I know they play different positions, but let's start the debate about Beech, Gamache, and other possible bubble players. I am a big Gamache fan and would like to see him get a shot. I also think Beech could be a good second line center if he had a guy like Sullivan to pass to.
... Is there any possibility of Johnson playing fourth line center? More than likely only one of Beech/Robitaille will make the roster but these combos could be interesting:
... that would give Beech two finishers in Hartnell and Sully. Third line has good offensive potential with Erat, Robby and Gamache. But that would send Johnson and Hall both to the fourth line and Tootoo back to the AHL (which might not be a bad thing for him). Thoughts?
I know they play different positions, but let's start the debate about Beech, Gamache, and other possible bubble players. I am a big Gamache fan and would like to see him get a shot. I also think Beech could be a good second line center if he had a guy like Sullivan to pass to.
... Is there any possibility of Johnson playing fourth line center? More than likely only one of Beech/Robitaille will make the roster but these combos could be interesting:
... that would give Beech two finishers in Hartnell and Sully. Third line has good offensive potential with Erat, Robby and Gamache. But that would send Johnson and Hall both to the fourth line and Tootoo back to the AHL (which might not be a bad thing for him). Thoughts?
If we did see that type of line-up I would think that Robo and Beech would have to be switched because of the defensive inability of Robo. Actually I would be worried about that third line having no defensively responsible players.
There's been talk of maybe giving Simon Gamache a shot at center. With that in mind, how about this forward line-up...
Paul Kariya - David Legwand - Scott Walker
Martin Erat - Simon Gamache - Steve Sullivan
Scott Hartnell - Greg Johnson - Adam Hall
Darcy Hordichuk - Kris Beech - Jeremy Stevenson
Jordin Tootoo (extra)
Looks interesting. I think Gamache fans would be more than pleased. Tootoo would switch in and out of the line-up with all three guys on the fourth line. Even Beech, since Stevenson can play center as well. Depends on who's playing better at certain points in the season.
Anyhoo...
Christopher "Beautiful" Carlson
Canada's #1 Nashville Predators Fan
"You can never have too many pucks."
There's been talk of maybe giving Simon Gamache a shot at center. With that in mind, how about this forward line-up...
Paul Kariya - David Legwand - Scott Walker
Martin Erat - Simon Gamache - Steve Sullivan
Scott Hartnell - Greg Johnson - Adam Hall
Darcy Hordichuk - Kris Beech - Jeremy Stevenson
Jordin Tootoo (extra)
Looks interesting. I think Gamache fans would be more than pleased. Tootoo would switch in and out of the line-up with all three guys on the fourth line. Even Beech, since Stevenson can play center as well. Depends on who's playing better at certain points in the season.
Anyhoo...
Christopher "Beautiful" Carlson
Canada's #1 Nashville Predators Fan
"You can never have too many pucks."
there's no way we play kris beech almost a million dollars on the fourth line, where we're simply penguin-ing him all over again. he wouldn't be effective and there's a cheaper, more suitable option with scott nichol. if beech or robo are to make this team, it's either going to be on the second line or not at all, and I think Trotz has said just that in the paper.
there's no way we play kris beech almost a million dollars on the fourth line, where we're simply penguin-ing him all over again. he wouldn't be effective and there's a cheaper, more suitable option with scott nichol. if beech or robo are to make this team, it's either going to be on the second line or not at all, and I think Trotz has said just that in the paper.
Okay, how about we move Kris Beech to the second line, drop Simon Gamache to the third line and Greg Johnson to the fourth line. I also realized a line of Martin Erat/Gamache/Steve Sullivan would be kind of small. If we did put Gamache on the second line, I'd switch Sullivan to the first (he'd love to play with Paul Kariya, I'm certain) and Scott Walker to the second...
Kariya - Legwand - Walker
Erat - Beech - Sullivan
Scott Hartnell - Gamache - Adam Hall
Darcy Hordichuk - Johnson - Jeremy Stevenson
Jordin Tootoo (extra)
Or how about...
Kariya - Legwand - Sullivan
Erat - Gamache - Walker
Hartnell - Johnson - Hall
Hordichuk - Stevenson - Tootoo
Forget about Kris Beech all together. I'm not too impressed by his acquisition. Of course, we do need to ice eight centers between Nashville and AHL Milwaukee.
that remains to be seen......I suspect we will see Beech given the nod on opening day, but the 2 weeks of camp will make all the difference.....I would think Gamache centering a line for Trotz would be option X, Y, or Z.
I stand fast in my idea that they should move Scott Hartnell to center, between Martin Erat and Steve Sullivan. If we do that, what would the rest of the team look like, considering Kris Beech and Simon Gamache make the team...
Paul Kariya - David Legwand - Scott Walker
Martin Erat - Scott Hartnell - Steve Sullivan
Adam Hall - Greg Johnson - Simon Gamache
Darcy Hordichuk - Kris Beech - Jeremy Stevenson
Jordin Tootoo (extra)
That fourth line could surprise people in the scoring department. And who cares about Beech's salary. Since when does salary dictate where best a player fits on a team? I wouldn't want to switch Johnson and Beech, since that would leave the third line lacking in experience.
but where do you get that hartnell can play center? i mean, we at least known Hall has SOME experience. it's not like it's interchangeable with wing. it requires learning a whole new game, one in which i don't think hartnell has the footspeed to succeed at. you can't just throw a guy into a new place and hope it works out. that's an experiment that could have been tried during the lockout if scott was interested, but i think there's better solutions.
I say try Beech on the 2nd line, otherwise just send him down to Milwaukee.
Exactly. I think it comes down to one of Beech or Robo being the answer. One will be on the second line, the other will be in Milwaukee. If that fails, then someone will need to be brought in.
Given that Beech has spent a lot more time in Scranton than in Pittsburgh over the past few seasons, I am 1) assuming he is on a two-way, and 2) expecting he'll be the odd man out (to Brew-town, boy) if he can't beat RR for the #2 center position, and vise-versa for Robo. Regardless of weather or not these guys can play center under Trotz, this is what they have to go with unless Poile decides to jump way over the self-imposed budget. I'm leaning towards RR, at least he can play center at the NHL level and win half his faceoffs. If the Preds are serious contenders come March (and I'm not talking about just making the playoffs as a 6, 7, or 8) there may be a move made. I am not so up on these matters, but it sounds like Johnson definately won't be the #4 and shouldn't be the #2 leaving him pegged at #3. As far as Gamache goes, it would kinda suck from an Ads fan's perspective to see him as the boarder-line healthy-scratch if he can get Milw. some points on the farm.
I also wonder if Sullivan and Karyia should be centered by Legwand. The Preds look to have some talented wingers all the way through the depth chart, but should they stack their top line like this?
Last edited by AdmiralPred: 09-11-2005 at 03:23 PM.
