Quote:
Originally Posted by NyIsles19
Has he played RW at all throughout his career and has he had success there?
When Bailey comes back I really think they should keep him on LW because that's the only spot he's really had success at through his career thus far.
With Moulson , Bailey , Grabner and Ullstrom one of them has to go to the off wing because none of them are 4th liners.
So I really see it as ullstrom or possibly grabber although I'm not sure if he either had played the off wing .
For me I'd like to see these lines
Moulson-Tavares-Boyes
Grabner-Nielsen-Okposo
Bailey-Aucoin-Ullstrom
Martin-CiZikas-McDonald
If Grabner was able to effectively play the off wing though with how he's become a more complete player I wouldn't mind seeing
Moulson-Tavares-Grabner
Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo
Ullstrom-Aucoin-Boyes
Martin-Cizikas-McDonald
I do see the first set of lines as much more realistically happening then the second
What are your thoughts?
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I think MOST wingers can play both wings nowadays, and be as effective. I think Bailey is equally good in all forward positions (and equally inconsistent). The reason Bailey wasn't great at C is mostly due to the horrid wingers he had, hardly a recipe for production, especially out of a teenager.
Grabner can also play either wing but I don't think he and Tavares would match well AT ALL. Nielsen is tailor-made for Grabner. A good passer who is so incredibly good defensively and with enough quickness and smarts to make Grabs a very dangerous player when they are on the ice together.
Bailey played well at RW last year but I can see him slotting well in any of the top three lines. At this stage, Bailey's not expected to be a guy who's going to take the league by storm, this was an unrealistic expectation of him since he was drafted, that's been compounded by how horrible the personnel has been around him. Now he's matured and become a pretty good, well rounded player who can play in an offensive role, defensive role, kill penalties and play on the PP as well. If we think of him being more Frans-Nielsen-esque, we will realize that he's actually a good player that will help the team.
I like your first set of lines much better than the second, as you mentioned. I'd probably flip Okposo-Ullstrom though. I'm not sure Boyes is a top line guy but its worth a shot since I believe he would have chemistry with those two.
The mainstays for me are:
Moulson - Tavares
Grabner - Nielsen
Bailey - Okposo
I'd keep these pairs together all the time and rotate players in and out to find chemistry. Though, the team is really playing well, offensively anyway.