Line Combos: HFPens Decides - 22/23 - ????-Malkin-Rust

[Randy Butternubs]

Poll #6: Who do you want as LW with Malkin and Rust? Vote for what you want to see. Write in votes for players that the Penguins already have acquired are welcome but if you vote twice neither vote will count.


Some assumptions and rules:

1. You are to vote for what you want to see -- not what you expect the coaches to do.
2. Crosby and Malkin are the top two centers.
3. Jarry is the starter and DeSmith is the backup.
4. Options will be based on (August 19, 2022) health. All seem to be healthy.
5. Unless listed as a 'LD/RD' on CapFriendly the defensemen will play on their "correct" side. This means Rutta, Ty Smith, Friedman, and Ouellet can play either side.
6. I will not be listing players for positions they have not played at the NHL/AHL level. For example, I will not be listing Hallander as an option for the third line center. But DOC and Zohorna will be options for 3C.
7. Due to the amount of one-way contracts, I may not be able to include everyone as voting options. Feel free to write them in as a vote, though.
8. A majority vote is not needed to win. But we may have runoff polls if I deem the numbers to be too close.
9. I will be working my way "down" the lineup. If the cap is exceeded at a 22-man roster that is where the polls will end.
10. Petry is the 2 RD.

Let me know of questions, concerns, or objections.

Current HFPens Line Combo:

Guentzel (63%) - Crosby - Rakell (54%)
- Malkin - Rust (83%)
- -
- -

Dumoulin (81%) - Letang
Pettersson (81%) - Petry
-

Jarry - DeSmith

Click to read more...

 

[Andy99]

Man, this is a very uninspired group that contains not one legit top six option…feel bad for Geno…

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Well... that's certainly... a group of players.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Surprise, surprise...Malkin gets boned again

 

[Randy Butternubs]

For the record, I wanted Guentzel & Rust with Malkin. Rakell with Sid. Unsure of the other wing there.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

For the record, I wanted Guentzel & Rust with Malkin. Rakell with Sid. Unsure of the other wing there.

It's almost like this team still needs one more actual top six wing or something.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I know it'll be Zucker, but I put Zohorna in just for fun.

Good things happen with Zohorna on the ice. We possess the puck a lot and other teams tend not to score. It's gonna be a 2-man game with Geno/Rust either way. Maybe a 3-man game with Petry.

 

[Gurglesons]

Out of everyone listed might as well throw Poehling up there. He is awful in transition but a heavy forechecker.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Heinen or Zucker. /shrug

 

[Empoleon8771]

If they're going with Rust on L2 and Rakell on L1, Heinen should be Malkin's LWer.

I'd rather see Rakell-Malkin-Rust though. Throw Heinen on Crosby's RW and tell him to just get the puck to Crosby.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

If they're going with Rust on L2 and Rakell on L1, Heinen should be Malkin's LWer.

I'd rather see Rakell-Malkin-Rust though. Throw Heinen on Crosby's RW and tell him to just get the puck to Crosby.

This is probably one of the better solutions but I feel like we'd be more likely to see Sullivan dressed like Don Cherry behind the bench all season.

 

[Flying Dego]

2LW you say? Queue up @jmelm It's time for the DOC

 

[HandshakeLine]

Jake. Jake the Muss.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

This list needs Blake Comeau and Eric Tangradi on it.

 

[jmelm]

2LW you say? Queue up @jmelm It's time for the DOC
View attachment 580843

I don't know why it took me so long to realize, but @DocEmrickSkitters has DOC in his name. Must be the reason why he knows the truth and is not in denial like some around here about DOC's potential!

 

[ChaosAgent]

I don't know why it took me so long to realize, but @DocEmrickSkitters has DOC in his name. Must be the reason why he knows the truth and is not in denial like some around here about DOC's potential!

To be honest the name is just a homage to an announcer I have mixed emotions for, and cause I'm not that creative with naming conventions.

If DOC is who yinz think he is, throw him up there

 

[jmelm]

Where's the option to vote for JT Miller??

 

[DrDangles]

Throw Puustinen into the fire, dude's game isn't built for a bottom 6 role anyway.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Throw Puustinen into the fire, dude's game isn't built for a bottom 6 role anyway.

Man I would LOVE it if a young guy would break out. I don't care if it's DOC, Puus, Z... whoever.

But this team really, really prefers to bring guys along extremely conservatively. For good or ill.

I think it would take a near-wipeout of the top six wings to IR. Which hey... on this team...

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Rakell.

 

[Peat]

Voted Zucker.

I'm not necessarily expecting it to work, but if it does it's the strongest choice you can give Geno, if it doesn't it probably won't concede many figuring it out. And I do think it can work. They scored freely at the end of last year.

Also I want to swing hard at pumping up Zucker's numbers in case he needs trading. Although obviously if he sticks here he's not getting traded.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Throw Puustinen into the fire, dude's game isn't built for a bottom 6 role anyway.

Yeah but who do you demote? Kapanen? Zucker? Heinen? These are legendary players!

 

[jmelm]

Voted Zucker.

I'm not necessarily expecting it to work, but if it does it's the strongest choice you can give Geno, if it doesn't it probably won't concede many figuring it out. And I do think it can work. They scored freely at the end of last year.

Also I want to swing hard at pumping up Zucker's numbers in case he needs trading. Although obviously if he sticks here he's not getting traded.

Plus it's always good when you have guys in their contract year.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah but who do you demote? Kapanen? Zucker? Heinen? These are legendary players!

I don't know what you guys are always complaining about. If you look at these numbers and charts they say that these guys are not just top six players but good ones. Your eyes and better judgement are total liars. Besides we can't afford another top six wing. We need to spend that money on the bottom six and another five goaltenders just in case.

 

[jmelm]

Throw Puustinen into the fire, dude's game isn't built for a bottom 6 role anyway.

You're right, but he does need to show consistency for a full year and round out his 200 ft game (was the worst on the team last year with a -15).

I think he can get there with one more year in the AHL -- or perhaps even he'll earn a mid-season call up if he kills it down there, like what Sheary/Rust did in 2016.