So, since we've talked a lot about the lines of the opening day roster and the training camp is getting closer (but not soon enough), I thought we could talk about some line combos we would like to see in training camp and Preseason games.
We can go wild since veterans and rookies and prospects are often mixed up altogether and you know many combinations will be tried.
So it's mostly about players you would like to see try together or, if you're into it, you could even come up with two separate complete rosters as the team is almost always split into two for the first set of games.
Remember, it's more about what you would like to see than what you think it's gonna happen as I think trying to figure out the latter is pretty much impossible and useless for preseason given the number of possibility.
For me, I'd like to see some of these combos :
Avtsin-Desharnais-Leblanc (Would've like Kristo-Leblanc Avtsin but Kristo won't be there, will he?)
Pacioretty-Eller-Palushaj (Michigan and St-Louis connection)
Darche-Maxwell-Engqvist (I think Darche and Maxwell played together in Hamilton and 2 big wingers like that could give Maxwell some room)
Conboy-White-Schultz (ouch)
Moen-Fortier-Lapierre (pure shutdown)
Pouliot-Desharnais-Lapierre (french connection,(duh) and I think those 2 hardworkers could motivate Pouliot who would also benefit from DD's vision and playmaking ability)
I want to see the following guys get some good hard long looks at training camp:
Carle
Weber
Kluberwhatever
Pacciorety
Wyman
Palushaj
Desharnais
White
To me, these are the only guys with real shots at making the team this year.
I really don't want to see the Leblanc's, Kristo's, Avtsins, or other guys who need to have some AHL (or junior ) seasoning take up time from the more legit guys.
With that being said, I believe that the following spots are locked in on the top 6
Gomez, Gionta, Pleks, Cammalleri, Kostitsyn.
One more guy is needed. I would like to see Eller, Pouliot and Boyd all give good looks in the top 6 during pre-season.
Well the idea was more about line combos or players you would like to see play together. But the idea doesn't seem to interest many people so...whatever
Cammilleri- Pleks- A.Kost
Pouliot- Eller- Gionta
Max Pac/Lapierre/Moen- Gomez- Boyd
or the same thing, but with Pleks/Gomez switching spots...
I really want to see Eller get a proven goal scoring vet on his wing to start the season, and with both Pleks/Gomez well suited to play on a more shut down role (and hopefully ego's willing to play a consistent third line role, + PP time), I'd prefer seeing one of them centering our bottom 6 wingers thus allowing Eller to play with better offensive wingers.
If he is the real deal, that could be our best combo... neither gomez/pleks have the pressure of putting up points to earn their next contract, so if they can buy into it, using one of them to bolster the bottom 6 while allowing Eller to benefit from the ice time/linemates of a top 6 role, assuming he's up to it, would be better than forcing him to break into the league trying to carry a line offensively.
Well the idea was more about line combos or players you would like to see play together. But the idea doesn't seem to interest many people so...whatever
In another thread, someone mentioned something that makes me very curious:
Desharnais-Plekanek-Cammaleri
Or
Leblanc-Plekanek-Cammaleri
Otherwise, I'd love to see this for the "welcome to north-america style":
Avtsin-Gomez-Gionta
I think this could be good for Pouliot's confidence:
I imagine that the top 2 lines will be fairly set once the season starts, so even though there might be a bit of switching, I'm not too interested in seeing different combinations of those players.
I would like to see a bunch line combinations that could end up being 3rd/4th lines for the Habs. Mix these guys together and try to find some lines that work well:
IMO Pac and Leblanc absolutely must be tried together.
We only have one (good) playmaking winger in the system and only one goalscoring center, seems like a clear fit. Could form a good 3rd line in a couple of years with Avtsin. If they progress well enough, then we might have our solution to the potential losses of AK, Gomez and Gionta just a few years later.
Eller with Andrei K
and
Ryan White with Plekanec and Cammalleri. I simply want to know if White has some offensive potential : maybe he can be a good complement to 2 point producers adding size and grit.
I just hope for Pacioretty, Carle, and Weber to have made impressive strides....and for Maxwell to have made enormous strides. Also, I hope to see White tried out on various lines
I'd like to see what Kostitsyn could do with Eller, I think they'd make a nice combo with Eller being the playmaker and Andrei being the shooter. Would also like to see Boyd given an opportunity on one of the top lines to see if he can bring more of his offensive game out... I remember Cammalleri speaking highly of him from when they player in Calgary so if he can play the RW it might be worth while to try him out with Cam and Pleks in hopes of trying to spread out offense to three lines.
Good. There's a couple of good ideas. I'd like to see Pac with Leblanc and Eller with AK too.
Didn't they try White with Cam and Pleks last season ? I have memories of him getting a chance on the top 6...anyway, I highly doubt he's ready for that.
One thing I realized while thinking about this tread is that we are definitely thin on LH forward prospects, the result being that Ì'm putting Pacioretty on almost every line...
I just want Avtsin to play so well that it would be impossible to not keeping him.. but i know its very unlikely.. but you never know!
I really want Eller to have a good winger to play with, doesn't have to be Avtsin, maybe Pouliot or AK, as long as we have a good offensive top 9 since we are don't know what to expect from AK and BP.
Honestly, the only thing i don't want to see is players forced in the wrong posistions to fill a hole our GM could have easily addressed in the offseason if he wanted to. (ie. Eller (C), Pouliot (LW), Boyd (C/LW), AK (LW) - although I realise he'll likely be on the RW again - Leblanc (C).)
Honestly, the only thing i don't want to see is players forced in the wrong posistions to fill a hole our GM could have easily addressed in the offseason if he wanted to. (ie. Eller (C), Pouliot (LW), Boyd (C/LW), AK (LW) - although I realise he'll likely be on the RW again - Leblanc (C).)
Didn't I read somewhere that AK himself feels more comfortable on the right wing? Otherwise, I'd give him a shot next to Gomez/Gionta.
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