First Lines:
- While Dionne and Yzerman are pretty comparable, the wingers are a huge advantage in my team's favour.
- Offensively, Dionne is very far ahead of Yzerman. Even if you want to ignore Gretzky and Lemieux, Dionne's finished are far more impressive. In the play-offs, Yzerman has a better offensive resume than Dionne, but a lot of that has been supplimented by being on a team that was good enough to go deep. In 1998, for example, he led the play-offs in assists but was only 9th in assists per game. Dionne, on the other hand, was 2nd, 5th, and 9th in goals per game in the play-offs. As I hope I showed in my bio, Marcel Dionne is a victim of playing for bad teams rather than a poor play-off performer.
- Luckily, I have two wingers who should help ward off any questions concerning Dionne. Both are strong 1st line wingers as well as excellent play-off performers.
- Overall, I'd give myself a pretty decent edge.
Second Lines:
- The wingers on these lines are pretty even. Lewis and Hay are similar players - both guys could play solid 2-way hockey while putting up points. Hay put up more impressive scoring numers, so, to me, that makes him the better player. On the other side, Hossa and Aurie put up similar offensive numbers. Hossa is better defensively and Aurie is grittier. Personally, I have Aurie ahead of Hoss. Overall, the differences are small, and they cancel each other out.
- Center is where I feel I have a bog advantage. I must admit I don't know a whole lot about him other than his point totals and a few short bios. He put up some pretty solid offensive numbers in the Czech league, but that's just the Czech league. MacKay's finishes are pretty similar, so it depends on how strong people think the PCHA and Czech leagues are. In addition to the offense, though, MacKay was able to play elite level defensive hockey. To me, that shoots him ahead of Hlinka.
- Overall, I'd have to give myself the edge again.
Third Lines:
- Since Kinberly's 4th line appears to be their checking line, I'll compare checking lines.
- As many others have stated (and I appreciate it), Walker and Carbonneau is one of the strongest shut-down duos in this draft. Perhaps Tremblay isn't the greatest 3rd liner, but I see him as no worse than mediocre in his spot. Compare Tremblay to othre 3rd line RW, and there are many better, but also many worse.
- Mondou, Skov, and Pappin are pretty weak as a checking line. All three guys are suited to the role, but I just can't see them shutting down ATD first lines with any sort of success.
- This, to me, is the biggest mismatch of this series, and I'd have to give my team a big edge here.
Fourth Lines:
- Both your wingers are probably 2nd liners - very impressive. Markus Naslund, even if it was just a few years, was one of the best players in the world. Even though Nash, to me, is better suited for a 4th line role, Naslund's peak is too good. Dino Ciccarelli is my favourite player of all time
Even though he's good enough to play 2nd line, I think he's perfect for a 4th line role. Even though I think Cully Wilson is a great 4th liner, Dino's better.
- At center, Brad Richards is a solid guy. He plays a great 2-way game, can play multiple pusitions, can play special teams, and can put up points. Jack Adams does all of that and then adds a physical presence!
- Overall, Kimberly gets the edge.