Line Combos: 2016-17 Team

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

Rads is a 1st line talent and paid like one. Galley is a great player, love him, but he is 2nd liner and paid like one. Even a lot of posters on this board have called him a 2nd liner. Great 2nd liner for sure, but if you have Rads you gotta put him on the 1st line at least to see what he can do. Why else you paying him 5.75?

Silly and simplistic way of looking at things.

You dont just base things on talent and money.

 

[rahad]

Pacioretty - Plekanec - Gallagher
Shaw - Galchenyuk - Radulov
Hudon - Desharnais - Carr/Andrighetto
Byron - Danault - Mitchell/Andrighetto

Tiny bottom 6 but decent top 6 if we're lucky and Shaw really is worth 4M + Radulov gives 60+ points.

Our bottom 9 is so soft.... We are going to get destroy in playoffs....

 

[Brainiac]

Our bottom 9 is so soft.... We are going to get destroy in playoffs....

Bottom 9?

With Bergevin it's more like a bottom 15. We could build 4 or 5 4th lines, easily.

 

[Kiko]

Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Gallagher (Primary scoring, 1st PP line)
Carr - Shipachyov - Radulov (Secondary scoring, 2nd PP line, partially sheltered)
Lehkonen - Plekanec - Shaw (Two way line with scoring threat)
De La Rose - McCarron - Danault (Checking, can be used for hard minutes)
Mitchell,Byron

Beaulieu - Weber
Markov - Petry
Barberio - Pateryn
Redmond

Around 4M in cap space.


Moves: Desharnais traded for future considerations. Emelin traded for pick(s). Shipachyov signed to a 4M/1 year deal. Matteau on waivers. Flynn traded for 6th round pick.

 

[DCarriere]

Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Gallagher (Primary scoring, 1st PP line)
Carr - Shipachyov - Radulov (Secondary scoring, 2nd PP line, partially sheltered)
Lehkonen - Plekanec - Shaw (Two way line with scoring threat)
De La Rose - McCarron - Danault (Checking, can be used for hard minutes)
Mitchell,Byron

Beaulieu - Weber
Markov - Petry
Barberio - Pateryn
Redmond

Around 4M in cap space.


Moves: Desharnais traded for future considerations. Emelin traded for pick(s). Shipachyov signed to a 4M/1 year deal. Matteau on waivers. Flynn traded for 6th round pick.

Wouldn't mind this lineup at all. Maybe swap Lehkonen and Carr as I think Lehkonen has more talent and would fit better with the two Russians.

Next thing I'd be looking at is what it would take to acquire a top 4 defenseman. I really love Beaulieu but I'm not completely sure if he is ready to take that step to being our #1 mobile defenseman. I'd really love Cam Fowler.

 

[Kiko]

Wouldn't mind this lineup at all. Maybe swap Lehkonen and Carr as I think Lehkonen has more talent and would fit better with the two Russians.

Next thing I'd be looking at is what it would take to acquire a top 4 defenseman. I really love Beaulieu but I'm not completely sure if he is ready to take that step to being our #1 mobile defenseman. I'd really love Cam Fowler.

I could honestly see something like Hudon + (2) 2nd round pick working for Fowler. They aren't in a good position to negotiate considering the expansion draft and need a cheap LW.

You would be left with around 1M in cap space with that trade actually, my previous calculation was wrong (it's 5.5 not 4).

As for Lehkonen, he's a good two way forward and did a lot of the dirty work for his line at Frolunda. Carr plays with more of an edge and energy IMO, which would fit perfectly with the Russians. Lines in a general sense are changed constantly and I'm sure they would be swapped constantly in my "utopian" roster anyways.

 

[ohmyjlord]

Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Gallagher (Primary scoring, 1st PP line)
Carr - Shipachyov - Radulov (Secondary scoring, 2nd PP line, partially sheltered)
Lehkonen - Plekanec - Shaw (Two way line with scoring threat)
De La Rose - McCarron - Danault (Checking, can be used for hard minutes)
Mitchell,Byron

Beaulieu - Weber
Markov - Petry
Barberio - Pateryn
Redmond

Around 4M in cap space.


Moves: Desharnais traded for future considerations. Emelin traded for pick(s). Shipachyov signed to a 4M/1 year deal. Matteau on waivers. Flynn traded for 6th round pick.

That 2nd line lacks NHL experience, but still would be nice to see.

Not sure if could keep that line-up intact the following year though, especially if you add Fowler for your proposed package. Galchenyuk and Beaulieu in line for a hefty raise, Radulov and Shipachyov as well. You're saving a bit of money with Markov's contract coming to an end, but already got Desharnais and Flynn off of your roster...and Emelin for the following year, when Carey will have to be re-signed. Seems tight to me...

 

[Kiko]

That 2nd line lacks NHL experience, but still would be nice to see.

Not sure if could keep that line-up intact the following year though, especially if you add Fowler for your proposed package. Galchenyuk and Beaulieu in line for a hefty raise, Radulov and Shipachyov as well. You're saving a bit of money with Markov's contract coming to an end, but already got Desharnais and Flynn off of your roster...and Emelin for the following year, when Carey will have to be re-signed. Seems tight to me...

I mean that's assuming you resign Radulov and Shipachyov. If you resign them for the exact same AAV and give Galchenyuk a 6M and Beaulieu a 3.5M contract you would have around 1.5M left in cap space in 2017-2018. That's of course assuming the cap stays the same and completely ignoring expansion draft shenanigans.

Edit: Emelin for 2nd round pick, Hudon + (2) 2nd round picks for Fowler.

 

[bsl]

To go into the season hoping that Lehkonen makes it as your your second line left winger is risky. And to expect any of those others players to fill that role is just as risky.

At the end of the season i thought MB had to get two top six wingers and I still believe it. He only got one: Radulov. In my eyes the Weber/PK trade was an effort to go for the Cup within the next two three years. Not filling that second hole in the top six winger position is a mistake.

How about having pleks and dd for another year as your 2 and 3 c?

Much much bigger mistake.

2 lw and 1 ld can be had reasonably.

Young big no 2 c not so much.

I like Weber. But I am beginning to think that not landing a good young 2 c in the subban trade might have been a massive mistake. Massive.

 

[bsl]

Wish we would have signed Jared Boll. Would have bring much needed toughness instead of Flynn on the 4th.

Anyway, the more I think about it the more I think we'll see something this opening day:

Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Radulov
Andrighetto - Plekanec - Gallagher
Carr - Desharnais - Shaw
Hudon - Mitchell - Danault
DLR (McCarron, Flynn and Matteau to AHL/Waivers)

Beaulieu - Petry
Barberio - Weber
Markov - Emelin
Pateryn, Redmond

Price
Montoya

Key with the defence will be how you share ice time. It's three decent pairing, but none of them can really play more than 22 minutes a game. I'd give 35% even strength ice time to Beaulieu-Petry, 35% to Barberio-Weber and 30% to Markov-Emelin. Then, obviously, Weber get tons of PP and PK time.

PP should be
Gallagher
Radulov - Plekanec - Pacioretty
Weber

Andrighetto - Shaw - Galchenyuk
Markov - Petry

and PK should be
Pacioretty - Plekanec
Emelin - Weber

Mitchell - Danault
Markov - Petry

Ghetto pleks gally as a second line makes me puke. And not because Gally is on it.

 

[NotProkofievian]

For opening night, I really only care about the top 6 and the top 4. The bottom 6 and the rest of the defensemen will be sorted out during camps, and will change throughout the year as necessary.

Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Radulov
Ghetto - Plek - Gallagher

Beaulieu - Weber
Markov - Petry

I want us to have a first line which is a serious problem for opposing teams. If the rest of the lineup is having trouble scoring, then I'd switch Radulov and Gallagher. But I don't see the second line being a problem since the Plek - Gallagher combination has worked very well in the past, so I don't see the point in adjusting to a problem which hasn't presented itself yet. I want other teams to adjust to us. That first line makes that happen.

For the defense, Weber needs to be paired with someone who can rush the puck in order to play his game. This is a big chance for Beaulieu and he needs to take it, otherwise the Habs could be in deep ****. Markov needs to play fewer minutes this year.

Who knows which of our prospects will make the club this year, but if they do make the club, they'll be making it on the bottom 6 and bottom pairing. We need to wait for camp to see which lineup would be the best. Who knows, maybe Lehkonen or Hudon kill it in camp, or McCarron becomes our 3C, or Sergachev outplays Emelin.

 

[Habitant#1]

This team really hasn't improved in any significant way since the playoff loss to Tampa...

 

[Milhouse40]

Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Gallagher
Carr - Plekanec - Radulov
Danault - McCarron - Shaw
Flynn - Mitchell - Byron
Andrighetto

Markov - Weber
Beaulieu - Petry
Emelin - Pateryn
Barbiero

We need size, grit, someone who can drop the glove if we need.
We also need a RH centerman, we need to get bigger especially in the middle.
I really hope McCarron steals the 3rd line center job. He would make that line-up a lot stronger.

 

[Naslund]

Bergevin just gave 24 millions to Andrew Shaw. Any lineup that does not have him in the top 6 does not understand the foxhole. The top 6 is set. Bottom six is where the lineup gets interesting.

 

[Naslund]

We could have had a nice third line composed of Eller and two of these three wingers: Ghetto, Hudon, Lekhonen and Carr (probably Carr and Ghetto). That would have been solid. Instead, DD is still on the team...

 

[NotProkofievian]

We could have had a nice third line composed of Eller and two of these three wingers: Ghetto, Hudon, Lekhonen and Carr (probably Carr and Ghetto). That would have been solid. Instead, DD is still on the team...

Honestly I just don't know what we'll do with DD. Like, why is he on this team? What is his purpose?

 

[scrubadam]

Silly and simplistic way of looking at things.

You dont just base things on talent and money.

Why not? Radulov is a first liner and paid like one he should be given first oppurtunity at the first line. If he fails try someone else.

Galley is a great player, spark plug on the team, will score 25 if he stays healthy. That makes him a luxury on the 2nd line and one of the best 2nd liners out there.

Max-AG-Rads a potential 35-35-30 goal line
Shaw/Carr/Ghetto-Plex-Gally 2 x 20 goal scorers and 25 goal scorer that would probably be one of the best 2nd lines in the NHL.

At the end of the day the lines will be jumbled and juggled throughout the season anyways but opening day that should be our top 2.

 

[scrubadam]

This team really hasn't improved in any significant way since the playoff loss to Tampa...

Really? I think adding Weber, Shaw and Rads makes this a much better team than when we faced TB.

Webers goals on the PP make a huge difference since that was a big problem in that series.

To me this team seems better built to compete then what we had before. I think MB needs to bring an extra forward with cup experience but that can be had at TDL.

.

 

[BatVader]

Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Gallagher (Primary scoring, 1st PP line)
Carr - Shipachyov - Radulov (Secondary scoring, 2nd PP line, partially sheltered)
Lehkonen - Plekanec - Shaw (Two way line with scoring threat)
De La Rose - McCarron - Danault (Checking, can be used for hard minutes)
Mitchell,Byron

Beaulieu - Weber
Markov - Petry
Barberio - Pateryn
Redmond

Around 4M in cap space.


Moves: Desharnais traded for future considerations. Emelin traded for pick(s). Shipachyov signed to a 4M/1 year deal. Matteau on waivers. Flynn traded for 6th round pick.

I'd swap Carr and Lehkonen.
4th line is just to young and to green. Mitchell is a really good 4th C, so keep him there. Plus McC should do 1-2 more year(s) in the AHL. I see him taking the 3rd C from Plekanec eventually.

As stated by others, we need Fowler. Don't know if the Hudon+ proposal would do it, but I'm sure we could work out something to bring him to Mtl.

 

[waffledave]

Bergevin just gave 24 millions to Andrew Shaw. Any lineup that does not have him in the top 6 does not understand the foxhole. The top 6 is set. Bottom six is where the lineup gets interesting.

I would not be surprised to see Radulov on the 3rd line. With Galchenyuk.

 

[waffledave]

Honestly I just don't know what we'll do with DD. Like, why is he on this team? What is his purpose?

He's the 1st line center. He has chemistry with Max.

 

[Puck Luck Run Amok]

Bottom 9?

With Bergevin it's more like a bottom 15. We could build 4 or 5 4th lines, easily.

Guy Lafleur called it

 

[Sterling Archer]

MT's pening night roster assuming Lehkonen or Hudon impresses and with current roster.

Patches Plex Gally
Lehkonen/Hudon Chucky Rads
Danault DD Shaw
Byron Mitchell Carr
Flynn Matteau

Markov Weber
Emelin Petry
Beau Pateryn
Barberio

Price
Montoya

 

[Puck Luck Run Amok]

I'd swap Carr and Lehkonen.
4th line is just to young and to green. Mitchell is a really good 4th C, so keep him there. Plus McC should do 1-2 more year(s) in the AHL. I see him taking the 3rd C from Plekanec eventually.

As stated by others, we need Fowler. Don't know if the Hudon+ proposal would do it, but I'm sure we could work out something to bring him to Mtl.

While I'd love to get Fowler, I don't think a team that wants to be "tough" will trade for him. MB would likely pay a premium to get a guy like Despres into the fold...

I 100% agree with BigMac staying in the AHL for at least another season but I also think Mitchell and Flynn need to go. Both guys are getting up there in age and we need younger, cheaper guys to step up in that 4-spot. For instance, I'd rather see Danault in that position so he can gain experience and become a Defensive specialist.

My fun to imagine but will never happen lineup:

MoneyMax- Chucky- Radulov (that crazy ******* will scare Patches into a slot presence)
Lehkonen- Plekanec (On a good team he's a #3)- Gallagher
Carr/Reway- Hudon- Shaw (Really curious to see Reway, Hudon is a beast)
DLR- Danault- Byron (Young, Solid and Byron helps a lot with the speed)

Extra: Ghetto (Didn't see anything special from him but could slot in that 3rd line easily)
Waivers/Trade Bait: Mitchell, Flynn, DD (Send him to Robidas island already)

Sergachev - Weber (I honestly think Sergachev is already our 3rd best D, which is a testament to how bad our D-Corps has become)
Markov- Petry
Beaulieu- Pateryn
Xtra: Redmond

Waivers/Trade: I'd personally trade Beaulieu and Emelin but that's not going to happen so likely just trade Emelin.

Sadly, we all know the lineup will look like this on opening night

Patch-DD- Gallagher
Chucky- Pleks- Radulov (Just watch Therrien do it)
Lehkonen- Danault- Shaw
DLR- Mitchell- Byron

Markov- Weber
Beaulieu- Petry
Emelin- Redmond
PUKES

 

[Wats]

Bergevin just gave 24 millions to Andrew Shaw. Any lineup that does not have him in the top 6 does not understand the foxhole. The top 6 is set. Bottom six is where the lineup gets interesting.

If he's a 20/20 guy (aka actually worth 4M) would be useful as a complimentary top 6er.