Agree on Nystrom and Clune.
Hipcheck is going to hate me for saying this but I don't know why Nystrom has a roster spot. He doesn't hit like Tootoo, can't fight and is horrible on the backcheck.
Ok let me ask this to those questioning where some have ranked Stalberg. And this is in no way to come to any player's defense, more curiosity than anything else. Looking through this thread, it seems the top 3 mentioned on the top line with Neal and Ribeiro are Wilson, Cullen and Stalberg. Yet Stalberg is the only one called out/questioned as to why does he deserve to be there. What makes Wilson deserve to be on the top line? Wilson is in a make or break it year and hasn't really done anything other than shown flashes of potential and that's it.
Personally I don't care who goes where as that's up to the coach, I just hope that Nystrom and Clune stay on the 4th line. Neither should be any higher than that.
my thing with Stalberg is just that he needs a fair shake. If he can't produce with Neal and Ribeiro on his same line, then he doesn't deserve the spot. But either way, I cannot and will not believe that he isn't either on the first line with Ribeiro and Neal or the second line which will be anchored by Roy.
Either way, in a system like PL's, Stalberg will receive top 6 minutes with who we have on the roster or should get those minutes until he continues to not prove it.
I think everyone for the most part is going to have to earn their time. There is nothing set here. Everyone is coming in with a clean slate. I think the only sure things are that Rinne is the starter and Weber and Josi are the top pairing defensively. Beyond that, roll the dice and see where the chips may fall.
I think everyone for the most part is going to have to earn their time. There is nothing set here. Everyone is coming in with a clean slate. I think the only sure things are that Rinne is the starter and Weber and Josi are the top pairing defensively. Beyond that, roll the dice and see where the chips may fall.
Poile already stated that Cullen, Wilson and Olli would all be playing wing this season. I think the plan is to let Jarnkrok sink or swim at that 3rd C spot to try to develop him into a top 6 role.Olli Jokinen should not play W. He has been tried there a number of times and never succeeded. I'd put Jokinen to C in the 3rd and Cullen to W.
Neal - Ribeiro - Stålberg/Järnkrok/Forsberg
Wilson - Roy - Smith
Cullen - Jokinen - Stålberg/Järnkrok/Forsberg
Nystrom - Gaustad - Bourque
Clune - Stålberg/Järnkrok/Forsberg
It's interesting to see who will be traded to make room for Fish..
Olli Jokinen should not play W. He has been tried there a number of times and never succeeded. I'd put Jokinen to C in the 3rd and Cullen to W.
Neal - Ribeiro - Stålberg/Järnkrok/Forsberg
Wilson - Roy - Smith
Cullen - Jokinen - Stålberg/Järnkrok/Forsberg
Nystrom - Gaustad - Bourque
Clune - Stålberg/Järnkrok/Forsberg
It's interesting to see who will be traded to make room for Fish..
Poile already stated that Cullen, Wilson and Olli would all be playing wing this season. I think the plan is to let Jarnkrok sink or swim at that 3rd C spot to try to develop him into a top 6 role.
I'm not sure that we'll even have to worry about Fisher returning this season. Achilles rupture for an elite level athlete is about a 9month/year long recovery.
I'm pretty sure Poile said Olli is penciled in at center, but can play wing if need be. Either way, it's up to Lavi, so who knows how it will play out. I'm sure there will be plenty of shuffling around.
Mark my word it will be Ribs, Roy, Cullen, Gaustad down the middle to start the season. When Fisher returns we will either be looking to sell or he will move Roy to wing on the second line.
Joke, Wilson, and Jarnkrok will have to play wing to make the team.
Cullen may start there but will last no more than 5 games there. He's ok as a fill in, but he's lost his mojo as a full time center and needs to be on wing. He was horrible there last year.
I thought Cullen played well when he moved to the wing. I bet he plays with Jarnkrok as a good veteran presence to help him acclimate to not only an NHL center role but also in Lavy's system.
That's what I meant. He was horrible at center. Better at wing.