top line with Heater and Spezz adding his speed and puck handling will greatly add to this line which does lack speed especially when carrying the puck. And what about using Arnason on the 2nd PP to help him gain back some of his scoring touch its not like smolinski is doing much out there with schaefer and neil.

Heatley-Spezza-Havlat would be perhaps the most entertaining line in Sens history, but probably have a record number of 3 on 2's against...none of those guys are very defensively aware.

I do, however, agree that Murray made a mistake not using Arnason on the 2nd powerplay unit. Frankly, that baffles me to no end.

Why is this?
It generally depends on how many special teams opportunities there are. If there's mostly 5 on 5 play, you're going to see the 4th line play quite a few minutes.
Playoff hockey is tough and fresh troops are better than tired ones.
Teams don't shorten their bench until the 3rd period in general.

Personally I think the weaker links will be mashed into the 4th line. Generally as rule of thumb most teams tend to cycle 3 lines in the playoffs.
Not only that but I heard Murray mention that in an interview.
=]

Have you been watching the Senators this year?
The 4th line has been the Senators' BEST line in quite a few games this year.
The Vermette-Kelly-SparePart combo is a sight to behold.

I agree and I think Kelly and Vermette will be part of the third line

Hey maybe Murray will try a spread out of talent with 4 lines but I just can't see it lasting with guys like Smoke and Neil who have much less talent

Heatley Spezza Alfredsson
Schaefer Fisher Havlat
Vermette Kelly Eaves
Varada Smolinski Neil

This set makes sense.

Arnason does not deserve to be on the top 2 lines and he's not a 3rd/4th line grinder.

Hey maybe Murray will try a spread out of talent with 4 lines but I just can't see it lasting with guys like Smoke and Neil who have much less talent

Well, I've also heard that Kelly and Vermette earn a little less even-strength time due to their position as top penalty killers.

Murray likes to have them available whenever an Ottawa guy gets put in the box for the first shift. While it was done by commitee earlier in the season, it's evolved into a fairly steady progression of Vermette-Kelly, Fisher-Schaefer, Alfredsson-Heatley. Obviously it'd be nice to sub in Havlat for Schaefer or for Heatley or something.

Anyway, let's play this game then.

Assuming they shorten the bench in the post-season and we want our best offensive guys out:

Obvious Top 9 forwards:
Alfredsson, Heatley, Spezza, Fisher, Havlat, Schaefer, Vermette, Eaves

Borderline Top 9 forwards:
Smolinski, Arnason, Neil, Kelly, Schubert

Bottom 3 forwards:
Varada, McGratton

What is interesting is that Vermette and Eaves are among the most productive players on the team but have played a fair share on the 4th line.

Also, there is a distinct lack of physical play beyond Fisher, and maybe Schaefer and Eaves. Playoffs may require guys like Neil and Varada to play a regular shift, even though their play of late is hardly inspiring.

I think we're going to see a steady dose of the top 2 lines come playoff time, with Smolinski's line and Vermette's line getting their time as well. The thing is, Vermette, Kelly, and possibly Eaves will get their time on the PK as well, so that will add their minutes up.

I really hope Murray puts Havlat back on the PK for the playoffs.

Like it or not, I think Arnie's done for the year, unless there is an injury.

I expect to see this:

Heatley Spezza Alfie
Schaefer Fisher Havlat
Eaves Smolinski Neil
Vermette Kelly Varada

If Varada sputters, I expect to see Schubert as the first insert. Like many, I feel Arnie played better than he's being given credit for, and I'm sorry he didn't get a look with Havlat. At the same time, I predict that Schaefer Fisher and Havlat, if united, will prove to be our most productive line, because I fully expect the big line to be shut down at even strength.

My perferred lines:

Alfie - Spezza - Heatley
Eaves - Arnason/Smoke - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Kelly - Vermette - Schubert

Schubert >> Smoke or Varada... he does something every shift.

Why oh why can't these be the lines?

Heater/Spezza/Alfredson
Eaves/Arnie/Havlat
Schaefer/Fisher/Neil
Varada/Vermette/Kelly
-----------------------
McGratton - Smolinski
-----------------------
Chara - Phillips
Redden - Pothier
Meszaros - Volchenkov

Emery
Morrison

Kelly - Spezza - Heatley
Schaefer - Fisher - Havlat
Eaves - Smolinski - Alfredson
Schubert - Vermette - Neil

Extras - Varada- Arnason - McGratton

Redden - Meszaros
Chara - Phillips
Volchenkov - Pothier

Hasek - let's hope he has been playing possum this whole time.
Emery
Morrisson

Alfredsson doesn't play LW nor does Eaves

On XBOX they do

Alfredsson doesn't play LW nor does Eaves

In tonight's game vs NYR, Eaves was on a line with Alfredsson and Smoke when Eaves scored his 20th goal.. Eaves was playing the left. SO, looks like Eaves will play LW instead of less ice time or even riding pine. :)

Kelly-Spezza-Heatley
Fisher-Arnason-Havlat (could switch Arnie to wing)
Eaves-Smolinski-Alfredsson
Schaefer-Vermette-Neil

Today's Mendes blog indicates Murray will stick with the same lines, as in the Rangers game, for game 1 of the playoffs.


Mendes Blog (http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/hockeycentral_connected/2006/04/19/hasek_lasts_just_10_minutes/)


Murray requested Hasek eave the ice after ten minutes of practice, because he felt he was a distraction to the team. (courtesy of the team 1200)


Chris Philips is returning for game 1, just heard it on the team 1200.