Had nothing better to do while I wait for the Dead Wings game tonight and was thinking about our roster and how amazing camp is going to be next year. I started to jot line combos in my head and it seems to me like we're going to have too many going into camp. With Filatov the "#1" prospect and with the addition of Vermette we appear to have some tough decisions (good for the team tough for the players) ahead of us (well Howson and Hitch, not really us. )
Then I thought...damn, forgot about Torres and Dorsett (didn't forget but you konw what I mean) and what happens if we re-sign Williams? Does Filatov really spend another year in the AHL (sick and injured this year so maybe that's a good thing for him to do ????). Well we can certainly move some players I guess.... so what about...
This assumes Modin is gone and Murray becomes the extra skater. I'm not sure Umberger drops that far because we know Hitch won't play Filatov on the second line....would he?
I guess I'm just bored but I really think something is being built. I'd still like to take a run at a guy like Bergeron in the off-season but I don't see it happening. Boston is likely going to need to dump some salary with the RFA's they need to sign. Maybe Sobotka could move in as our 3rd or 4th line center while he learns the game.
Man I can't wait for the playoffs but I really think we could have something pretty special next year if we can add a PP QB on the back end..... I'm not even going to think about the D yet.
Oh well. Fun to see a positive future. The year after next we have a number of contracts due so Howson has some work....and some deadline fodder for next year already.
I think we may see a few summer moves with some of those extra pieces.
I'm also thinking Filatov is going to spend the first half of next season in the AHL; this season has been basically a wash.
So I view it as follows:
Nash Brassard Huselius
Umberger Vermette Voracek
Chimera Malhotra X
X X X
X
X
The Xes are Murray, Torres, Dorsett, Boll, and Modin, and maybe also Williams.
I'm also hoping another defenseman or two can start getting a few looks up here; I won't shed a tear if any or all of Methot, Rome, and/or OKT are traded. Clitsome, maybe? (I would have suggested Sigalet or Plekhanov, but... )
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Remember - when you're a hockey fan, it's not "reckless driving", it's "good forechecking".
"Viqsi, you are our sweet humanist..." --mt-svk on the CBJ boards
Thanks, Howson, for cleaning up MacLean's toxic waste. Welcome, Kekalainen; let's get good things built!
Agree wholeheartedly. If everyone can get healthy THIS(minus Brassard) year we'll see one of Boll or Dorsett(probably Dorsett) sit a lot more. Then Novotny, and I think Peca should be third on the list.
I think it's hard to say whether Howson will re-sign Williams, Peca or Novotny. I would be surprised if he doesn't re-sign Manny. I know out of that group I would go after Malhotra and Williams. I guess my only question would be if Williams is suited as a checking line or energy line center. He may not be very effective on 3rd or 4th lines and I can't imagine they would want Brassard or Vermette on either of those lines.
My wife and I were trying to work this out during the 2nd intermission tonight. Its going to be tight, but one thing is for sure, we're going to be rolling one hella nice 4th line next year(not that our 4th isn't bad ass this year).
Its a blessing of riches for the Jackets. Consider the fact that even right now we have essentially a whole line that isn't playing--Peca, Modin and Chimmer. Last year that would have been our second line.
I think Manny has earned an extension. I really see him being a Sami Pahlsson type guy that a contender needs on their third line who can take important faceoffs.
I think Williams has probably overpriced himself with his play and it makes more sense to get a defenseman to serve the role he has been on the power play.
Filatov is going to be on the big squad. The only question is whether its straight out of camp or at some point thereafter.
With all of that said, we've got one or two guys more than we need. Putting Umberger on the third line is a waste--the guy has shown himself to be the type of goal scorer we've needed, who goes to the net and isn't afraid to take a beating. Similarly, does playing a guy like Modin on the fourth line make sense?
We could potentially roll four lines, but I think Howson moves one or two guys to acquire something else he needs if possible--backup goalie, PPQB or...still a chance to go after a center.
Vermette may prove himself sufficient at center, but part of me still likes the idea of making a run at Jordan Staal. Imagine having Vermette, Umberger and Staal on a line--you can cheat plenty in the faceoff circle with those options to replace your center. You also have a potent combination of scoring and checking with all three of those guys.
If Nash had a legitimate #1 center on his line, Huselius could be expendable in a trade. The Pens could use an upgrade on wing...
The log jam clears up a bit the following year with Torres and Modin's contracts expiring just in time to clear cap room for Nash's new contract and any extension of Vermette.
Excellent analysis, Cap. Things are finally looking up! Not there, yet, but more of the pieces are in place than ever before and there are more chips available to fill in the blanks.
I think we may see a few summer moves with some of those extra pieces.
I'm also thinking Filatov is going to spend the first half of next season in the AHL; this season has been basically a wash.
So I view it as follows:
Nash Brassard Huselius
Umberger Vermette Voracek
Chimera Malhotra X
X X X
X
X
The Xes are Murray, Torres, Dorsett, Boll, and Modin, and maybe also Williams.
I'm also hoping another defenseman or two can start getting a few looks up here; I won't shed a tear if any or all of Methot, Rome, and/or OKT are traded. Clitsome, maybe? (I would have suggested Sigalet or Plekhanov, but... )
Out of your X's I think Hitch's order would probably be something like:
1.Modin
2.Williams
3.Torres
4.Murray
5.Boll
6.Dorsett
I think it's hard to say whether Howson will re-sign Williams, Peca or Novotny. I would be surprised if he doesn't re-sign Manny. I know out of that group I would go after Malhotra and Williams. I guess my only question would be if Williams is suited as a checking line or energy line center. He may not be very effective on 3rd or 4th lines and I can't imagine they would want Brassard or Vermette on either of those lines.
I'm surprised at how many people left Williams out of their line-up. I think he meshes really well with the team. He seems to be a player that needs to be in a system, and he fits ours well. He can also play any position up front, so he's got flexibility there too. I'd definitely keep him if we can do so reasonably.
Brassard, Vermette, Williams, Malhotra + Gratton (if cheap). What I like is there's a lot of flexibility in those middle three.
Peca, Novotny = gone after this season. Modin needs to start moving down to the bottom two lines.
Next year will be the first year in franchise history that we will have a log jam of top 6 forwards, so much so we will have to play a few top 6ers on the third line. We have slowly but surely built up some big time depth and in a few years this team will probably be one of the favorites to go to the finals at the start of the year. All these years of failure are really starting to turn for the better.
[QUOTE=CapnCornelius;18409878]With all of that said, we've got one or two guys more than we need. Putting Umberger on the third line is a waste--the guy has shown himself to be the type of goal scorer we've needed, who goes to the net and isn't afraid to take a beating. Similarly, does playing a guy like Modin on the fourth line make sense?
We could potentially roll four lines, but I think Howson moves one or two guys to acquire something else he needs if possible--backup goalie, PPQB or...still a chance to go after a center.QUOTE]
Roll four lines. It's a long season, players are going to get hurt. The shorter you keep shifts and the more you spread the minutes around the more spring guys will have in their legs and the healthier. When our fourth line is winning battles the Jackets do pretty well, because that can really run the other guys legs down.
Still, this is the sort of problem all teams want to have.
Umberger has definitely accorded himself as a top-6 winger. With two legit top-6 centers for next season, Umberger could be a 30-40 goal scorer with a full season on the wing, and just like last year in the playoffs, he seems to play much better when the heat gets turned up.
I too would like to see Williams back, but of course only if he's a bargain. A utility forward and point specialist who can actually find the back of the net with some regularity.
Filatov presents the most challenging case to me. Will another season in Syracuse help him? Maybe they move him over to center for next season and play him on the point for the PP and he's a perfect replacement for Vermette (I know Vermette doesn't play the point, but it would be a great skill for Filatov to master) at the end of next season...Does he actually get any better, or significantly help the Blue Jackets next season by playing 3/4th line minutes in Columbus?
To me Filatov hasn't done enough yet to warrant a spot on the NHL roster yet. He has all the skill in the world, but with the World Juniors and his illness he really hasn't adjusted to the NA game yet. His ability let him put up points at the start of the AHL season, but he was really struggling before he left in December.
I would really like it if he spent the summer in Cbus working out with the guys and came back stronger and more ready for a full season. Start him here and bring up when he's ready. He'll only be 19, there's no reason to rush him, especially with what people are seeing when trying to put lineups together. It's not like there is a gaping hole only he can fill.
It looks to me like there are enough "bullets" to pull off a big move or 2 in the summer. My hope for July is to lock up Nash and bring in a major stud defensemen.
All star goalie - Mase
All star forward - Nash
All star defensemen - TBD
With the emergence of Brassard, Voracek and hopefully Filatov, we're top-heavy with top notch forwards (relative to top-notch defensemen).
obviously you don't get through a season with the 12 forwards you open it with, therefore we could see Filatov when a call-up is merited.. possibly Mayorov.. and maybe we retain either Peca or Novo (or pick a UFA NHL forward) for depth
we're in good shape... contract/structure wise, real good shape
I doubt we see any major FA signing unless we move another contract. It makes sense to see a front loaded contract for Nash to allow our young guns plenty of money to re-sign in the future. Camalleri(sp) is possibly available, but he's expensive. Who else is available that seems to fit?
With that being said:
Nash Brassard Huselius
Umberger Williams Voracek
Modin Malholtra Chimera
Murray Gratton Boll
Dorsett
Hejda Commodore
Methot Tyutin
Russel Rome
?
Mase
Lacosta
Could Plekhanov come up? I see Klesla getting moved.
obviously you don't get through a season with the 12 forwards you open it with, therefore we could see Filatov when a call-up is merited.. possibly Mayorov.. and maybe we retain either Peca or Novo (or pick a UFA NHL forward) for depth
we're in good shape... contract/structure wise, real good shape
We're at $42 million with almost the whole team signed for next year except Manny and potentially Williams, plus a backup goalie. Even with the cap potentially staying aroud $56 million, I still see us making 1 major acquisition--a defenseman.
I doubt we see any major FA signing unless we move another contract. It makes sense to see a front loaded contract for Nash to allow our young guns plenty of money to re-sign in the future. Camalleri(sp) is possibly available, but he's expensive. Who else is available that seems to fit?
With that being said:
Nash Brassard Huselius
Umberger Williams Voracek
Modin Malholtra Chimera
Murray Gratton Boll
Dorsett
Hejda Commodore
Methot Tyutin
Russel Rome
?
Mase
Lacosta
Could Plekhanov come up? I see Klesla getting moved.
You're kind of missing...Vermette.
How do you forget to add Vermette?
And Rome SHOULD NOT be in the line-up. If Klesla goes, I'm sure we will be getting another defensemen which will be kicking Rome out anyway...hopefully.
I don't see any way that Boll and Dorsett are kept out of the lineup in favor of Modin. We need to somehow get rid of Modin in this off season as he's injured all the time and when he is healthy I don't think he brings as much to the team as either of our agitators.
I doubt we see any major FA signing unless we move another contract. It makes sense to see a front loaded contract for Nash to allow our young guns plenty of money to re-sign in the future. Camalleri(sp) is possibly available, but he's expensive. Who else is available that seems to fit?
With that being said:
Nash Brassard Huselius
Umberger Williams Voracek
Modin Malholtra Chimera
Murray Gratton Boll
Dorsett
Hejda Commodore
Methot Tyutin
Russel Rome
?
Mase
Lacosta
Could Plekhanov come up? I see Klesla getting moved.
You see Filatov being in the minors another season? I don't, move Modin...
My wife and I were trying to work this out during the 2nd intermission tonight. Its going to be tight, but one thing is for sure, we're going to be rolling one hella nice 4th line next year(not that our 4th isn't bad ass this year).
With all the talent we have, how do you possibly see Modin on the 2nd line still? He adds nothing offensively and not much else except board work. He's a 3rd or 4th liner at best and at 3mil, I would rather see him in a different uniform playing on the 4th line for someone else...
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