I mean you gotta give those guys a chance to work back in. Getting two points while doing it is great. but yeah, gotta figure out some lines that work.A win is a win.
I'm really hoping Lavi sees we had something going with the old lines and we don't need to completely destroy them moving forward. The division and conference is too loaded this year to waste 15 games getting them comfortable again with new combos.
Imagine Isles - CBJ series =)
I mean you gotta give those guys a chance to work back in. Getting two points while doing it is great. but yeah, gotta figure out some lines that work.
Next up, a crappy but hot Flyers team.
I've dated that person.
where is mantha there though? I think the reasonable option is 3RW because oshie will get injured soon probably... but it's surely looking like we can trade mantha and not miss muchI would like to see this in third:
OV-Strome-Sheary
Milano-Kuzy-Wilson
Mojo-Backstrom-Oshie
Eller-Dowd-Hathaway
Haha. I meant third period. Brown and Malenstyn aren’t even on the roster so that would be kinda hard. Guessing you are talking about next year.where is mantha there though? I think the reasonable option is 3RW because oshie will get injured soon probably... but it's surely looking like we can trade mantha and not miss much
I will list what I'd want mote
Ovechkin-Strome-Sheary
Milano-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Johansson-Backstrom-Brown
Malenstyn-Dowd-Hathaway
unfortunately I doubt all of Oshie, Eller and Mantha for playoffs
luckily Oshie could be effective partially and is available as so
Mantha is not looking like an upgrade over all three RWs there
Eller is not himself anymore
no next year, this springHaha. I meant third period. Brown and Malenstyn aren’t even on the roster so that would be kinda hard. Guessing you are talking about next year.
It’s one game…..maybe chill….there’s no exact way….we’re going to see many combos while they figure out their best lineup. Buckle up for more of the same. The success of this franchise does not hinge on Eller despite your obsession.I expected rust with Backstrom and Wilson, but there were far better ways to reintroduce them into the lineup IMO.
Putting Backstrom on the first line after a major surgery and 42 games on the shelf seemed way too optimistic. He only played 14 minutes so it’s not like he was overly taxed, but it was somewhat predictable to see the top line struggle.
And moving Strome to wing instead of Eller was the big fear I had and it came true. Strome has been their best center this year, and has thrived in that position over the past few years. Why move him to a position he’s not as effective at? It seems like a fundamental misunderstanding of the talent on the roster. And it wouldn’t be the first time he’s made misjudgments on a Capitals player (Jensen, Schultz, Mantha, and Fehervary all come to mind at various points in their Capitals careers).
It’s worrisome. Laviolette seems to have a handle on many things but certain lineup choices he makes are curious at best. He’s never gotten a handle on how to approach 3v3 lineup decisions, for example.
I fear he may not figure out how to construct his lineup now that they have a surplus of healthy forwards. The 4 centers have to be Strome, Kuznetsov, Backstrom (if he remains healthy), and Dowd. They cannot keep prioritizing Eller’s position in the lineup over his more effective teammates.