He's still recovering from his off-season elbow surgery. A bit of a precaution, they want to make sure it's 100% before throwing him out there, but he hasn't played in any of the preseason games, or the main scrimmages.
He's expected to be back in time for the regular season, although everyone is hoping he can at least get in a preseason game or two first. As to where he will play, it will probably be on the left side (where is anyone's guess). He supposedly can also play the right side, so with Havlat probably missing some time, Fish could step in on one of the top three lines on the right wing too.
Right now the lines are still a bit of a crap shoot, especially with Havlat not around.
Being mired in TO I haven't heard much regarding where fisher will end up playing. Is he being used as a 4th liner or as a top 9 forward?
Vermette-Spezza-Hossa!!!
I haven't heard much of this yet. I think they're trying all the centres (except Bonk and Spezza) on the wing to see how they react.
My personal preference when we have a complete line-up (i.e. When Havlat's signed) is to see him centre the fourth line. Many people will consider it a waste of his talents, but I think that Van Allen is the forward that should have to sit when we're at full strength, and Fisher is the centre best suited to fill the fourth line role.
Until we have a full line-up though, I see Fisher being one of the LWers. With Havlat gone, I expect to see Varada shift to the right wing (his natural position), and Fisher play on the left side. I would put the lines together as follows:
Just curious if anyone has heard anything about Bonk potentially playing on the wing? I remember that Colorado game last year when a Bonk-Spezza-Hossa line was put together and looked really good.
Are they considering Bonk as a LW candidate or is it only White and Fisher among the centres?
Just curious if anyone has heard anything about Bonk potentially playing on the wing? I remember that Colorado game last year when a Bonk-Spezza-Hossa line was put together and looked really good.
Are they considering Bonk as a LW candidate or is it only White and Fisher among the centres?
I've never like Bonk on the LW. They've experimented with it before, but I've never liked the look of it (although it seems that many disagree with that statement, and I don't have a specific recollection of what I didn't like, so take my opinion with a grain of salt).
I also think that Smolinksi is being tried out on the left wing as well.
It seems like Bonk and Spezza are the only two players who WON"T be looked at on the wing, at least on first glance. Bonk brings so much to the center ice position with his defensive play and passing, that I think he is better served at center.
Smolinski has had his best years in LA and Pittsburgh on the left wing, so he is a no-brainer to shift over IMO. White or Fisher will also be tried on the wing, although they could be the third and 4th line centers with a full line-up, and Van Allen sits (as per Discostu's earlier post in this thread).
I can see Smolinski and Shastlivy switching spots.
I want to see White stay with Alfredsson. Ever since White's come on board, he has show excellent chemistry with Alfie. His defensive abilities are under-rated, and I think he gives Alfredsson more confidence to make aggressive offensive plays.
This is also why I'm not an advocate of moving White to the wing
I'm the eternal optimist, I think Fisher will have reovered enough to play, and Havlat will have signed by then. But pretty much hw I see the line-up shaping up.
Schastlivy - Spezza - Hossa
Smolinski - White - Alfredsson
Varada - Bonk - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
I'm the eternal optimist, I think Fisher will have reovered enough to play, and Havlat will have signed by then. But pretty much hw I see the line-up shaping up.
Schastlivy - Spezza - Hossa
Smolinski - White - Alfredsson
Varada - Bonk - Havlat
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
I'm pretty sure Havlat will be playing with Schaeffer.
