I gather some stats on our forward's production before the game to try and give me an inkling about how we've done year over year. So without further ado.
After 57 games..
2022-23
1st line - Dube 35 points, Lindholm 49, Toffoli 49, total 133 points
2nd line - Pelletier 2 points, Kadri 41, Huberdeau 38, total 81 points
3rd line - Mangiapane 31, Backlund 38, Coleman 27, total 96 points
4th line- Lucic 13, Ruzicka 20, Lewis 15, total 48 points
2021-2022
1st line - Gaudreau 77, Lindholm 61, Tkachuk 77, total 204 points
2nd line - Mangiapane 43, Backlund 27, Coleman 27, total 97 points
3rd line - Toffoli 49, Monahan 22, Dube 15, total 86 points
4th line - Lucic 18, Ruzicka 9, Lewis 13, 40 points
I recognize there is some noise in the line combinations, but there are some learnings from the comparison.
Obviously the 1st line has an obvious drop-off from last year's combo. Lindholm has dropped 12 points. Toffoli compared to last year (Montreal and Calgary) is at last year's pace. Dube has an improvement of 20 points. Three cheers for Dube. He is attaining the next level. Overall though the line cannot compare to last year. There is a 71 point reduction year over year.
Comparing the 2 line is different as the 2 line this year is really our 3 line. But for the sake of comparison, the re-united Backs line is spot on performance wise. What we lost in Mangi's performance has been compensated by Backlund's year. Coleman is bang on with last year.
The 3 line from last year was in a stat of flux as is our 2 line this year. Comparing the two, this year's 2 line isn't matching last year's 3 line (line-up noise notwithstanding). The glaring weakness, apart from Huberdeau's poor season is the lack of production at the 2LW spot. Doesn't matter if Pelletier or Lucic, an upgrade there is obvious. Or Pelletier starts to produce.
The 4 line this year is marginally above last year's pace.