LesDiablesRouges
Registered User
- Feb 9, 2019
- 1,541
- 1,957
Here are my optimal playoff lineups for our team.
Forwards:
Ovehckin------Backstrom----Wilson
The perfect combination of skill and size. Splitting Ovi and Kuzya will allow us to create a headache for opposing defenses. I love the combo of Nicky/Ovi, as well as the x-factor on this line (Wilson), who will attack the net, forecheck like crazy, and play physical, creating space for the former two.
Vrana------Kuznetsov-----Oshie
Speed kills - with Jake and Kuzya - and Oshie is the perfect complement to the skill of the former two and can provide a net front presence that is willing to go into the dirty areas.
Burakovsky-----Eller-----Connolly
Eller and Conno are bank-ins for the third line and I'd like to give Bura a chance to shine in the top-nine (with more ice time), given his play the last few weeks.
Hagelin-----Dowd-----Boyd
Hagelin and Bura could be interchangeable (in this scenario), which would create a big skill mismatch on our fourth line for other teams. Hags on line four, with Dowd and Boyd, would provide a mix of speed, skill, and solid defensive play.
Extras:
DSP
Stephenson
Walker
Jaskin
Barber
It kind of sucks to not play DSP or Steve-O, but, I feel like it'd be very tough to put them in the lineup with the way that our forward group is playing. I suppose that if Bura, Dowd, and/or Boyd don't perform in the playoffs early on, DSP and/or Steve-O could be put into the lineup. I really like Steve-O's speed, but, he seems to have taken a step back this year in terms of offensive growth and playmaking ability - there's still talent and potential there, but, he needs to get back on track. DSP is DSP and he showed what he could do in the playoffs last year - I think that at some point he will get a sweater.
Defenders:
Orlov-----Niskanen
With the way this pair played last season and the way that they have finally put it together over the last few weeks, I think that it'd be very hard to split them up, as they can play as our shutdown pair.
Djoos-----Carlson
Djoos and Carlson have shown great chemistry at times over the past couple of seasons and have experience playing together. Kempny's injury and absence sucks, but, Djoos is a very capable and talented player. My only issue with this pairing would be whether or not Djoos would prevent Carlson from being so aggressive. This could be a scenario where Jensen could be a better fit for Carlson, allowing him to activate more.
Orpik-----Jensen
This pairing could be a very solid defensive pair in the playoffs and could be used in a lot of tough defensive zone deployments and situations. One issue with moving Jensen to play with Carlson would be that opposing teams could target Djoos - if he was playing with Orpik - and create a mismatch, due to Djoos' lack of physical strength/size and Orpik's lack of foot speed and acceleration.
Extras:
Siegenthaler
Lewington
Siegs has shown a lot of promise this season and I think that he will be on our roster next season, but, barring an injury, I don't see how he will crack this top-six, unless Djoos is really overmatched. I really do think that Siegs' game would translate very well to the playoffs, but, we will probably have to wait until next season to get a glimpse of that.
Goalies:
Holtby
Copley
No brainer here. Holtbeast will hopefully come out in the playoffs again and be a stud for us!
Thoughts?
Would love to see your guys' insight and ideas!
Forwards:
Ovehckin------Backstrom----Wilson
The perfect combination of skill and size. Splitting Ovi and Kuzya will allow us to create a headache for opposing defenses. I love the combo of Nicky/Ovi, as well as the x-factor on this line (Wilson), who will attack the net, forecheck like crazy, and play physical, creating space for the former two.
Vrana------Kuznetsov-----Oshie
Speed kills - with Jake and Kuzya - and Oshie is the perfect complement to the skill of the former two and can provide a net front presence that is willing to go into the dirty areas.
Burakovsky-----Eller-----Connolly
Eller and Conno are bank-ins for the third line and I'd like to give Bura a chance to shine in the top-nine (with more ice time), given his play the last few weeks.
Hagelin-----Dowd-----Boyd
Hagelin and Bura could be interchangeable (in this scenario), which would create a big skill mismatch on our fourth line for other teams. Hags on line four, with Dowd and Boyd, would provide a mix of speed, skill, and solid defensive play.
Extras:
DSP
Stephenson
Walker
Jaskin
Barber
It kind of sucks to not play DSP or Steve-O, but, I feel like it'd be very tough to put them in the lineup with the way that our forward group is playing. I suppose that if Bura, Dowd, and/or Boyd don't perform in the playoffs early on, DSP and/or Steve-O could be put into the lineup. I really like Steve-O's speed, but, he seems to have taken a step back this year in terms of offensive growth and playmaking ability - there's still talent and potential there, but, he needs to get back on track. DSP is DSP and he showed what he could do in the playoffs last year - I think that at some point he will get a sweater.
Defenders:
Orlov-----Niskanen
With the way this pair played last season and the way that they have finally put it together over the last few weeks, I think that it'd be very hard to split them up, as they can play as our shutdown pair.
Djoos-----Carlson
Djoos and Carlson have shown great chemistry at times over the past couple of seasons and have experience playing together. Kempny's injury and absence sucks, but, Djoos is a very capable and talented player. My only issue with this pairing would be whether or not Djoos would prevent Carlson from being so aggressive. This could be a scenario where Jensen could be a better fit for Carlson, allowing him to activate more.
Orpik-----Jensen
This pairing could be a very solid defensive pair in the playoffs and could be used in a lot of tough defensive zone deployments and situations. One issue with moving Jensen to play with Carlson would be that opposing teams could target Djoos - if he was playing with Orpik - and create a mismatch, due to Djoos' lack of physical strength/size and Orpik's lack of foot speed and acceleration.
Extras:
Siegenthaler
Lewington
Siegs has shown a lot of promise this season and I think that he will be on our roster next season, but, barring an injury, I don't see how he will crack this top-six, unless Djoos is really overmatched. I really do think that Siegs' game would translate very well to the playoffs, but, we will probably have to wait until next season to get a glimpse of that.
Goalies:
Holtby
Copley
No brainer here. Holtbeast will hopefully come out in the playoffs again and be a stud for us!
Thoughts?
Would love to see your guys' insight and ideas!