"The coaching staff -- from Trotz through the assistants -- all mentioned the Penguins as a blueprint for the Preds line-up plans. The Pens play three scoring lines and one high energy line. Coach Trotz and staff are trying to establish a similar set up with the Fisher, Legwand, and Spaling lines providing offense and the Gaustad line giving a physical defensive match-up element."
The problem is - Fisher, Legwand and Spaling are not even close to Malkin,Crosby and Staal...
No other team has anything close to Crosby, Malkin, and Staal. What other choice to Trotz have with the center position, Smith or Willy? Our strength is Weber, Suter, and Rinne. Our 3rd and 4th line match up well against most teams in the Western Conference. With the addition of AK and Rads, our top two lines should be much improved as well. Are the Preds top 3 lines as potent as the Pens? No. But on most nights, we have the better netminder and defense.
Trotz said he would like to stop trying different players on different lines at this point in the season.
“I’ve been doing a lot of experimenting. I want to just stabilize things right now,” he said. “What we need to do is find what four lines and their roles where they’ll get it done.”
trotz needs to run rads with fisher .. wilson with legwand .. smith with ak
we need as much scoring in the lineup as possible against VAN, DET, STL, ect. if we go with a defense first lineup, I think we lose in 5-6. we should be winning.. our lineup is one of the best in the league top to bottom imo
erat fisher radulov
wilson legwand sk
ak gaustad smith
halischuk spaling hornqvist
Trotz said he would like to stop trying different players on different lines at this point in the season.
“I’ve been doing a lot of experimenting. I want to just stabilize things right now,” he said. “What we need to do is find what four lines and their roles where they’ll get it done.”
Raduov and Wilson change things. I think there is still a lot of figuring out on lines. What we've been doing the last 2 games hasn't been clicking.
I don't like Legwand+Radulov+Hornq. Erat-Fish-SK have not been as effecitvely lately and we need a go to scoringline... Erat-Fisher-Radulov has to happen!
Raduov and Wilson change things. I think there is still a lot of figuring out on lines. What we've been doing the last 2 games hasn't been clicking.
I don't like Legwand+Radulov+Hornq. Erat-Fish-SK have not been as effecitvely lately and we need a go to scoringline... Erat-Fisher-Radulov has to happen!
I agree, seeing as we have seen a new playmaking touch with Radulov it might be better to have him paired with a wing with some more scoring touch.
I think it might be interesting to field 3 essentially even lines instead of put all of our eggs in one basket. Both have their pluses and minus. I would probably go with BFC's lines (only replace Spals with Hals), but an interesting alternative could be:
I like the top 6 as is actually. Wasn't sure about Rad+Horns, but I like what I'm seeing so far. I couldn't justify bumping Horns down right now. He's playing well. Odd man out is AK unfortunately.
Bottom 6 is still up in the air. It would be great if Wilson and AK could play together and get some chemistry. Not sure if the wing positions will work out since they have both been playing LW. All I know is Wilson better skate his ass off when he gets back into the lineup. He's on a short leash with lots of competition breathing down his neck.
I'm glad Klein and Gill are finally playing together. Should have been together from the start IMO. I hope they stay paired when Josi gets back.
I think Rads looked best w/ the Legwand/Hornqvist or AK line. Fisher looks best w/ Erat and SK but lately SK hasn't looked the greatest on that line so I would put AK on the Fisher line if SK doesn't start getting going again. The last lines not sure what works the best except that I like Halischuk and want him in the line up. Colin Wilson/Craig Smith/Nick Spaling/Bourque/Yip would be the next in the line up for me.
That lineup would be okay w/ me. I care more about the lines itself than who gets to be on the 1st/2nd line. But maybe interchanging SK w/ AK as needed depending on SK's game/how well he is playing. But I agree that Rads should stick w/ Legwand as that line/pairing seemed like it worked the best and was generating plays when he was on it.
I can go w/ this:
AK-Legwand-Rads or AK-Legwand-Hornqvist or Rads-Legwand-Hornqvist
SK-Fisher-Erat or AK-Fisher-Erat or SK-AK/Fisher/Hornqvist
Spaling/Wilson-Smith/Hornqvist or Spaling/Wilson-Smith/Halischuk
for the foreseeable future. We know Trotz will switch lines at the drop of a hat, but I think the Rads line can build good chemistry if it's given a change to play together consistently. I also agree, 1st line/2nd line whatever. Doesn't matter.
for the foreseeable future. We know Trotz will switch lines at the drop of a hat, but I think the Rads line can build good chemistry if it's given a change to play together consistently. I also agree, 1st line/2nd line whatever. Doesn't matter.
That would be the best way to go. I think Fisher fits better w/ Erat and Rads fits better w/ Legwand. And as back up to the Rads-Legwand-Hornqvist line, it could be Rad-Legwand-AK or if SK isn't playing well, then AK-Fisher-Erat. W/ Erat being out though, it kind of puts a damper on things. Maybe Trotz should try Fisher w/ AK and SK or Fisher w/ SK and Hornqvist and then Rads w/ Legwand/AK until Erat comes back to the lineup.
Winnipeg is playing Pavelec tonight, so it looks like we get Mason tomorrow.
