Speculation: Line combinations for 2016-17

[Canada4Gold]

Pretty much nothing in set in stone. From what management has said Matthewss will be on the 3rd line, and they said today Willy will start on his wing in training camp. The rest is tossed together by me. Brown on the top line because he looked good with Bozak and JVR in training camp last year and because I want every rookie playing with at least 1 vet so to spread the vets out.

JVR - Bozak - Brown
Komarov - Kadri - Marner
Greening - Matthews - Nylander
Martin - Laich - Soshnikov
Leivo, Holland

Rielly - Marincin
Gardiner - Carrick
Hunwick - Zaitsev
Polak

Andersen
(Lou plans on acquiring a backup, per his comments today)

 

[WastedTalent]

Flyers (assuming Konecny and Provorov make the team)

Schenn -- Giroux -- Simmonds
Konecny -- Couturier -- Voracek
Raffl -- Cousins -- Weise
Laughton -- Gordon -- Read
Bellemare

Del Zotto -- Gostisbehere
Provorov -- Gudas
MacDonald -- Streit
Schultz

Mason
Neuvirth

 

[Stephen Gionta]

Hall-Henrique-Palmieri
Cammalleri-Zajac-Smithpelly
Boucher-Kalinin-Bennett
Josefson-Fiddler-Gazdic

Severson-Greene
Lovejoy-Moore
Merril-Santini

Schneider
Kinkaid

I'd be shocked if Zacha isn't in the lineup.

It has to be either juniors or the NHL for him. He's done his time in the O. He'll be in Jersey.

Yeah Zacha will 100% be on the team unless he is absolutely god awful in training camp.

Also, why are Lovejoy Greene Moore and Severson on the wrong side of the defense.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

Flyers (assuming Konecny and Provorov make the team)

Schenn -- Giroux -- Simmonds
Konecny -- Couturier -- Voracek
Raffl -- Cousins -- Weise
Laughton -- Gordon -- Read
Bellemare

Del Zotto -- Gostisbehere
Provorov -- Gudas
MacDonald -- Streit
Schultz

Mason
Neuvirth

Both Provorov and Konecny will make the team. Definitely Provorov.

 

[WastedTalent]

Both Provorov and Konecny will make the team. Definitely Provorov.

I wouldn't be so sure on Konecny. Provorov is at about 95% according to our Flyers board, Konecny is like 50/50 especially with what Hextall recently said about what to expect with the prospects.

 

[Zennon]

God that bottom 6 is such garbage

And you think the top6 is good? Not sure why most ranked ANA next year as sure PLAYOFF team, they look like bottom dwellers to me.

 

[X66]

JVR - Bozak - Brown
Komarov - Kadri - Marner
Greening - Matthews - Nylander
Martin - Laich - Soshnikov
Leivo, Holland

I think Rychel makes the team.

Maybe something like this?

Komarov-Kadri-Soshnikov
JVR-Bozak-Marner
Greening-Matthews-Nylander
Martin-Laich-Rychel
Leivo/Hyman Michalek

Then after the TDL

Komarov-Kadri-Soshnikov
JVR-Bozak-Marner
Rychel-Matthews-Nylander
Martin-Laich-Hyman
Leivo

 

[twabby]

Likely opening night roster is probably something like:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Burakovsky-Kuznetsov-Williams
Johansson-Eller-Wilson
Winnik-Beagle-Connolly
Galiev

Alzner-Niskanen
Orpik-Carlson
Orlov-Schmidt
Chorney

Holtby


Orlov and Johansson still don't have contracts so it's possible that one or both aren't even with the team, though I think both will sign. Backstrom and Kuznetsov could be flipped depending on preseason chemistry. Wilson and Connolly could be flipped depending on who seems to be better suited for a scoring line role. Orpik and Orlov could be flipped if Trotz decides to give Orlov more responsibility. Jakub Vrana could make the roster and be a 3/4 winger.

I just think Trotz is really risk-averse so this seems like the "safest" lineup, even if I don't agree it's the best lineup at this point.

 

[KGL]

Komarov - Kadri - Soshnikov
JVR - Bozak - Marner
Michalek/Greening- Matthews- Nylander
Martin - Laich - Hyman
Rychel

Hunwick-Rielly
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Marincin-Polak
Carrick

Andersen
Backup

 

[canucks10]

Have a feeling the Canucks keep Baertschi with Horvat as those two developed some nice chemistry last year and Sutter will likely be used as the shut down center which would not suit Baertschi.

To me Rodin is the wildcard I could see him being a capable middle 6 option and starting the season on Sutter's flank.

Sedin - Sedin - Eriksson
Rodin - Sutter - Hansen
Baertschi - Horvat - Burrows
Virtanen - Granlund - Dorsett
Etem

Edler - Tanev
Hutton - Gudbranson
Tryamkin - Sbisa
Larsen
Pedan
(Canucks seem to be looking to move Sbisa but doubt they're able to)

Miller
Markstrom
(Goalies will be a run with the hot hand approach expect close to a 50/50 split)

 

[Kaljis]

Skinner - Rask - Teravainen
Nestrasil - Staal - Nordstrom/PDG
Aho - Lindholm - Stempniak
Bickell - McClement - Stalberg


Hainsey - Faulk
Slavin - Pesce
Hanifin - Murphy/Tennyson

Ward
Lack

 

[Jets012]

Still think the Devils one looks more like this:

Hall - Henrique - Bennett

Cammalleri - Zajac - Palmieri

Boucher - Zacha - DSP

Kalinin - Fiddler - Josefson


Greene - Severson
Moore - Lovejoy
Merrill - Santini

Schneider
Wedgewood

 

[Canada4Gold]

I think Rychel makes the team.

Maybe something like this?

Komarov-Kadri-Soshnikov
JVR-Bozak-Marner
Greening-Matthews-Nylander
Martin-Laich-Rychel
Leivo/Hyman Michalek

Then after the TDL

Komarov-Kadri-Soshnikov
JVR-Bozak-Marner
Rychel-Matthews-Nylander
Martin-Laich-Hyman
Leivo

I don't see a scenario where Brown isn't on the team. Babcock said he probably deserved to be there to start last year. He's done everything you want a player to do, succeeded at every level, and showed he can handle the NHL in his small stint last year. And while he might(probably) not be on the 1st line in like my example, I don't believe for a second they're going to send him down.

 

[The Faulker]

Skinner - Rask - Teravainen
Nestrasil - Staal - Nordstrom/PDG
Aho - Lindholm - Stempniak
Bickell - McClement - Stalberg


Hainsey - Faulk
Slavin - Pesce
Hanifin - Murphy/Tennyson

Ward
Lack

I pretty much agree with these lines. I could see Gauthier making the roster though. Based on what I've been reading he looks awesome at the prospect camp. He might be ready sooner than we expected.

And I think Tennyson will ultimately play in Charlotte and we'll sign another vet to a two-year deal at some point to take that 6th Dman spot.

 

[Hally BlackWood]

Still think the Devils one looks more like this:

Hall - Henrique - Bennett

Cammalleri - Zajac - Palmieri

Boucher - Zacha - DSP

Kalinin - Fiddler - Josefson


Greene - Severson
Moore - Lovejoy
Merrill - Santini

Schneider
Wedgewood

Palmieri can play first line with hall since they have played together before. moving bennett to second line

 

[huntison]

Have a feeling the Canucks keep Baertschi with Horvat as those two developed some nice chemistry last year and Sutter will likely be used as the shut down center which would not suit Baertschi.

To me Rodin is the wildcard I could see him being a capable middle 6 option and starting the season on Sutter's flank.

Sedin - Sedin - Eriksson
Rodin - Sutter - Hansen
Baertschi - Horvat - Burrows
Virtanen - Granlund - Dorsett
Etem

Edler - Tanev
Hutton - Gudbranson
Tryamkin - Sbisa
Larsen
Pedan
(Canucks seem to be looking to move Sbisa but doubt they're able to)

Miller
Markstrom
(Goalies will be a run with the hot hand approach expect close to a 50/50 split)

Rodin is right wing. Virtanen plays right wing. Sbisa plays on the left side.

 

[canucks10]

Rodin is right wing. Virtanen plays right wing. Sbisa plays on the left side.

I'm aware but supply and demand don't always line up.
Edler, Hutton, Tryamkin and Sbisa all play left but obviously there's only 3 spots

Rodin, Hansen, Burrows, Virtanen and Dorsett all play RW but again too many cooks

 

[Bologna 1]

Still think the Devils one looks more like this:

Hall - Henrique - Bennett

Cammalleri - Zajac - Palmieri

Boucher - Zacha - DSP

Kalinin - Fiddler - Josefson


Greene - Severson
Moore - Lovejoy
Merrill - Santini

Schneider
Wedgewood

My thought as well

 

[59Rosebuds]

I pretty much agree with these lines. I could see Gauthier making the roster though. Based on what I've been reading he looks awesome at the prospect camp. He might be ready sooner than we expected.

And I think Tennyson will ultimately play in Charlotte and we'll sign another vet to a two-year deal at some point to take that 6th Dman spot.

Too soon to try to consider Gauthier. It is just prospects camp after all. Maybe if he performs well in training camp with the big boys. Tennyson and Murphy will likely platoon in that #6 spot until one of them runs with it.

I think the Stalberg signing has also created a logjam on our wings unless Bickell (maybe Stalberg instead) becomes a regular in the press box

 

[MMC]

And you think the top6 is good? Not sure why most ranked ANA next year as sure PLAYOFF team, they look like bottom dwellers to me.

I agree that we are not a for sure playoff team but our defense will keep us from being bottom dwellers.

 

[go4hockey]

LA Kings
Will change every game with DS coaching. Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[go4hockey]

And you think the top6 is good? Not sure why most ranked ANA next year as sure PLAYOFF team, they look like bottom dwellers to me.

Did you bother to look at their defense. Looks like one of the better groups in the league and that alone will keep them in the running for a playoff spot.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

LA Kings
Will change every game with DS coaching. Your guess is as good as mine.

i I'll go one better It will change every period and with 28 signed nhl players Wayyyy to early to say

 

[DeVols]

My take:

There's some questions with our forward group. Can/will Cammalleri play RW? If so, I think we will line up something like this:

Hall-Henrique-Cammalleri
Boucher-Zajac-Palmieri
Zacha-IHaveNoIdea-Smith-Pelly
Josefson-Fiddler-Kalinin

In this scenario, I have no idea what we do with Beau Bennett. After all of the other moves Shero has made, and his knowledge of Beau, I can't see Shero not giving him a shot. Maybe put him at 3RW and move DSP down to the 4th line, making Kalinin or Josefson the 13th forward? We're also short a 3C assuming Zacha plays wing. Could put Josefson there, but pairing him on a line with Zacha makes me sick. Maybe bump up Fiddler to 3C and put Josefson as 4C?

If Cammalleri stays on the left, it relegates Boucher down to the third line (unless he moves to the right), which I'm not sure he is suited for. This scenario would also force the team to play Zacha at C, which by Hynes and Shero's statements, didn't sound likely. I really don't like putting Bennett at 1RW, but that may be his best chance for success. I kept Palmieri on the second line because of his chemistry with Zajac:

Hall-Henrique-Bennett
Cammalleri-Zajac-Palmieri
Boucher-Zacha-Smith-Pelly
Josefson-Fiddler-Kalinin

Basically, I have no idea how we line up with the forwards this early on in the off-season.

The defense is pretty much set at this point minus the 6th spot. I'll put Santini in, but it could be any one of Santini, Auvitu, Scarlett, Mozik, etc. They'll battle it out in training camp:

Greene-Severson
Moore-Lovejoy
Merrill-Santini

 

[PhilJets]

We have no freaking clue.

He is right.

We don't know who lines up where

Only 2 sure players playing on the spot.

Blake Wheeler as #1 RW
Dustin Byfuglien as #1 RD

The rest as inter changeable due to rookies and prospects playing for the spots, and it didn't help that they brought in Matthias so that's another forward to place in crowded group already.