Line Combos: Final 4th Line Spot

[Ho Borvat]

So assuming the bottom 6 looks something like the following

Who would you put in the final 4th Line LW Spot?

Higgins Schroeder Hansen
XXXXX Richardson Weise
/Sestito

Click to read more...

 

[How Ya Drouin]

So assuming the bottom 6 looks something like the following

Who would you put in the final 4th Line LW Spot?

Higgins Schroeder Hansen
XXXXX Richardson Weise
/Sestito

I think Santorelli will compete for the fourth line center and Richardson can play left wing. It is unlikely Santorelli will be the 4th line center I think, but you never know. Lain could also challenge for the 4th line C, and Richardson could again shift to LW.

 

[Snatcher Demko]

I have a hunch that Blomstrand will win the position after a strong TC. Just a hunch.

And that we might have the best 4th line that we've had in years. Good speed and forechecking.

 

[Timmer44]

I think one of the 3/4line centres will be a youngster. One of Schroeder, Gaunce, or Lain.

Then you have Richardson and Higgins has played some time in the middle. I think they will look to fill out one more spot. maybe a Chad Larose?

 

[arsmaster*]

My guess is the role is going to go to a young player in the system already, and I wouldn't be shocked at all if it's Darren Archibald.

 

[Ho Borvat]

I've been hoping for Chad Larose since free agency opened up.

He's usually good for 30+ points, but had a terrible 2012-2013 season.
Hes a hard-nosed guy, who can play 3rd line minutes.

Larose Richardson Weise would be a very, very solid 4th line.

 

[TruGr1t]

My guess is the role is going to go to a young player in the system already, and I wouldn't be shocked at all if it's Darren Archibald.

My thought as well. Sestito is obviously in play here, and as mentioned above I wouldn't be surprised if Blomstrand gets a look. Don't think we'll sign anymore depth wingers.

 

[Bleach Clean]

I've been hoping for Chad Larose since free agency opened up.

He's usually good for 30+ points, but had a terrible 2012-2013 season.
Hes a hard-nosed guy, who can play 3rd line minutes.

Larose Richardson Weise would be a very, very solid 4th line.

I think they take a chance on someone younger before they target LaRose. Perhaps someone like Halischuk. This way, they would likely pay said player a sub 900k salary, and if he should get beat out by a prospect, they can send him down to the AHL club for recall later.

I hope they still sign two more guys. 1 forward and 1 defenseman. The targets being Halischuk and Kostka. Each would likely get a sub-900k salary, and so would still provide organizational depth. Them targeting Fistric also seems to be of this line of thinking.

My thought as well. Sestito is obviously in play here, and as mentioned above I wouldn't be surprised if Blomstrand gets a look. Don't think we'll sign anymore depth wingers.

Gillis should sign 1 more depth forward, and 1 more Dman. If they get beat out by a prospect, they can still be sent down for later recall.

 

[Ho Borvat]

I think they take a chance on someone younger before they target LaRose. Perhaps someone like Halischuk. This way, they would likely pay said player a sub 900k salary, and if he should get beat out by a prospect, they can send him down to the AHL club for recall later.

I hope they still sign two more guys. 1 forward and 1 defenseman. The targets being Halischuk and Kostka. Each would likely get a sub-900k salary, and so would still provide organizational depth. Them targeting Fistric also seems to be of this line of thinking.

In all fairness, you have Weise (likely sub 900k) and Sestito who are sub 900k guys, but it is a good point.

I could offer him something comparable to Richardson (2x1.2 mil ballpark).

Fistric has been my hopeful for our #6/7 d-man. Hes kinda in the mould of an Andrew Alberts... low event, physical bottom pairing d-man.

 

[Pseudonymous*]

not sure i want to look at fistrics funny looking face for 82 games + playoffs

 

[Bleach Clean]

In all fairness, you have Weise (likely sub 900k) and Sestito who are sub 900k guys, but it is a good point.

I could offer him something comparable to Richardson (2x1.2 mil ballpark).

Fistric has been my hopeful for our #6/7 d-man. Hes kinda in the mould of an Andrew Alberts... low event, physical bottom pairing d-man.

Weise and Sestito would be more going concerns here, than in any danger of being sent to the AHL, one would think. But that's the type of player they should target right now. It's why the Fistric rumours make sense. Younger depth that may still have upside.

The prime target right now should be Kostka though. Makes too much sense to add a stable depth RHD like him. I wonder what he's asking for...

 

[Win One Before I Die]

So assuming the bottom 6 looks something like the following

Who would you put in the final 4th Line LW Spot?

Higgins Schroeder Hansen
XXXXX Richardson Weise
/Sestito

If we dont infuse youth into this line up I am going to give up for the year. We need more than Schroeder playing.

 

[Ho Borvat]

If we dont infuse youth into this line up I am going to give up for the year. We need more than Schroeder playing.

It looks like Kassian will be playing on line 1, and then Tanev on the blue line.

Jensen/Corrado will likely be the #1 callups from Utica.

 

[Dissonance]

If we don't sign any more UFAs, then I'm going to bet that the bottom-6 will look something like this when the season opens (assuming Booth is healthy):

Higgins-Richardson-Hansen
Archibald/Sestito-Santorelli-Weise

Schroeder will likely still be out with that shoulder injury, and who even knows if he can handle a bottom-6 role. Lain or Gaunce or Horvat would have to *really* surprise us at camp to win a spot--it's possible, but I'm not holding my breath.

And that lineup is... unnervingly weak at center. Ack. Really hope some other option magically turns up.

 

[Ho Borvat]

If we don't sign any more UFAs, then I'm going to bet that the bottom-6 will look something like this when the season opens (assuming Booth is healthy):

Higgins-Richardson-Hansen
Archibald/Sestito-Santorelli-Weise

Schroeder will likely still be out with that shoulder injury, and who even knows if he can handle a bottom-6 role. Lain or Gaunce or Horvat would have to *really* surprise us at camp to win a spot--it's possible, but I'm not holding my breath.

And that lineup is... unnervingly weak at center. Ack. Really hope some other option magically turns up.

Its always tough to tell when a player will be ready. If healthy, I think Schroeder has earned the 3rd line center spot (assuming no trades are made).

 

[Ho Borvat]

I think signing a guy who can log 10 minutes a game for that spot would be crucial.

I feel comfortable playing Richardson/Weise in a 10 minute capacity.

Sestito... not as much...

 

[denkiteki]

So Kassian is guarantee a top 6 spot over Higgins? I would think he would be in the bottom 6 and could even be stuck on that spot...

Honestly too early to guess because its doubtful MG is done with signings yet. He'll probably sign at least 1 more dman and 1 more forward and probably invite a handful of players to camp. One of those invites/signings probably has as good of a chance as anyone else. Otherwise as it stands now, probably Santorelli's spot to lose given he is a SO specialist and have NHL experience. Those SO points could play a decent role with the re-alignment and having a specialist might not be a bad idea. Probably will get you more points than having an enforcer.

 

[Pseudonymous*]

hey everybody, lineups change constantly.

fighting over lineups is silly. many players will move up and down all year. give it a rest

 

[Dissonance]

hey everybody, lineups change constantly.

fighting over lineups is silly. many players will move up and down all year. give it a rest

Oh I definitely agree with this, but it doesn't change the fact that we still don't have a decent third-line center.

 

[biturbo19]

I think they take a chance on someone younger before they target LaRose. Perhaps someone like Halischuk. This way, they would likely pay said player a sub 900k salary, and if he should get beat out by a prospect, they can send him down to the AHL club for recall later.

I hope they still sign two more guys. 1 forward and 1 defenseman. The targets being Halischuk and Kostka. Each would likely get a sub-900k salary, and so would still provide organizational depth. Them targeting Fistric also seems to be of this line of thinking.




Gillis should sign 1 more depth forward, and 1 more Dman. If they get beat out by a prospect, they can still be sent down for later recall.

Halischuk is definitely the sort of guy i'd like to see them add to our 4th line mix. He's not exactly 'big', but he'd bring some nice versatility and energy to the table. That'd be a really nice add.

 

[Pseudonymous*]

Oh I definitely agree with this, but it doesn't change the fact that we still don't have a decent third-line center.

Canucks arent competing for the cup this year IMO and i have faced that fact, i have no problem having prospects filling in such roles. I do believe we can compete for a playoff spot with schroeder in there. Raise his stock, possibly trade him or keep him.

Theres no more sense in treating this team like its one piece away from being the heavy favorites

 

[Ho Borvat]

So Kassian is guarantee a top 6 spot over Higgins? I would think he would be in the bottom 6 and could even be stuck on that spot...

Tortorella mentioned he plans on re-uniting Kesler and Burrows (so I think the inference is that Kassian will be given every opportunity to play on L1).

hey everybody, lineups change constantly.

fighting over lineups is silly. many players will move up and down all year. give it a rest

Agreed, but its still very ambiguous who are 4th line LW is going to be going into camp.
It looks like Santorelli is this years Tambellini/Ebbett, Sestito hopefully only sees spot duty this year.

Unless one of the prospects can make the jump (Maybe Lain/Gaunce plays 4C and bumps Richardson to LW) it looks like MG is gonna need to bring in another 4th line LW.

 

[Seatoo]

I would roll Lain-Richardson-Santorelli. 2 centres to mentor Lain to be the 4C full time in a few years time, if we resign Weise I'd rotate him in as needed/13th forward with Santorelli

 

[Steveorama]

You have to believe that one of Jensen/Gaunce/Horvat/Lain/Blomstrand will step up in training camp. Canucks need some ELCs on the roster.

 

[Ho Borvat]

You have to believe that one of Jensen/Gaunce/Horvat/Lain/Blomstrand will step up in training camp. Canucks need some ELCs on the roster.

In all fairness, the savings between an ELC and a standard issue 4th liner is pretty meager. An ELC is really only a major advantage if the rookie is filling a prominent role.

It would be nice to have a guy like Gaunce/Horvatt able to fill in in the event of injuries to one of our centers.

Or if MG worries about Jannik Hansen becoming too expensive of a player to retain next year, knowing you could replace him with a guy like Jensen.