Speculation: 2020-2021 General Lightning Discussion - Defending Champions Edition: Part 2

[CupsOverCash]

Love to see those guys out there! Brings a smile to my face! And Gronk too lol!

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[These Are The Days]

What's gonna be the top 6 lineup? Given how long Kucherov has been removed from the lineup I don't know if Cooper is gonna just put him back with Point of the bat like that. My gut's telling me this

Palat-Point-ABB (maybe)
XXX-Stamkos-Kucherov

I really don't want that extra guy to be Killorn. Leave him with Cirelli while Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman keeps rolling as it is.


I wish Cooper would be a dawg and put Colton up there but there's a reason why it's called dreaming

 

[LightningStrikes]

IMO If Kuch can play you put him where it worked: Next to Point.

 

[These Are The Days]

IMO If Kuch can play you put him where it worked: Next to Point.

Ideally I would like to see that happen because don't give me wrong. I love Stamkos and Kucherov together but the two f*** around together way too much -like to the point where Cooper split them up years ago and has yet to consistently reunite them outside of playing with Point and on the PP ever since. I think the idea is on a short leash at best because if Kucherov struggles for 2 games then yeah I think you'd have to pull the trigger. But if ABB, Palat and Point all love playing together and continue to mesh -do you really risk breaking it up right away?

At the very least we're gonna see Kucherov and Point be instant magic on the PP again.

 

[CupsOverCash]

What's gonna be the top 6 lineup? Given how long Kucherov has been removed from the lineup I don't know if Cooper is gonna just put him back with Point of the bat like that. My gut's telling me this

Palat-Point-ABB (maybe)
XXX-Stamkos-Kucherov

I really don't want that extra guy to be Killorn. Leave him with Cirelli while Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman keeps rolling as it is.


I wish Cooper would be a dawg and put Colton up there but there's a reason why it's called dreaming

I would put him with Point if it was my decision. They are dynamite together and really increases our top line scoring ability and will cause teams to focus more on them giving more opportunities hopefully down the lineup. Still not very many teams with our depth when top lineup is at its best.

 

[Sky04]

Ideally I would like to see that happen because don't give me wrong. I love Stamkos and Kucherov together but the two f*** around together way too much -like to the point where Cooper split them up years ago and has yet to consistently reunite them outside of playing with Point and on the PP ever since. I think the idea is on a short leash at best because if Kucherov struggles for 2 games then yeah I think you'd have to pull the trigger. But if ABB, Palat and Point all love playing together and continue to mesh -do you really risk breaking it up right away?

At the very least we're gonna see Kucherov and Point be instant magic on the PP again.

ABB is not staying in the lineup, he'll be sat once Kucherov and Stamkos come back.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

I saw that we had Gronk in net at practice today. This must be the real reason JBB didn't trade for a goalie at the deadline.

He's 6'6. Might end up being another Lindback, but worth a shot.

 

[Felonious Python]

Even more cap circumvention.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Fl and Carolina both seem like teams on a mission this year. They will be tough to beat. I wonder if our intensity matches theirs since we won it last year. Sometimes that hunger isn't there after winning it and I think we will need that intensity and motivation to beat these teams. Hopefully that switch goes on when the playoffs are live!

 

[Lightning1995]

My big question is will Stammer and Cirelli work? Because it wasn’t working pre stammer injury. Maybe go with this top 6
Stammer Point Kuch
Palat Cirelli Killer

I really do prefer to flip Stammer and Palat and that may be what we see. BUT that Cirelli line would creat another Killer shut down line in addition to Guordes line.

 

[BoltzManConstant]

Fl and Carolina both seem like teams on a mission this year. They will be tough to beat. I wonder if our intensity matches theirs since we won it last year. Sometimes that hunger isn't there after winning it and I think we will need that intensity and motivation to beat these teams. Hopefully that switch goes on when the playoffs are live!

We've seen what a mission to win the regular season can get you.

 

[CupsOverCash]

We've seen what a mission to win the regular season can get you.

True while regular season and playoffs are a totally different animal and we played different in the playoffs last year than the regular season it still worries me. It's one of those belive it when you see it things.

 

[Hoek]

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

I think I would try Stamkos - Point - Kucherov to start, and move Palat back if it doesn't work. With Stamkos' fragility I don't want him playing center, and he just doesn't seem to work next to Cirelli, who should absolutely stay at center. Palat seems to spark every line he goes on, so maybe he could be the missing piece of the Cirelli/Killorn line. That would be a pretty solid defensive line too.

 

[Byrddog]

My big question is will Stammer and Cirelli work? Because it wasn’t working pre stammer injury. Maybe go with this top 6
Stammer Point Kuch
Palat Cirelli Killer

I really do prefer to flip Stammer and Palat and that may be what we see. BUT that Cirelli line would creat another Killer shut down line in addition to Guordes line.

Cirelli has not had a goal since March 20 over two months let that sink in a minute. Then consider in the same time frame he has 3 asst's. A slump is 8 or 9 games this has been a disaster. Maybe Coop should throw him down to the 4th line for the rest of the regular season. I have never been a big Cirelli supporter but damn he has been atrocious this year. He is on a 39 point 82 game pace. That is just unacceptable on a high octane offensive team. Killer is on a 47 point pace beside him so why can Cirelli not at least be even with him even though they have had a rotating wing on the other side this year. I would not be suprised if Cirelli is exposed or traded in the offseason. And why not he is now less attractive to the team than Killer. Sure hes young but he has never been a huge scorer 44 points his high. He should be centering a 3rd line paid 2 to 3 mil a year instead of almost 5 and next contract still a RFA he will be upside down. Think about this in 22-23 he will be paid 7.2 mil.

 

[The Gongshow]

What's gonna be the top 6 lineup? Given how long Kucherov has been removed from the lineup I don't know if Cooper is gonna just put him back with Point of the bat like that. My gut's telling me this

Palat-Point-ABB (maybe)
XXX-Stamkos-Kucherov

I really don't want that extra guy to be Killorn. Leave him with Cirelli while Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman keeps rolling as it is.


I wish Cooper would be a dawg and put Colton up there but there's a reason why it's called dreaming

ABB doesn't sniff playoffs imo.

Palat - Point - Kuch
Killorn - Cirelli - Stamkos
Coleman - Gourde - Goodrow
Maroon - Colton - Joseph/Stephens

I don't like the 2nd line so im not opposed to Stamkos on the 1st line, considering how great out 3rd line is.

ABB and Foote don't play unless they go 11-7 or there's an injury.

 

[Sky04]

ABB doesn't sniff playoffs imo.

Palat - Point - Kuch
Killorn - Cirelli - Stamkos
Coleman - Gourde - Goodrow
Maroon - Colton - Joseph/Stephens

I don't like the 2nd line so im not opposed to Stamkos on the 1st line, considering how great out 3rd line is.

ABB and Foote don't play unless they go 11-7 or there's an injury.

Johnson is 100% playing.

 

[The Gongshow]

Johnson is 100% playing.

this guys been such a passenger/waste I forgot all about him.

You are correct.

Stamkos - Point - Kucherov
Killorn - Cirelli - Palat
Coleman - Gourde - Goodrow
Maroon - Colton - Johnson

God I wish Johnson was far, far away from this team

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

What's gonna be the top 6 lineup? Given how long Kucherov has been removed from the lineup I don't know if Cooper is gonna just put him back with Point of the bat like that. My gut's telling me this

Palat-Point-ABB (maybe)
XXX-Stamkos-Kucherov

I really don't want that extra guy to be Killorn. Leave him with Cirelli while Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman keeps rolling as it is.


I wish Cooper would be a dawg and put Colton up there but there's a reason why it's called dreaming

no way, ABB has been horrible the past few games, he’s too small and not ready for the playoffs


ABSOLUTELY ZERO CHANCE

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

My big question is will Stammer and Cirelli work? Because it wasn’t working pre stammer injury. Maybe go with this top 6
Stammer Point Kuch
Palat Cirelli Killer

I really do prefer to flip Stammer and Palat and that may be what we see. BUT that Cirelli line would creat another Killer shut down line in addition to Guordes line.

This would be my favorite option. Simply due to Cirelli not working with skilled players.

Super hard to break up Pally and Point tho!

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Cirelli has not had a goal since March 20 over two months let that sink in a minute. Then consider in the same time frame he has 3 asst's. A slump is 8 or 9 games this has been a disaster. Maybe Coop should throw him down to the 4th line for the rest of the regular season. I have never been a big Cirelli supporter but damn he has been atrocious this year. He is on a 39 point 82 game pace. That is just unacceptable on a high octane offensive team. Killer is on a 47 point pace beside him so why can Cirelli not at least be even with him even though they have had a rotating wing on the other side this year. I would not be suprised if Cirelli is exposed or traded in the offseason. And why not he is now less attractive to the team than Killer. Sure hes young but he has never been a huge scorer 44 points his high. He should be centering a 3rd line paid 2 to 3 mil a year instead of almost 5 and next contract still a RFA he will be upside down. Think about this in 22-23 he will be paid 7.2 mil.

Tony struggles go back to the playoffs. Something happened and he’s missing intensity. Covid? Who knows

 

[HoseEmDown]

no way, ABB has been horrible the past few games, he’s too small and not ready for the playoffs


ABSOLUTELY ZERO CHANCE

Cirelli has been horrible the past few months yet he's locked in everyone's playoff lineup. His past playoff performances haven't been that great either to suggest he'll turn it on when they start.

 

[bov]

The only question come playoff time will be the 4th line. Probably comes down to Colton or Joseph sitting, I'd be surprised if Johnson doesn't have a spot locked in.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Johnson - Point - Kucherov
Palat - Stamkos - Killorn
Goodrow - Gourde - Coleman
Maroon - Cirelli - Joseph/Colton

Johnson had 29 goals playing next to Point and Kucherov before. You can double shift Palat or Stamkos for him late game. Palat and Killorn will protect Stamkos from having to do too much as he's probably not 100%. Keep the 3rd line and the 4th line is either a more checking line with Joseph or a little bit more offensive with Colton. Cirelli can focus on being a shutdown C and PK specialist to get back to his best.

 

[Stammertime91]

Johnson - Point - Kucherov
Palat - Stamkos - Killorn
Goodrow - Gourde - Coleman
Maroon - Cirelli - Joseph/Colton

Johnson had 29 goals playing next to Point and Kucherov before. You can double shift Palat or Stamkos for him late game. Palat and Killorn will protect Stamkos from having to do too much as he's probably not 100%. Keep the 3rd line and the 4th line is either a more checking line with Joseph or a little bit more offensive with Colton. Cirelli can focus on being a shutdown C and PK specialist to get back to his best.

Sometimes your efforts are just too obvious.