When Bourque is back, I expect him to go back with Plekanec and Gionta, they are then gonna move Ryder to the 3rd line with Eller and Galchenyuk I think, I am not sure which wing Galchenyuk plays.
I dont see Armstrong being out of the lineup because of Therrien. So thats what it might look like. Expect Prust to play more minutes than an average 4th liner.
Bourque is definitely not going to be put on the 4th line. He's played great with us so far. If anything Bork goes back on the second line, either taking Gio's or Ryder's spot, or he goes on the 3rd line. Any way, it looks interesting.
I thought that maybe they could put Gallagher back on the third... Not sure how that would go.
So, no. Dumont goes back to Hamilton or is kept as 13th forward (unless we trade some of our 4th liners, which I don't see happening). Prust goes third or 4th line, most likely the latter. And Bork goes in our top 9, most probably with Pleks.
A Bork-Pleks-Ryder line would be a great balance. The good 2 way center that acts as playmaker and can score some goals, the player with a good shot that rushes the net and can make the necessary dump in goals, the sniper.
Though Ryder would offer a good finisher for the third line.
I love Prust. But we got him so he can play on the 3rd/4th.
No reason we should trade players to make room when the cap fits and we're most likely going to try to make a good push in the post-season.
Man that's a ridiculously good lineup if everybody plays the best they have been this year.
A third line of a future franchise player, a thoroughbred coming into his own and the guy who was the leading scorer of the Dallas Stars (and ours right now!) before coming here. This is great.
Not to mention, that 4th center could play second line on some bottom dwellers and didn't look out of place on our 2nd when we needed him to step up.
10 very solid forwards here. Then you have Armstrong who I would keep no matter what because he looks like the kind of guy that keeps the guys lighthearted in the room, and that's important, and Moen, who frankly might just find himself sitting if Dumont keeps outhustling him.
Maybe it's just me, but I don't think Bourque has a very high hockey IQ. And it bothers me to see him playing with Plex who has incredibly high HIQ. I acknowledge that RB was putting the puck in the net, I just don't see the chemistry.
In contradistiction, I thought Prusty had great chemistry with Large and Gally27. He brings so much to the table, and at +13 and tough as nails, you can't play him 10 mins/game.
If you think of Bourque-Dumont-other as a third line, perhaps it will bother you less.
There should be a trade when everyone's healthy. I don't see Eller back on the fourth or Ryder/Bourque siting in the presse box.
Why would Eller play on the 4th line? Makes absolutely no sense. There's a perfect spot for him on the 3rd line at center and he's possibly one of the best third center in the league right now. Therrien said that he wants Galchy on the wing to save him from defensive responsibility and Eller is much better in that department. Galchy will not play center anymore this season unless there's an injury.
And why would Bourque or Ryder sit in the press box, our top 9 includes them. If there's someone sitting, it will be between White, Armstrong and Moen. Not our top 9 guys.
Maybe it's just me, but I don't think Bourque has a very high hockey IQ. And it bothers me to see him playing with Plex who has incredibly high HIQ. I acknowledge that RB was putting the puck in the net, I just don't see the chemistry.
In contradistiction, I thought Prusty had great chemistry with Large and Gally27. He brings so much to the table, and at +13 and tough as nails, you can't play him 10 mins/game.
If you think of Bourque-Dumont-other as a third line, perhaps it will bother you less.
The thing with Low IQ players is that, if they have great physical tools and some decent playing techniques, they make great system players because they won't cheat to be fancier, and Bourque was buying the system and his role in it. As long as he does that, he's a-ok with me.
An high IQ player with ordinary physical tools and ordinary playing techniques is Kyle Chip[chura. So I'll take Rene.
If there's someone sitting, it will be between White, Armstrong and Moen. Not our top 9 guys.
Has to be Moen out of those 3. White has fixed his anger management issues and has proven to be somewhat useful in drawing penalties and has won some big faceoffs for us, Colby is actually pretty good on the PK and he's a great team guy. Moen looks UNHAPPY. There's a guy who saw his ice time taken away by Brandon Prust, who does a way better job than him. Having Prust lets us see how passive Moen really was and how him being our tough guy and energy player was a problem for us last year.
Makes the most sense seeing that that 3rd line has had chemistry all year when they played together.
Move around some players for specific match-ups
Give guys like Eller, Galchy and Gally some PP time and we're good to go!
At no time should Eller play on the 4th line and certainly not with wingers like Moen and Armstrong. Eller has not been dominating games for us so we can drop his TOI and let him play with plugs. You want to piss him off; put him on the 4th line then just wait for the headline "Eller demands a trade".
Dumont has been doing a great job so far he deserves to remain on the lineup.
Pac-DD-Gallagher
Bourque-Plekanec-Gionta
Galchenyuk-Eller-Ryder
Prust-Dumont-Armstrong/White ( white shoots right so...)
Prust and Dumont could actually have a chance to produce a goal once in a while, Moen-White-Armstrong has no chance of producing an odd goal whatsoever.
I'd also feel more confident to see Dumont and Prust give more minutes per game to the 4th line.
The thing with Low IQ players is that, if they have great physical tools and some decent playing techniques, they make great system players because they won't cheat to be fancier, and Bourque was buying the system and his role in it. As long as he does that, he's a-ok with me.
Thoughtful reply. Still bugs me, but I respect your view.
Bourque - Plekanec - Gionta
Pacioretty - Desharnais - Gallagher
Galchenyuk - Eller - Ryder
Prust - White - Moen
Yup. I like this one too.
Just because Prust starts on the fourth line doesn't mean you can't shuffle him around the top 9 throughout the game. Dude's like the energizer bunny, when a line isn't working and needs a spark, just plug in Prust.
I don't see Bourque as a low IQ player. Maybe not high but definitely not low. He makes too many good defensive plays to be considered a low IQ player.
And Eller on the 4th line would be ridiculous. Prust doesn't deserve to be there but he's the best fit. I think there's definitely going to be a trade. Especially now that Dumont looks like he could definitely hang.
The only forwards I'm really cool with trading are:
-Moen, Armstrong(doubt anyone wants them)
-Gionta(I know he's the captain but if he can be upgraded, I'm totally down)
-DD(love the guy and I'm sure he'll at least finish the year but I don't know where he'll fit),
-to a lesser extent Bourque(only because we've been doing good without him and he 'could' always regress)
-and to an even lesser extent Plekanec(only if he can get us someone who's bonafide elite).
