Look, here are the two questions for me:
1. Who is his LW going to be? I fear Sullivan doing something Rodrigues level dumb because the McCann-Carter-Zucker line is playing decently. The smart play is McCann at L2 LW or keep that Carter line and put Blueger with Malkin and Kapanen because I think Teddy in a hybrid W/C role with Malkin could be interesting enough to work (let the playoffs start ZAR-GOAT-EROD as L4, with Tanev replacing EROD).
2. What to do with the PP? The absolute dumbest thing Sully can do is replace McCann with Malkin. McCann's shot from the left point is something the PP has been missing for ever (for as well as he shoots, Malkin never has been comfortable there). IF Malkin must replace someone on PP1, then Jake is the best call. You need to keep Rust's forechecking. BUT, truth be told, you have a situation then where Sid and Geno like to gravitate to the same spot. As I said a week or so ago, I'd run two units, with Malkin, Carter, Kapanen, Matheson, Marino on the other one. Freshest unit starts the PP (if it's a 'tie', then Sid's unit starts). First guy to change will be Geno (or Sid if Geno's unit starts).
Now, what do I see Sullivan doing?
1. At 5 on 5, I think it's going to be McCann or Rodrigues, with GOAT taking RW with Teddy and ZAR until Tanev returns. I'd heard all along McCann was ticketed for L2 LW, but I really could see Sullivan neutering what Malkin and Kapanen can do together in the name of 'balance'.
2. On the PP, I'd be stunned if someone on PP1 isn't replaced with Malkin, and my gut says it will be Rust. The more concerning thing is that IF they go split PP, Kapanen won't be on that 2nd unit with Malkin and Carter. It'll be Zucker and/or Rodrigues, which is pretty dumb.
Anyway, maybe Sullivan will suprise . . . in an ideal world, it's Teddy with Geno and Kapanen and a 2nd PP unit with Malkin, Carter, Kapanen, Matheson, Marino utilized as I outlined above.