GDT: #55 ⋅ ANA @ BUF ⋅ 9:30 AM PST

[dracom]

It’s always the most random RHD that ends up working well with Fowler. (I’m thinking Lovejoy) Is that happening with Lindstrom?

Random aside but boy do I miss Lovejoy. He was never afraid to talk about how poorly the team was playing.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Sure…let’s take the one guy who’s been somewhat consistently scoring goals this year and put him with 2 offensive duds.

Vatrano needs guys who can open up space for him and get him the puck.

It's another rebuild year. What exactly are we trying to win this year?

Strome is a defensive dud, not a complete offensive dud. He's currently our 5th best scorer on the team. You didn't read the whole comment at all or you didn't watch the Ducks when CLR was an offensive force.

Comtois = Vatrano
Lundy = Lundy
Rakell = Strome

Lundy opens ups the space with his speed and being a puck hound. Lundy's also one of the few Ducks with a positive +/- rating, implying that Lundy can win pucks in the defensive end and bring it to the offensive end. Strome is the playmaker on the line.

Next year projected top-6

Cutter - Carlsson - Terry
Zegras - Mac - Killorn
Vatrano - xxx - Strome
McGinn - xxx - xxx

Someone's gotta man the 3C spot between Vatrano and Strome. There shouldn't be a reason why not to test Lundy centering the two, especially after the TDL.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

All I know is next year this team better have a system that works.. and players that execute it properly. Otherwise PV needs to think long and hard about this team and what direction it is going in... We cant become buffalo West

 

[Henrique Iglesias]

It's another rebuild year. What exactly are we trying to win this year?

Strome is a defensive dud, not a complete offensive dud. He's currently our 5th best scorer on the team. You didn't read the whole comment at all or you didn't watch the Ducks when CLR was an offensive force.

Comtois = Vatrano
Lundy = Lundy
Rakell = Strome

Lundy opens ups the space with his speed and being a puck hound. Lundy's also one of the few Ducks with a positive +/- rating, implying that Lundy can win pucks in the defensive end and bring it to the offensive end. Strome is the playmaker on the line.

Next year projected top-6

Cutter - Carlsson - Terry
Zegras - Mac - Killorn
Vatrano - xxx - Strome
McGinn - xxx - xxx

Someone's gotta man the 3C spot between Vatrano and Strome. There shouldn't be a reason why not to test Lundy centering the two, especially after the TDL.

Spin it however you want. Putting Vatrano with Lundestrom and Strome is not putting him in a position to succeed.

Also curious how long the “CLR” line was together? Because I don’t remember them being an “offensive force” for any credible length of time. One guy is out of the NHL and the other got shipped out of town.

Vatrano Strome McTavish was good for a while too, until they weren’t. Put an offensive mind with them in Terry and Vatrano and McTavish both start looking better….go figure.

 

[lwvs84]

Lundestrom-McTavish-Silf worked for a few games before they were split apart. I don't think that would have worked long term because Silf would get tired, but that style might be good. Lundestrom-McTavish with an upgrade are RW. If the Ducks could swing something to land Kakko or if any of the young guys coming up are able to fill that Silf role (Gaucher?). I'd say Gauthier, but that would put arguably the two best shooters on the team on the same line. That leaves Terry, Gauthier, Vatrano, Killorn to fill in around Carlsson and Zegras. If that McTavish line works, you can have 3 very solid lines that can split the majority of the even strength minutes (give the 4th line 8-10 minutes), then load up 2 power play lines (Mac/Gauthier/Vatrano could all be the trigger man on one of the two units).