Imagine Kostsitsyn shooting a lot more, benefiting from Gomez's famous backpass at the blue line.
(2) Cammalleri-Pleks-Boyd (or Lapierre)
Pleks needs someone to fight battles along the boards but at the same time who is talented enough; someone like Burrows. Boyd still needs progression, but he could compliment that line if he improves enough. Lapierre could be another option. His intensity and board play and scoring touch could help this line.
(3) Pacioretty-Eller-Pouliot
As we saw from the Philly serie, we need more depth. Eller is a good start, but he needs to play with talented players. Plus Pouliot and Pacioretty are fast, young, tall, talented, they are on the verge of becoming useful players.
(4) Moen-Pyatt-Lapierre (or Boyd)
Pretty solid energy line that knows how to play within Martin's system.
Last edited by FF de Mars: 07-25-2010 at 11:49 PM.
Imagine Kostsitsyn shooting a lot more, benefiting from Gomez's famous backpass at the blue line.
(2) Cammalleri-Pleks-Boyd (or Lapierre)
Pleks needs someone to fight battles along the boards but at the same time who is talented enough; someone like Burrows. Boyd still needs progression, but he could compliment that line if he improves enough. Lapierre could be another option. His intensity and board play and scoring touch could help this line.
(3) Pacioretty-Eller-Pouliot
As we saw from the Philly serie, we need more depth. Eller is a good start, but he needs to play with talented players. Plus Pouliot and Pacioretty are fast, young, tall, talented, they are on the verge of becoming useful players.
(4) Moen-Pyatt-Lapierre (or Boyd)
Pretty solid energy line that knows how to play within Martin's system.
I like this lineup but I'd rather see a slight change
Imagine Kostsitsyn shooting a lot more, benefiting from Gomez's famous backpass at the blue line.
(2) Cammalleri-Pleks-Boyd (or Lapierre)
Pleks needs someone to fight battles along the boards but at the same time who is talented enough; someone like Burrows. Boyd still needs progression, but he could compliment that line if he improves enough. Lapierre could be another option. His intensity and board play and scoring touch could help this line.
(3) Pacioretty-Eller-Pouliot
As we saw from the Philly serie, we need more depth. Eller is a good start, but he needs to play with talented players. Plus Pouliot and Pacioretty are fast, young, tall, talented, they are on the verge of becoming useful players.
(4) Moen-Pyatt-Lapierre (or Boyd)
Pretty solid energy line that knows how to play within Martin's system.
I like your line up, especially seeing Kostitsyn back on the left wing. If Andrei starts on the first line and Pouliot is on the third I do see there being one difference at least to start the season which I'll preface by saying it's not what I think should happen but based on Martin's faith in the guy we're likely to see.
During the playoffs I can't count how many times people questioned Darche getting time on one of our top two lines and during the power play and simply put Martin has faith in the guy with reason. He's not a great skater at all but he's a big body as I learnt today (TSN has him listed at 6'1'', 220lbs) and he has produced at all levels but the NHL. Again, not necessarily what I'd do but rather what I think is likely to happen based on what we've seen through the playoffs and in the off season. If this experiment fails then I think we could expect to see Pacioretty up there but I think Eller will get a good look on that wing before that happens, especially because Pouliot, Boyd, Lapierre and Pyatt (correct me if I'm wrong) can play center and on the wing.
We'd need a bigger body with Cammy and Plecks than Boyd and Pouliot is more deserving of a top 6 role and he has a higher upside.
The thing is that a Pacioretty-Eller-Boyd line would miss an offensive threat. Both Eller and Pacioretty are playmakers. Pouliot would be an excellent sniper on that line, and it would spread our offensive depth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hank Scorpio
I like your line up, especially seeing Kostitsyn back on the left wing. If Andrei starts on the first line and Pouliot is on the third I do see there being one difference at least to start the season which I'll preface by saying it's not what I think should happen but based on Martin's faith in the guy we're likely to see.
During the playoffs I can't count how many times people questioned Darche getting time on one of our top two lines and during the power play and simply put Martin has faith in the guy with reason. He's not a great skater at all but he's a big body as I learnt today (TSN has him listed at 6'1'', 220lbs) and he has produced at all levels but the NHL. Again, not necessarily what I'd do but rather what I think is likely to happen based on what we've seen through the playoffs and in the off season. If this experiment fails then I think we could expect to see Pacioretty up there but I think Eller will get a good look on that wing before that happens, especially because Pouliot, Boyd, Lapierre and Pyatt (correct me if I'm wrong) can play center and on the wing.
I didn't think of Darche. Who knows, it could work. And he has enough hockey IQ to follow the play.
I didn't think of Darche. Who knows, it could work. And he has enough hockey IQ to follow the play.
The thing with Darche is can he handle regurlarly the rigors of the NHL.
IMO he cannot sustain a lot of ice time in the top 6.
With all the qualities he has shown, I could easily see him with Eller and Boyd.
AK - Gomer - Gionta
Cammy - Pleks - Pouliot
Boyd - Eller - Darche
Moen - Pyatt - Lapierre
White
Also, most probably just me, but are all of our shooters best fitted on the LW? I mean:
AK
Cammy
Pouliot
Boyd (apparently)
I think we need to be careful and properly mix our wingers. Moreso when we consider the physical aspect, let's say having Cammy and Gionta on the same wing.
We should split Kovalev and Koivu to balance the lines. They can't play together anyways, they hate each other
We should give a chance to Higgins and Plekanec also. Higgins will be the 3rd or 2nd line center of the future while Plekanec should do at least as good as Kilger (Chad is much bigger however. Plekanec won't be much more than an average 3rd liner at best). Oh, and were is Dagenais? Best sniper in the league :
Last edited by FlyingKostitsyn: 07-26-2010 at 11:21 AM.
I like the idea of playing Eller with Pouliot and MaxPac but I'm not sure Pacioretty would be ready. Pouliot-Eller-Boyd I would love to see. But in both instances, one leftie would have to play on the right wing.
Imagine Kostsitsyn shooting a lot more, benefiting from Gomez's famous backpass at the blue line.
(2) Cammalleri-Pleks-Boyd (or Lapierre)
Pleks needs someone to fight battles along the boards but at the same time who is talented enough; someone like Burrows. Boyd still needs progression, but he could compliment that line if he improves enough. Lapierre could be another option. His intensity and board play and scoring touch could help this line.
(3) Pacioretty-Eller-Pouliot
As we saw from the Philly serie, we need more depth. Eller is a good start, but he needs to play with talented players. Plus Pouliot and Pacioretty are fast, young, tall, talented, they are on the verge of becoming useful players.
(4) Moen-Pyatt-Lapierre (or Boyd)
Pretty solid energy line that knows how to play within Martin's system.
I made a thread about it a few months ago, and I think Lapierre could fit very nicely beside Camm and Pleky. A right handed shot with speed, who is defensively responsible, willing to do all the dirty work, and has underrated skill and puck cycling ability. I think it could be a match made in heaven.
The one issue I have with a Pac/Eller/Pou line is that all three are very inexperienced, and I'd bet Martin would sit them quite a bit.
I think it's safe to say though, that we will see tons of different line combos throughout the season.
They make up a very good 1a/1b combo on the top 2 lines. Generally I put the Pleks line first as Pleks plays with Cammy, and Cammy is definitely our #1 go-to forward.
- When Kostitsyn slacks too much, promote Eller on the 1st line as a winger for stints to see how he adapts and how he fits with a guy like Cammalleri. Play Boyd as the 3rd line center, and Kostitsyn on the 3rd line.
- Lapierre shouldn't be higher than the 4th line.
- Hamrlik must play with Subban, not only to mentor him, but because he badly needs a mobile linemate like Subban. He's also going to be more efficient playing a stay-at-home style at this point of his career.
- White should be given a legit chance of taking Lapierre's spot. He's all what Lapierre is, plus he's stronger, nastier, more physical and has just as good defensive instinct.
Would have been cool to find an efficient player and sign him to an "Afinogenov-like" contract to play on our 3rd line with Eller and Boyd. Let's just hope Trotter stays and proves to be a very good player for us. He's made his classes in the AHL, and he deserves a legit shot at making it going forward IMHO. Plus, he's pretty much our best winger in terms of offensive upside who can play a role in the NHL for the time being.
In 2010-2011, the portrait should ideally look like:
2011-2012 is when we must be competitive. If we ever have a particular "window" where we can win and be considered contenders, it's going to be that particular season. We have loads of cash to spend next summer with our core being already signed going forward. Ideally, we'd put Chara, Semin and Smith under contract. Realistically, I'd like if we could keep the players aforementionned, while getting Backes to play with Cammy and Pleks, Phillips to play with Andrei Markov, and Craig Anderson as our backup.
Last edited by TankEller*: 07-26-2010 at 02:29 PM.
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