I'm gonna go against the popular crowd and say I like these lines. Tampa Bay completely outplayed us the last game so we have to try something new. Obviously, Krog is no one's first choice as 2nd line center but that line didn't look all that bad last game so who cares, we might as well try it again. I see 4 solid lines we can put out there and roll, and when we roll 4 lines that's when we play our best game. And I can't believe Renney actually changed the powerplay. It needed to be done about 25 games ago but at least it finally happened. Cullen on the point is going to make a world's difference out there, and I would have to assume Prucha goes back with the Jagr unit which is obviously a boost to him and what should've been done since the the beginning of the year. I know everyone is against these lines, but at this point in the season and the desperation, I can see it clicking and with this many games left we need to find some kind of consistency. This is the perfect time to switch things up and I think it's going to work.
I'm gonna go against the popular crowd and say I like these lines. Tampa Bay completely outplayed us the last game so we have to try something new. Obviously, Krog is no one's first choice as 2nd line center but that line didn't look all that bad last game so who cares, we might as well try it again. I see 4 solid lines we can put out there and roll, and when we roll 4 lines that's when we play our best game. And I can't believe Renney actually changed the powerplay. It needed to be done about 25 games ago but at least it finally happened. Cullen on the point is going to make a world's difference out there, and I would have to assume Prucha goes back with the Jagr unit which is obviously a boost to him and what should've been done since the the beginning of the year. I know everyone is against these lines, but at this point in the season and the desperation, I can see it clicking and with this many games left we need to find some kind of consistency. This is the perfect time to switch things up and I think it's going to work.
I hear ya bud, but where you see four solid lines, I see one decent line and three lines that could be horrible just as easily as they could be decent. Rarely do guys just click right off the bat, so I wouldn't expect a whole lot from these pairings. We've got guys that just haven't played together at all this season. I could buy these lines if I thought there was any chance at all that Renney would actually leave them together for an entire game, let alone a few consecutive. Chemistry takes time to build, and Renney's constant fiddling has irritated me more than anything else this season.
I hear ya bud, but where you see four solid lines, I see one decent line and three lines that could be horrible just as easily as they could be decent. Rarely do guys just click right off the bat, so I wouldn't expect a whole lot from these pairings. We've got guys that just haven't played together at all this season. I could buy these lines if I thought there was any chance at all that Renney would actually leave them together for an entire game, let alone a few consecutive. Chemistry takes time to build, and Renney's constant fiddling has irritated me more than anything else this season.
I see where your coming from but I see a nice looking 1st line. The 2nd line I see something happening with Hossa's work along on the boards and the simple fact of Jagr. Straka being with Cullen and Ortmeyer I can see being better than the COP line because of the way of Straka can handle the puck and move it. And the 4th line, well 3 good forecheckers, and yes while Prucha shouldn't be on the 4th line he can make Betts and Hollweg better. I know what you mean with the chemistry, it has frustrated me never knowing who is going to play with who, but for some reason I have a good gut feeling about this.
Renney doesnt know what he's doing. Putting Cullen out there for the shootout the other night might have been the dumbest thing he has done this season. I dont care if Jags isnt a 100 percent healthy or if he hasnt been great in shootouts, he is one of the best players in the world and matt cullen is a guy with less than 20 points this season. If were gonna lose a shootout lets lose with our best. Even Hossa would have been a better choice than Cullen.
Cullen is one of the better shootout options on this team. Jagr has not been very successful in the shootout. What exactly is all the outrage about?
I've seen Renney get flamed on this board for being stubborn and sticking with JJ in shootouts even though his scoring % is abysmal, and now you're killing him for doing the opposite. He just can't seem to win.
As for the lines in practice...I'm ok with them. Like others have expressed though, I hope they stay together for more than just one period
myeh, i don't mind the lines so much. then again, i only get radio feeds on west so hard to have anything to back that up other than, "i don't mind." I'm most happy about the PP changes. Prucha finally back with the SweCzech posse. They were great last year. Shanahan just isn't working well with them. ABOUT TIME! Shanahan with Cullen FINALLY on the point?!? Great!
Sam said Hossa-Krog-Jagr played well last game. With Hossa working the boards and Jagr with his puck control, what more does Krog have to do? The other two will give him time and space to do his AHL thing. He's snuck in for 2 heads up rebound goals on the 4th line so I don't think it'll be bad. I'm sure we all would have loved to see Prucha get the LW spot and that is probably the main complaint but that doesn't make this line inherently bad.
Avery-Nylander-Shanahan. What's not to like? I mean, Cullen might have been better here but this could work as well.
Straka-Cullen-Ortmeyer. Probably the main reason Cullen isn't playing on the A-N-S line: chemistry with Ortmeyer. Straka is a savvy player and should be able to do a better job at scoring and setting up plays than Prucha so this might actually work.
Prucha-Betts-Hollweg - Rodent always says that Prucha is a great 3rd line banger type so as long as they are getting good 15 minutes of ice, I have no complaints. Who knows? Maybe we'll see Ryan's first point of the season. If they get crap ice time, I will be pissed.
Renney forcing himself to role 4 lines = awesome
new PP lines?
give Henke a rest? I think he could use it.
If ANYTHING, if you're going to use Avery on one of the top two lines (which from what I've seen, I'm not against..yet) then stick him with Jagr. Put somebody out there to make the other team think twice before they take their usual liberty's with our star player.
Personally, I would center Straka with Avery and Jagr.. but for whatever reason, they seem to think Straka is much better off on the wing.. so be it. Cullen center's Jagr simply by process of elimination. This lineup is also hinged on if Hossa can play right wing instead of left.
i just thought of this but i would love to see prucha and avery on the same line
Straka-Nylander-Shanahan
Prucha-Avery-Jagr (I'm pretty sure Avery has played centre b4 regularly)
Prucha gets to play with Jagr...will probably score more....Jagr also gets a bodyguard...and not to mention Shanny finally gets that playmaking centre
now all we need is a decent defense.
I didnt see this in the thread, if it was posted I appologize:
Quote:
Henrik Lundqvist (13 goals allowed in the last six games) will probably be in the net tomorrow, with Kevin Weekes likely making his first start since Jan. 11 against Ottawa, nearly a month ago, against the Capitals in DC on Saturday...
But I don't think he's a better playmaker than he's shown though.
Ideally, I think you're better off giving Jagr a puck carrying center who can get him the puck when he finds his space and time.
That said, if Betts consistently goes to the net on inevitable Jagr shots from the outside, he's bound to find some garbage down there. I don't really think he has it in him though.
I can't argue with you there Melrose. There are alot of arguments to be made with this particular combination, and in reality, its probably Immonen who should get the opportunity in a perfect world.
i'd trade him for an 8th rounder if you know what i mean
Thank you. Sometimes you get lucky and catch lightning in a bottle, but otherwise, chemistry takes time to develop.
I think he could use it.
