I unlike others, think its a bad idea to put AK and Rads together. I dont think they will gel right. I think a line of Erat-Fisher-Rads would benefit the team the most. Leaving the Kostistyn brothers together with leggy. Or slide SK down onto a line of Wilson and Smith, and move hornqvist up to the leggy AK line.
I 100% agree. But, correct me if I am wrong, hasn't Trotz gone on record saying that he won't break up the SK - Fisher - Erat line (when asked if AK and SK will play together)?
i believe he did, but that was with the acquisition of AK not Radulov. It will be interesting what line combos trotz utilizes. I bet he is salivating at the thought of this task
I would put Rads with Wilson. Wilson is a great playmaker and now he'd have someone to pass to that can finish. No offense to Tootoo and Spaling but this is exactly the guy that Wilson has needed to get to that next level. I would suggest either Spaling in the middle for some defensive consistency, Tootoo on one of the wings and move Wilson back to center(then you have a playmaker, a finisher and guy with some sandpaper to open things up for the other two) or put Smith in the middle and go for a dynamic scoring line with some obvious defensive deficiencies but guys that can hold onto the puck and make the other team pay.
Tons of options line wise but only time will tell. I honestly wouldn't mess with the top two lines.
In his 5 years in the NHL his lowest goal total was 25
I'm confused. Are we talking about Radulov here? If so, he only has two seasons in the NHL, and his lowest goal total was 18. In the KHL he had four seasons, and his lowest goal total was 20 (w/ 60 assists for 80 points).
On a side note, didn't Radulov lead the KHL in scoring two years in a row with 80 and 63 points, respectively? If so, why is the KHL such a low scoring league compared to the NHL, and does that bode well for Radulov's potential production upon his (possible) return?
I'm confused. Are we talking about Radulov here? If so, he only has two seasons in the NHL, and his lowest goal total was 18. In the KHL he had four seasons, and his lowest goal total was 20 (w/ 60 assists for 80 points).
On a side note, didn't Radulov lead the KHL in scoring two years in a row with 80 and 63 points, respectively? If so, why is the KHL such a low scoring league compared to the NHL, and does that bode well for Radulov's potential production upon his (possible) return?
54 game seasons. Those totals put him at 1.48 and 1.17 ppg. Not that he'll produce at that rate immediately upon re-entry to the NHL, but clearly dude has skills.
07/08? He played with Arnott and Dumont. Don't you remember the Arnott TKO?
Oh yeah... for some reason i had completely blacked out the 07/08 year. Ha. Well, I still stand by what I said. If Trotz isn't going to break up SK - Fisher - Erat, I wouldn't put him with AK. And to me, I'd take AK on that 2nd line over Radu.
But if it were me, I'd replace SK with Radu.
And if it going to be the case (SK replaced with Radu to play with Fisher and Erat), do you think that causes issues in the lockerroom? SK having played on the top 2 lines all year and then all of a sudden he is pushed down to the 3rd line because his brother and a Russian defect comes in and takes his spot? I'm curious to see how this plays out and also curious to see how Radu, AK, and SK all react to this situations they are placed into...
I'm confused. Are we talking about Radulov here? If so, he only has two seasons in the NHL, and his lowest goal total was 18. In the KHL he had four seasons, and his lowest goal total was 20 (w/ 60 assists for 80 points).
On a side note, didn't Radulov lead the KHL in scoring two years in a row with 80 and 63 points, respectively? If so, why is the KHL such a low scoring league compared to the NHL, and does that bode well for Radulov's potential production upon his (possible) return?
Got some bad stats on another media site. He played 2 years with goal totals of 18 and 25
54 game seasons. Those totals put him at 1.48 and 1.17 ppg. Not that he'll produce at that rate immediately upon re-entry to the NHL, but clearly dude has skills.
Yeah true. I forgot about the shorter seasons. His KHL pace over 82 games puts him at 121 and 96, respectively. Not too shabby
M. Erat -- M. Fisher -- A. Radulov
S. Kostitsyn -- D. Legwand -- A. Kostitsyn
C. Wilson -- P. Gaustad -- P. Hornqvist
M. Halischuk/G. Bourque -- N. Spaling/C. Smith -- J. Tootoo/B. Yip
The bottom two lines could change fairly often, with players rotating in and out....I think only Gaustad and Hornqvist would see no scratches. Wilson, Spaling, and Tootoo would be in the majority of the time.
So I wouldn't break up that line imo as that line seems to have alot of chemistry. So unless Rad can make that line even better than it already is I would be cautious about breaking that line up.
Thanks for the clarification. Didn't catch that. Still think it's best to not mess w/ a good thing. If the Fisher/SK/Erat line started struggling in producing or became stagnant then I would be okay w/ breaking it up but until that happens.....why fix what aren't broke.
Off topic but the Redwings lost both of their games (yesterday and today's game) and so the Preds have a chance to tie them if they win their next game. Hope they capitalize on this chance tomorrow.
Off topic but the Redwings lost both of their games (yesterday and today's game) and so the Preds have a chance to tie them if they win their next game. Hope they capitalize on this chance tomorrow.
I wouldn't be so sure about that but I hope you are right. The next game the Preds are playing is San Jose, which won't be an easy game imo cause they will be fighting for their life to make it into a playoff spot. Right now they are tied w/ Los Angeles and Calgary and are just one spot from the playoff cut off line so this game will be important to them to try to catch Colorado which is above them and get pass them to make the playoff spot while trying to separate themselves from LA and Calgary. Also, they lost their last game and got beaten badly by us/Preds the last time we played them so will probably be coming out harder for a win. The Preds will need to come out w/ their A game cause it won't be an easy game especially if San Jose is desperate to get two points and the Preds come out thinking it will be an easy game and not be focus/playing hard. But I'm hoping the Preds end up w/ a win cause I really like to tie Detroit
that way, the only guy you have playing a position he hasn't been playing is possibly moving smith to the left side to get toots in the lineup. just think smith/toots get less ice time come playoffs with their turnover/defensive worries. gives all 4 lines defensive able centers to bail out some of the offensive thinking forwards we all of a sudden are icing.
Last edited by Pred303: 03-15-2012 at 07:15 AM.
Reason: mistakes
The KHL is lower scoring and Rads still knocked 80 points
Radulov will instantly be our best forward by a bit. His defense may be suspect, but some players change the dynamic just by being on the ice. This is the first time since Kariya that we will have a player who teams will play 'safe' against because he is on the ice.
I don't think Radulov is a 60-65 pt player. I think he is a 80-95pt player.
