Line Combos: 2017-18 Lineup

[BruinDust]

Always difficult to sell high or buy low... but those who cant manage this never get ahead

My gut feeling is the price for neal is too high today. Hes always been streaky. Buying him in the middle of his career best start would be ill advised i think.

But if im vegas... my message to my fans is... yes we dealt an impending ufa but look at the haul we got.

Its the same message they told their fans at the expansion draft.

I fully expect he will be dealt at some point... i fully expect the ask will be picks/prospects.

If he cools off before the trade happens maybe it wont require the 2018 first rounder... so lets wait

Depends on where they are come deadline day.

If they are in a very good position of qualifying for the playoffs, and Neal is their most productive forward, how do you sell trading arguably you're best player to a new fan-base?

Not all fans are like the die-hard hardcores we are around this place. I know more hockey fans who don't give two you-know-whats about team building, and salary caps, and prospects and draft picks, than I do guys/gals like us around here.

A number of my co-workers are also hockey fans, and if I talked hockey with them the way we talk about around here, they'd look at me like I had three heads.

New fans, and casual fans, not to mention corporate sponsors, see win-loss records, and winning streaks, points/goals. Vegas I doubt thought they'd be a playoff contending team this season, and it's early, but what if Vegas is in a very good position to make the playoffs come March?

New/casual fans and sponsors see that, then they see their best player dealt for a late 1st rounder, essentially a lottery ticket, and some prospect they've never heard of before.

Awful message to send to a fan-base they are trying to grow from the ground up. They need all the momentum the can get early on to grow the sport and brand in Vegas, gain an early foothold, especially before the Raiders come to town.

If they come back down to earth, all bets are off, and he will likely be re-signed or dealt.

 

[DKH]

Finally veleskey vatrano dropped

Why not nash also?

Agoatini. Jfk cehlarik is the 4th line i would have liked to see

Watched JFK twice in Providence not sure he's ready but close

 

[PlayMakers]

World peace and Beleskey and Spooner

LOL, I asked because I think if you ask 10 people for their lines you'd get 10 different answers. There are just so many bodies in the mix.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

Depends on where they are come deadline day.

If they are in a very good position of qualifying for the playoffs, and Neal is their most productive forward, how do you sell trading arguably you're best player to a new fan-base?

Not all fans are like the die-hard hardcores we are around this place. I know more hockey fans who don't give two you-know-whats about team building, and salary caps, and prospects and draft picks, than I do guys/gals like us around here.

A number of my co-workers are also hockey fans, and if I talked hockey with them the way we talk about around here, they'd look at me like I had three heads.

New fans, and casual fans, not to mention corporate sponsors, see win-loss records, and winning streaks, points/goals. Vegas I doubt thought they'd be a playoff contending team this season, and it's early, but what if Vegas is in a very good position to make the playoffs come March?

New/casual fans and sponsors see that, then they see their best player dealt for a late 1st rounder, essentially a lottery ticket, and some prospect they've never heard of before.

Awful message to send to a fan-base they are trying to grow from the ground up. They need all the momentum the can get early on to grow the sport and brand in Vegas, gain an early foothold, especially before the Raiders come to town.

If they come back down to earth, all bets are off, and he will likely be re-signed or dealt.

Id look at a florida situation to make this aguement. When mclean was coaching them they went to the finals with a group of veterns all on their final legs. Most that core has zero chance to be around 3 years later. Yes the fans loved it and threw black rats all over the ice

But what happened for the next 2 decades? What happened to any chance at substained success?

Should florida have traded a vanbiesbouck, mellanby, or skrudland or whoever else had value instead of going on that fluke ride?

Did the fan base actually stay loyal as the team sucked over the next few years as these guys disappeared? And how bad did it hurt not getting another good draft pick

The 96 draft wasnt strong i admit... but marcus nilsson wasnt any value as a building block. Then Florida was stuck picking 20 in 97 and had to take mike brown

Nilsson and brown as first round picks because the team wanted to give their fans a taste of playoff hockey

Expansion teams should try to get a wayne gretzky or a vincent lecavalier type before they start worrying about longshot playoff hopes.

I mean we werent expansion team... and we had 5 or 6 superstars... and our fans still freaked when we didnt trade louie eriksson.

Trying to squeek into playoffs doesnt buy loyalty from most fans

 

[pineapplestastegood]

Depends on where they are come deadline day.

If they are in a very good position of qualifying for the playoffs, and Neal is their most productive forward, how do you sell trading arguably you're best player to a new fan-base?

Not all fans are like the die-hard hardcores we are around this place. I know more hockey fans who don't give two you-know-whats about team building, and salary caps, and prospects and draft picks, than I do guys/gals like us around here.

A number of my co-workers are also hockey fans, and if I talked hockey with them the way we talk about around here, they'd look at me like I had three heads.

New fans, and casual fans, not to mention corporate sponsors, see win-loss records, and winning streaks, points/goals. Vegas I doubt thought they'd be a playoff contending team this season, and it's early, but what if Vegas is in a very good position to make the playoffs come March?

New/casual fans and sponsors see that, then they see their best player dealt for a late 1st rounder, essentially a lottery ticket, and some prospect they've never heard of before.

Awful message to send to a fan-base they are trying to grow from the ground up. They need all the momentum the can get early on to grow the sport and brand in Vegas, gain an early foothold, especially before the Raiders come to town.

If they come back down to earth, all bets are off, and he will likely be re-signed or dealt.

A good general manager/owner doesn't care about that nonsense. You do what's best for the team, just lol at caring what casual fans think. For a team like Florida or something, where they really depend on that playoff revenue, I can understand it. But it's inexcusable for a big market team, like, say, I don't know, the BRUINS to do something like that. And that's exactly what they did the season they didn't unload Eriksson. Inexcusable. And they STILL didn't even make the playoffs.

Imagine Bill Belichick making personnel decisions based on what casual fans will think. Just lol.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

Watched JFK twice in Providence not sure he's ready but close

His main stumbling block is going to be the numbers game. If kids like kuraly and accari fail... or debrusk and bjork fail... maybe someone as raw as jfk or heinen or chelerik get a callup

But the numbers game is going to make it difficult for all these kids this year

Even younguns like vatrano and czarik who arguable were ready last year... suddenly look exposed now.

When you got 4 rookies in the lineup that only leaves 8 vets covering up mistakes. If 3 of those vets are spooner, vatrano, belesky things can turn very ugly very quickly

Im glad jfk looks nhl worthy... but for now lets break in debrusk and bjork as scorers... kuraly and accari as checkers... get them established and jfk can be ripen to perfection for next years class

 

[Nothingbutglass]

Depends on where they are come deadline day.

If they are in a very good position of qualifying for the playoffs, and Neal is their most productive forward, how do you sell trading arguably you're best player to a new fan-base?

Not all fans are like the die-hard hardcores we are around this place. I know more hockey fans who don't give two you-know-whats about team building, and salary caps, and prospects and draft picks, than I do guys/gals like us around here.

A number of my co-workers are also hockey fans, and if I talked hockey with them the way we talk about around here, they'd look at me like I had three heads.

New fans, and casual fans, not to mention corporate sponsors, see win-loss records, and winning streaks, points/goals. Vegas I doubt thought they'd be a playoff contending team this season, and it's early, but what if Vegas is in a very good position to make the playoffs come March?

New/casual fans and sponsors see that, then they see their best player dealt for a late 1st rounder, essentially a lottery ticket, and some prospect they've never heard of before.

Awful message to send to a fan-base they are trying to grow from the ground up. They need all the momentum the can get early on to grow the sport and brand in Vegas, gain an early foothold, especially before the Raiders come to town.

If they come back down to earth, all bets are off, and he will likely be re-signed or dealt.

Reading the Vegas boards, it seems their marketing is geared toward the team logo etc instead of individual players, which makes sense. Neal has been great for them and they've overachieved, plus the players and organization really stepped up after the Vegas tragedy. Him and Fleury are the face of the franchise right now. It would be a tough call. The hockey-side of the brain would say he's 30 and hasn't necessarily been captain material in previous stops. If he's looking for a 5-6 year contract, I might take a trade package instead

 

[PlayMakers]

Lines at Wednesday practice (B's twitter):

Marchand-Bergeron-Bjork
DeBrusk-Krejci-Pasta
Schaller-Kuraly-Backes
Agostino-Nash-Cehlarik
Beleskey-White-Vatrano

I wish they would have put Cehlarik with Krejci and Pastrnak. I also have a feeling that DeBrusk and Backes could fit well together. I would have liked to see...

Marchand-Bergy-Bjork
Cehlarik -Krejci-Pasta
DeBrusk-Backes-Heinen

I like Kuraly's effort and jam but I'm not convinced he has enough finish to play on a 3rd line. Right now, he reminds me a lot of Dan Paille. Size, speed and tenacity. Paille could create chances and get positive zone time, but he just didn't finish with any consistency. So when he got moved up, we got frustrated with him, but as a 4th liner, he was dominant.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

McAvoy is playing with Chara now?

I have been wanting that for awhile as Mac can skate it out better then Carlo. This saves Chara's legs and let him handle the puck less. and mentor another rookie for the future. Krug would be best having a stay at home partner like Carlo, that can take the pressure off him by actually making outlet passes and not ice it.

Marchand - Bergy - Backes
Cehlarik - Krejci - Pasta
DeBrusk - Nash - Bjork
Schaller - Kuraly - Agostino

Chara - Mac
Krug - Carlo
Miller - O'Gara

Rask
Dobby

 

[Mainehockey33]

I wish they would have put Cehlarik with Krejci and Pastrnak. I also have a feeling that DeBrusk and Backes could fit well together. I would have liked to see...

Marchand-Bergy-Bjork
Cehlarik -Krejci-Pasta
DeBrusk-Backes-Heinen

I like Kuraly's effort and jam but I'm not convinced he has enough finish to play on a 3rd line. Right now, he reminds me a lot of Dan Paille. Size, speed and tenacity. Paille could create chances and get positive zone time, but he just didn't finish with any consistency. So when he got moved up, we got frustrated with him, but as a 4th liner, he was dominant.

That leaves us with a fourth line of Schaller/Agostino-Nash-Kuraly. Someone let Cassidy know we figured it out, you should put your best players available in the lineup.

 

[rocketdan9]

I wish they would have put Cehlarik with Krejci and Pastrnak. I also have a feeling that DeBrusk and Backes could fit well together. I would have liked to see...

Marchand-Bergy-Bjork
Cehlarik -Krejci-Pasta
DeBrusk-Backes-Heinen

I like Kuraly's effort and jam but I'm not convinced he has enough finish to play on a 3rd line. Right now, he reminds me a lot of Dan Paille. Size, speed and tenacity. Paille could create chances and get positive zone time, but he just didn't finish with any consistency. So when he got moved up, we got frustrated with him, but as a 4th liner, he was dominant.

You can bet that Juggler Cassidy will bump up Cehlarik to that line if things are not going well

I have feeling in a few games the lines are going to look like

Marchand Bergeron Pasta
Agostini Krejci Cehlarik
Bjork Kuraly Backes
Debrusk Nash Schaller

 

[DKH]

LOL, I asked because I think if you ask 10 people for their lines you'd get 10 different answers. There are just so many bodies in the mix.

His main stumbling block is going to be the numbers game. If kids like kuraly and accari fail... or debrusk and bjork fail... maybe someone as raw as jfk or heinen or chelerik get a callup

But the numbers game is going to make it difficult for all these kids this year

Even younguns like vatrano and czarik who arguable were ready last year... suddenly look exposed now.

When you got 4 rookies in the lineup that only leaves 8 vets covering up mistakes. If 3 of those vets are spooner, vatrano, belesky things can turn very ugly very quickly

Im glad jfk looks nhl worthy... but for now lets break in debrusk and bjork as scorers... kuraly and accari as checkers... get them established and jfk can be ripen to perfection for next years class

he's got NHL skills may need to get stronger and gain experience

 

[BruinDust]

A good general manager/owner doesn't care about that nonsense. You do what's best for the team, just lol at caring what casual fans think. For a team like Florida or something, where they really depend on that playoff revenue, I can understand it. But it's inexcusable for a big market team, like, say, I don't know, the BRUINS to do something like that. And that's exactly what they did the season they didn't unload Eriksson. Inexcusable. And they STILL didn't even make the playoffs.

Imagine Bill Belichick making personnel decisions based on what casual fans will think. Just lol.

You can LOL all you want, but McPhee is running a business here. And Vegas aren't the Bruins, they aren't the Patriots, with long-standing fan-bases.

They are trying to grow a brand, grow a fan-base, as well as manage the on-ice product at the same time.

You don't think fledgling franchise in a non-traditional market isn't interested in playoff game revenue? Especially when the bulk of your fans at this point are casual fans.

Just LOL.

 

[BruinDust]

Id look at a florida situation to make this aguement. When mclean was coaching them they went to the finals with a group of veterns all on their final legs. Most that core has zero chance to be around 3 years later. Yes the fans loved it and threw black rats all over the ice

But what happened for the next 2 decades? What happened to any chance at substained success?

Should florida have traded a vanbiesbouck, mellanby, or skrudland or whoever else had value instead of going on that fluke ride?

Did the fan base actually stay loyal as the team sucked over the next few years as these guys disappeared? And how bad did it hurt not getting another good draft pick

The 96 draft wasnt strong i admit... but marcus nilsson wasnt any value as a building block. Then Florida was stuck picking 20 in 97 and had to take mike brown

Nilsson and brown as first round picks because the team wanted to give their fans a taste of playoff hockey

Expansion teams should try to get a wayne gretzky or a vincent lecavalier type before they start worrying about longshot playoff hopes.

I mean we werent expansion team... and we had 5 or 6 superstars... and our fans still freaked when we didnt trade louie eriksson.

Trying to squeek into playoffs doesnt buy loyalty from most fans

I thought about the Florida example before my first post. I see them as an outlier. They came off that 96 run and went into a decade long tail-spin, 1 playoff appearance in 13 years, which completely killed any momentum gained from that 96 run, not to mention ownership changes.

Not sure trading Scott Mellanby for a late 1st rounder would of done much to change that.

 

[BruinDust]

I wish they would have put Cehlarik with Krejci and Pastrnak. I also have a feeling that DeBrusk and Backes could fit well together. I would have liked to see...

Marchand-Bergy-Bjork
Cehlarik -Krejci-Pasta
DeBrusk-Backes-Heinen

I like Kuraly's effort and jam but I'm not convinced he has enough finish to play on a 3rd line. Right now, he reminds me a lot of Dan Paille. Size, speed and tenacity. Paille could create chances and get positive zone time, but he just didn't finish with any consistency. So when he got moved up, we got frustrated with him, but as a 4th liner, he was dominant.

Pretty close to what I would do, but I'd go:

Marchand - Bergeron - Bjork
Cehlarik - Krejci - Pastrnak
Debrusk - Backes - Vatrano
Belesky/Schaller - Kuraly - Heinen

Late in games if they want to defend a lead, swap Vatrano with Heinen and roll the top 3 lines.

Bye-bye Spooner , Czarnik, Nash, and Acciari

 

[Blowfish]

Pretty close to what I would do, but I'd go:

Marchand - Bergeron - Bjork
Cehlarik - Krejci - Pastrnak
Debrusk - Backes - Vatrano
Belesky/Schaller - Kuraly - Heinen

Late in games if they want to defend a lead, swap Vatrano with Heinen and roll the top 3 lines.

Bye-bye Spooner , Czarnik, Nash, and Acciari

Pretty darn close...I would go with:

Marchand - Bergeron - Bjork
Cehlarik - Krejci - Pastrnak
Debrusk - Backes/Kuraly - Heinen
Schaller - Kuraly/Backes - Nash

Going to be tough for anyone to break in. Hoping Backes improves not regresses from last year. If that happens JFK/Spooner/Ace/Czarnik back in the fold.

 

[PlayMakers]

Pretty close to what I would do, but I'd go:

Marchand - Bergeron - Bjork
Cehlarik - Krejci - Pastrnak
Debrusk - Backes - Vatrano
Belesky/Schaller - Kuraly - Heinen

Late in games if they want to defend a lead, swap Vatrano with Heinen and roll the top 3 lines.

Bye-bye Spooner , Czarnik, Nash, and Acciari

That works for me too.

 

[pineapplestastegood]

You can LOL all you want, but McPhee is running a business here. And Vegas aren't the Bruins, they aren't the Patriots, with long-standing fan-bases.

They are trying to grow a brand, grow a fan-base, as well as manage the on-ice product at the same time.

You don't think fledgling franchise in a non-traditional market isn't interested in playoff game revenue? Especially when the bulk of your fans at this point are casual fans.

Just LOL.

I don't know what you're lolling at, I acknowledged the exact counterpoint that you made, in the post you quoted.

 

[slim399]

Marchand-Bergeron-Bjork
Debrusk-Krejci-Pastrnak
Agostino-Backes-Cehlarik
Schaller-Kurlay-Nash

Agostino and Cehlarik seemed to have chemistry to start the year in the AHL wouldn't hurt to keep them together. If that doesn't work I am interested to see the Cehlarik-Krejci-Pastrnak line again

 

[bp13]

I'm still puzzled as to why Heinen was sent down. I thought his last few games were his best at this level. I'd happily give him ice over anyone on either one of those 4th lines aside from Backes.

Also, part of me likes that the coach is less patient than his predecessor in terms of juggling lines, but with so many kids I do wonder if giving them some stability and more than a game or two at a time might be worthwhile. I know he's trying to win as well so obviously this is something he'll have to balance.

 

[ODAAT]

I'm still puzzled as to why Heinen was sent down. I thought his last few games were his best at this level. I'd happily give him ice over anyone on either one of those 4th lines aside from Backes.

Also, part of me likes that the coach is less patient than his predecessor in terms of juggling lines, but with so many kids I do wonder if giving them some stability and more than a game or two at a time might be worthwhile. I know he's trying to win as well so obviously this is something he'll have to balance.

Great point about the kids/stability, completely agree.

While CJ made adjustments, it was typically too late, it seemed to be a combination of him coaching with fear and not wanting to hurt a vet`s feelings by shifting them up and down a lineup.

It`s a slippery slope, making an adjustment is great, but doing so or prematurely isn`t necessarily the wisest thing either and I`m with you, I am a touch concerned about too much change so early but we`ll see. I think a vet or someone who`s been around a bit probably doesn`t get thrown for a loop if moved up or down a lineup but a kid might solely based on inexperience in doing so.

Haven`t a clue why Heinen was sent down either, my very untrained and under qualified experience as a scout had me believing in the 2 of 3 games I watched him play that he was arguably the most consistent Bruin out there? Is this or could this be less about Heinen`s game and more about Vatrano having to clear waivers and DS not ready to lose him yet? It`s the only thing I can think of but IMO, I don`t like it, Frankie has done absolutely zippo this year, losing him for nothing isn`t terrific but at this stage, I want the best players on the ice and he`s not close to being in the conversation.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Pretty close to what I would do, but I'd go:

Marchand - Bergeron - Bjork
Cehlarik - Krejci - Pastrnak
Debrusk - Backes - Vatrano
Belesky/Schaller - Kuraly - Heinen

Late in games if they want to defend a lead, swap Vatrano with Heinen and roll the top 3 lines.

Bye-bye Spooner , Czarnik, Nash, and Acciari

Swap Heinen and Vatrano, and add White to the 4th line mix and I’m there.

 

[ODAAT]

Swap Heinen and Vatrano, and add White to the 4th line mix and I’m there.

correct in assuming you`d kick Beleskey upstairs for White?

I`m not at all opposed to trying White, I`m just concerned he`s incapable of playing with physicality while remaining disciplined which has been a big issue for him

 

[LSCII]

Watched JFK twice in Providence not sure he's ready but close

Maybe it's just me, but I don't get the hype of JFK. I just don't see it. He's young and can still continue to develop his game, but to me, he slots in as pretty much nothing more than a JAG type of player. I'd say the same thing about Heinan too. I just don't see it yet. Maybe in time, but now? Not even close, IMO.

 

[Ratty]

Not campaigning for Vatrano as I'm sort of neutral on him at this point. But, if he does what he does best, score goals, in the next few days, you'll see the Frankie V disparagement quickly fade away around here.

Based on his skill level and earlier production, I give him more than four games to play himself off this roster. In fact, he has impressed with improved play in the defensive zone.