Higgins is back possibly Thursday or at the latest Saturday. He'll likely play on the 4th to get his game legs back but that won't last long. Once he's ready, he for sure won't be centring the 2nd line. He is a wasted asset there.
A lot of posters have mentioned they like to see Kovy with Koivu in order to get Kovy going. Possible, but it's more likely we'll see Higgins reunited with Koivu and Ryder to start
In any event, Lats is going somewhere else in the lineup. I don't have any objections to this. He's filled in the position admirably, but there's no way he beats out anyone in the top 6 for a spot (Koivu, Kovy, Higgins, Ryder, Sammy, Plekanec). I've praised Lats' play, he's shown more poise than a lot of us expected, but he does need to gain a step and be more consistent in his decision making. The only way he makes it on the second is if Samsonov is demoted. That leaves the 4th line as his landing spot. Personally I don't see this as a problem. I'd love to see Lapierre centreing Lats and Begin for a few games. More likely Laps (or Murray) will be sent and Carbo will keep rotating the extra D in on the fourth, with Begin centreing.
I dunno. Ryder's cold streak and poor play might earn him an adventure down the lineup. However I agree that we'll see Lats on the 4th line with Begin and Streit.
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I dunno. Ryder's cold streak and poor play might earn him an adventure down the lineup. However I agree that we'll see Lats on the 4th line with Begin and Streit.
I could see Ryder being demoted as a slim possibilty.
Lets say lapierre earns a spot and sticks urond for a bit. Lapierre and latendresse would look real good togheter. They both play a similar style of game and higgins could really complement that line. That line could be a real spark plug for are team. A ton of grit, hitting and hard nose players.
- Latendresse and Plekanec alternating
- Murray sent down, Lapierre up
Where's Streit? As much as I like Lapierre, Streit has been dynamite on the fourth line and there is no reason to remove him. Lapierre will get his chance, but why remove a guy from a position where he's playing his best hockey ever for us thus far.
If they are willing to give Samsonov - Koivu - Kovalev a try, I think realistically, this might work:
Samsonov - Koivu - Kovalev
Higgins - Plekanec - Ryder
Perezhogin - Bonk - Johnson
Latendresse - Begin - Streit
You have Higgins and Plekanec reunited (and they were dynamite together last year), and you're keeping Higgins with Ryder. You're giving Kovalev the only guy he seems to work well with in Koivu, and providing the two Russians with someone who will go to the net in Koivu. The only thing I'd like to see personally is Latendresse in Ryder's slot, but I'm not sure how great Gui is on the right side (he has only played there a very small amount this year), and Michael would not be a good fit at all for the fourth line.
This could be why we mysteriously see Samsonov and Ryder lifting their games lately.
I don't think Latendresse should be dropped in the lineup myself. We need size in the top 6 and he's outperformed everyone except for Koivu. Why should he be moved?
I also liked what I saw from Lapierre. He was a bit nervous handling the puck at times, but I love his hustle and grit. We NEED this guy in the lineup TOO. No more messing around. The people who should play, should PLAY.
I like the lines put up by Higgins! below.
But Ryder better kick it into gear. Kovalev better be injured because he's been awful.
Yeah some fans forgot Streit. He's better then Murray Lapierre and Bégin by far. He's key on the PP and one of the best PK forward on the team. He creates more chance then every player who played on the fourth line this season. Maybe he even deserve more then playing on the fourth line. I'm not kidding he's a beast right now.
where is ryder you ask...
I don't know, but with Lats playing well enough to stay in the top 6, higgins coming back, kots finally playing well in the AHL, we just don't have room to keep all 6 of samsonov/kovalev/ryder/higgins/kots/lats for the top two lines... the third line is set and playing so well that we shouldn't be looking to break them up, and none of those 6 guys belongs on the 4th line...
the Gainey family tragedy will likely delay any deals until after x-mas, but mark my words, there will be a move before the deadline!
If they are willing to give Samsonov - Koivu - Kovalev a try, I think realistically, this might work:
Samsonov - Koivu - Kovalev
Higgins - Plekanec - Ryder
Perezhogin - Bonk - Johnson
Latendresse - Begin - Streit
You have Higgins and Plekanec reunited (and they were dynamite together last year), and you're keeping Higgins with Ryder. You're giving Kovalev the only guy he seems to work well with in Koivu, and providing the two Russians with someone who will go to the net in Koivu. The only thing I'd like to see personally is Latendresse in Ryder's slot, but I'm not sure how great Gui is on the right side (he has only played there a very small amount this year), and Michael would not be a good fit at all for the fourth line.
I agree Pleks and Higgins should be given first try if the first is rearranged. They were good when together last year but even more so in Hamilton. Pleks always seemed to be able to anticipate where Higgins would be flying down the wing.
You're probably right, but that lineup would put our top 6 on the top 2 lines. Right now, Latendresse deserves to be there more than Plekanec does.
Don't know if I agree, although it's a good problem to have.
Plekanec almost singlhandedly won that game for us last night. Not only the strip on Chara, but also created the interfernce that led to Sammys rebound goal.
bash ryder all you want, i know he hasnt been great all season but he has 6 points in the last 5 games.
I disagree. What I have seen in Ryder this year that sets him apart from how he's played in the past (as well as from other streaky players like Zednik) is that now, even if he is not scoring, he is playing well. He is physical, has improved defensively and gets a bunch of opportunities. Lately, he has been getting rewarded more which is why he is on the scoresheet, but I haven't been disapointed by his play as a whole this season even when he hasn't been scoring.
To be honest, I don't really get why many posters on the board seem to think he is the 'odd man out' in many of our forward scenarios, especially when the reasoning is that Latendresse/Kostitsyn/Insert Prospect Here has proven they belong more than him. Ryder has scored 60 goals in the past 2 and 1/3 seasons..... THAT to me is proof that he belongs in our top 6 more than any rookie at this point.
