Quote:
Originally Posted by joshjull
I have to  at these 3 and even 4 scoring line ideas.
We don't even have two effective scoring lines yet. But for some reason a few posters think we can actually build 3 or even 4 scoring lines.  |
I'd rather have a guy like Lucic in the top six. But we don't have that guy, and won't until someone like Kassian makes it up through the system. Plan B would have been to make a big move in the top six during the summer - move out someone like Roy or Pominville to shake things up. That didn't happen either.
So, what can we do? I think it wouldn't hurt to pair up skill guys who either already have or might develop chemistry, and put some grit on the line if it won't hurt things.
So, I think Vanek-Connolly is worth a shot. And Kaleta has shown a knack for PKing and shot blocking, and he skates back harder than anyone else on the team, so he shouldn't be a liability.
Hecht and Pominville have a history of being effective with a talented, offensive center - so throw Kennedy in there and see what happens. If Hecht and Poms and can return to form, that could be a formidable line, and still defensively responsible.
Same for G-R-G. It's pretty much the Hecht-Goose-Grier line everyone loves with more offensive, and with Goose moved to wing where he can commit to bigger hits and more physical play.
MacArthur-Ellis/Mair-Stafford would likely wind up going out against bottom pairings/4th lines. Mac and Staff should be able to tear them up, and maybe Mair can teach Stafford how to use his size more effectively or even throw some punches.
It's absolutely not how I would go build a team from scratch. But every single player is in a position where they're likely to succeed. That's something that can't be said about the last 2 seasons.
