I don't think Boeser's shot is as good, but I think he's been making some pretty good plays with the puck so I can handle it. I still think Boeser doesn't need a guy like Pettersson to set him up and would look great with Horvat as long as we could find someone to stick with Pettersson who can be more of a Burrows type. I actually think Baertschi - Pettersson - Goldobin could be a pretty good line with high hockey IQ, playmaking abilities, and ability to finish when they get themselves into scoring positions.
I know Goldy plays LW for us but he shoots right. Has he always played left wing or is he playing his off wing? It would also excuse some of his board work, especially defensively, as playing on your off wing can make it difficult to move the puck up from the boards in your own zone. I know we don't want to mess with a good thing, and it's great to have a sniper like Boeser with Pettersson, but I just think Boeser is good enough that Pettersson doesn't really need to elevate Boeser's game. I'd rather have Pettersson with guys he can actually make better so Boeser can be Boeser elsewhere.
I'd love to see Leivo/Baertschi - Horvat - Boeser along with Baertschi/Leivo - Pettersson - Goldobin. I would really like to see Baertschi play with Pettersson, but he does have existing chemistry with Horvat. I just think a line with Leivo, Horvat and Boeser would be a nightmare to play against along the boards along with the ability to play some solid defensive hockey allowing Baertschi/Pettersson/Goldobin to go balls to the walls on offence with the bonus of Pettersson's excellent defensive play to get the puck in his own zone.
Run with Roussel/Eriksson - Sutter - Virtanen on the 3rd line and a Gaunce/Beagle/Motte as a very very solid defensive 4th line. Gaudette is fine but playing in the AHL is the best thing for his development right now. The lineup would look like:
Leivo - Horvat - Boeser
Baertschi - Pettersson - Goldobin
Roussel - Sutter - Virtanen
Gaunce - Beagle - Motte
Obviously we won't scratch Eriksson, but I would be fine to cycle all 3 of Gaunce/Beagle/Motte in and out of the lineup to make room for Eriksson, who can also be cycled. I'm a firm believer of cycling players in and out to give them a few extra days rest throughout the season. If you have 3 players of similar quality with only 2 roster spots, I do not see any reason not to give them some days off from time to time to keep them healthy. Is there really a problem with Motte sitting for 2 games to get Gaunce in, then Eriksson out to get Motte in, then Gaunce to get Eriksson in etc? Even Sutter has some injury problems, give him a rest and move Beagle up and let Gaunce play 4c for a few games.
I would really like that forward lineup and I think it would actually be a quality roster of forwards that is even above average in the league. Defence on the other hand... The problem is 100% on defence as we have Hutton as our #3 (true #4), Edler/Tanev as our 1/2 (fine, but worn down and injury prone), Stetcher as our #4 (has games where he can look pretty solid, then games where he doesn't belong, probably a bottom pairing guy), and Gudbranson/Biega who are #6/7 guys. Pouliot is AHL.
I sort of went off on a tangent here on what was supposed to be a discussion about where Boeser should be playing and how he's performing, but I thought I would explain my reasoning. Maybe I'll post it in the roster thread...