Any Jumbo news?
He's a first ballot hofer, but the only reason he looked so great in comparison is because the entire team up front was hurt.If we get the same one legged thornton as last years playoffs it won't be so bad. But we just have to hope that its not the same team behind him since a one legged thornton was the best player for the sharks last year. That can't happen again.
Donskoi?The Kane-Pavelski-Donskoi line is fine for now but I doubt it will be to a point where it's unbreakable when Thornton comes back.
Kane-Thornton-Pavelski
Hertl-Couture-Labanc
Meier-Tierney-Boedker
Goodrow-Fehr-Karlsson/Ward
They're not going to bump Tierney to the 4th line no matter what. The chances of Thornton not being with Pavelski is slim to none.
The Kane-Pavelski-Donskoi line is fine for now but I doubt it will be to a point where it's unbreakable when Thornton comes back.
Kane-Thornton-Pavelski
Hertl-Couture-Labanc
Meier-Tierney-Boedker
Goodrow-Fehr-Karlsson/Ward
They're not going to bump Tierney to the 4th line no matter what. The chances of Thornton not being with Pavelski is slim to none.
Donskoi?
I agree, I think DeBoer is too stubborn to leave that line alone. I also agree that he won’t take Fehr out if he’s healthy so Tierney will be locked into 3C unfortunately. That being said I think your lines are spot on with what DeBoer will ice once Jumbo returns except Donkey will be where Labanc is.
I knew I was missing someone. Put Donskoi in Boedker's spot and move Boedker into the Karlsson/Ward spot. lol
It shouldn't be viewed as unfortunate that Tierney is locked into the 3C spot. He's earned it. He's having a phenomenal year. I don't know why anyone would want to demote someone from the 3rd line who has a good chance at scoring 20 goals this year and maybe getting 40 points. Pavelski certainly has done better in the all-around game but he's no Thornton in the pivot and Pavelski is the best winger for Thornton to have.
I say that because Pavs has scored at a PPG pace in the 19 games Thornton has been out, something he wasn’t doing before Joe went down. I don’t look at it as a demotion for Tierney but a testament to the quality of Center depth. I wouldn’t mind seeing a fourth line anchored by Tierney out there down by a goal with 4 minutes left. DeBoer could literally just roll four lines.
Also, if this line continues having this kind of success, would you want to break up a line that has developed a month and a half of chemistry right before playoffs just because Thornton is back? Let’s just try Kane-Thornton-Pavs and see if it works come game 1? I’d put Thornton with Hertl and Meier personally because Hertl really does need a boost. Then Labanc-Couture-Boedker. Goodrow-Fehr-Ward/Karlsson/Hansen. My .02
Pavs was also scoring at a point per game pace from December 7th on through the game that Jumbo got hurt which was 21 games. Pavs production early on is likely linked to both him and Jumbo dealing with their respective injuries and them seemingly turning a corner at around that point. I'm not worried at all about shifting Pavs back to wing and I think Kane with the Joes would do pretty damn good and better than what they have now. As for Tierney, you can try and sell that as such but at the end of the day, putting him as 4C means less ice time and less critical situations and worse linemates. It's a demotion at the end of the day and he simply doesn't deserve it.
We have to keep things in perspective when it comes to the current line of Kane-Pavelski-Donskoi. It's been three games against two crappy teams and a fringe playoff team. And Jumbo still probably has a while before he returns to the lineup. We'll see where the line is in production and play quality at that point but I'm doubting it's enough to think that it'd be worse to put Jumbo there with Kane and Pavs.
It has been three games you’re right, my point is if they keep it up why break up something that’s already working for an uncertainty? Maybe it’s just me but I feel like Pavs has been skating a little faster since joining Donkey and Kane. Maybe it’s because Thornton likes to slow things down more but I feel like Pavs was shutdown a lot easier playing that way. The faster transition game seems to be working for him. However, if the line becomes unproductive I obviously wouldn’t be against trying what you suggested.
If you want to keep Tierney at 3C stack Joe with Hertl and Couture as suggested above. That could be a great possession line. And Hertl-Couture-Boedker hasnt looked that great.