EastonBlues22
Registered User
Well, given his setup and principles, I think you straight up roll lines for the first 20-30 minutes or so with whatever combos you came into the game with, then make adjustments from there. By then it should be pretty obvious what's working, what's not, and what tweaks might make the most sense. Over the second half of the game, aim for a 3-2-2-1 TOI split (~11 mins for you best, 7.5ish for your middles, and 4 for your worst). Net result is a 18.5, 15, 15, 11.5 baseline, with special teams work dictating the ultimate specifics for each individual from there.I guess both. I was just taken aback by your take on this, as you are usually pretty measured and balanced. Maybe you are just at your breaking point with Yeo though, and I can understand that, I'm there too.
As for my personal take, I'd run Kyrou on the top PP on the left wall, and either put Thomas on the 2nd PP unit or have him on the 3rd forward PK unit. At ES, I'd start by keeping Kyrou with Schenn and Schwartz. Perron starts with ROR and Tarasenko. Mix up the bottom 6 depending on situation, with Steen and Bozak forming the crux of the third line and Thomas getting spotted in on RW (instead of Blais) for defensive zone starts. Barbashev can center the 4th line between Maroon and Blais when Thomas isn't on the line, and Thomas can center Maroon and Barbashev when he is.
If someone is playing particularly poorly or well, there's ample ways to move them up or down the lineup from that baseline. Getting Kyrou significantly involved on the PP is a no-brainer, IMO. Thomas should be getting tastes on one or both units as well. He brings at least as much to the PK as Schenn does (who we don't really want there, anyway), so why not play Thomas there and let him grow into those responsibilities?
Blais offers less to those units both now and down the road, so he'll have to settle for ES duty.
Oh, and I'd scrap the crappy hybrid man-to-man that they're running. If they want to improve the team's defensive play, that's the lowest hanging fruit there is out there. We've never looked good running man-to-man.