Has Kirk Muller ever tried this fist line?

Avengers*

Guest
Eric Staal - Jordan Staal - Alex Semin

Eric shoots left and I'm pretty sure he can play left wing or at least try him out a few games and Jordan shoots left too so maybe he can try switching them up to see if it actually works.

Nathan Gerbe and Jeff Skinner can hold up on the second line for a few games but I think he should try out the first line before.

what do you guys think?
 

Carolinas Identity*

I'm a bad troll...
Jun 18, 2011
31,250
1,298
Calgary, AB
Eric Staal - Jordan Staal - Alex Semin

Eric shoots left and I'm pretty sure he can play left wing or at least try him out a few games and Jordan shoots left too so maybe he can try switching them up to see if it actually works.

Nathan Gerbe and Jeff Skinner can hold up on the second line for a few games but I think he should try out the first line before.

what do you guys think?

Lines like that have been used sparingly in some situations. The problem is, we signed Jordan for 60m over 10 years to be a 2nd line C, not a 1st line C, we already have one of those, who makes even more :laugh:
 

Avengers*

Guest
Lines like that have been used sparingly in some situations. The problem is, we signed Jordan for 60m over 10 years to be a 2nd line C, not a 1st line C, we already have one of those, who makes even more :laugh:

Eric and Jordan could always switch up. I'm pretty confident this line could work up but Captain Kirk has to try it first.
 

Mr Whipple

Charmin Soft
Nov 9, 2008
517
4
Greenville, NC
Lines like that have been used sparingly in some situations. The problem is, we signed Jordan for 60m over 10 years to be a 2nd line C, not a 1st line C, we already have one of those, who makes even more :laugh:

And right now if you do that it screws up the rest of the lineup. Unless Skinner or Lindholm could step into the 2C spot there's really nobody.
 

Avengers*

Guest
And right now if you do that it screws up the rest of the lineup. Unless Skinner or Lindholm could step into the 2C spot there's really nobody.

Jeff Skinner is coming back soon and he can take the second line center spot.
 

bluedevil58*

Guest
1. Having the 2 Staals play on the same line leaves a huge defensive hole down the middle.

2. Having them play on the same line gives us 1 less line with a 6.4 ft center coming at ou and wearing you down with the fore check(assuming they can use the body to establish one which they should).

Either way in my opinion it's a very bad idea.
 

Avengers*

Guest
1. Having the 2 Staals play on the same line leaves a huge defensive hole down the middle.

2. Having them play on the same line gives us 1 less line with a 6.4 ft center coming at ou and wearing you down with the fore check(assuming they can use the body to establish one which they should).

Either way in my opinion it's a very bad idea.

Don't you think they should try it out for a few games to see if they light up the goalies?
 

bluedevil58*

Guest
No I don't for the above reasons. This is going to be a 1-2 center combo.
 

Blueline Bomber

AI Generated Minnesota Wild
Sponsor
Oct 31, 2007
38,866
39,495
Jeff Skinner is coming back soon and he can take the second line center spot.

Skinner played center very sparingly and was never very good when he did play there.

Putting both Staals and Semin on the top line completely eliminates any depth this team may have. And considering all 3 players on that line are less than productive at the moment, it should be fairly easy to shut them down
 

What the Faulk

You'll know when you go
May 30, 2005
42,121
3,851
North Carolina
They tried this for a few shifts in the first against the Penguins. The team didn't register their first shot until about 12:00 into the game. They are not nearly deep enough at C to stack the Staals like that.
 

geehaad

HFBoards Sponsor
Sponsor
Aug 24, 2006
7,508
18,851
They tried this for a few shifts in the first against the Penguins.

DISCLAIMER: This can be easily verified by people who are familiar with those awesome stat websites (Corsi?). I'm happy to be wrong about any of the following, but I believe it to be true.

1) Muller also did it during the Colorado game, and not just once or twice.
2) It's been done many times in the past.
3) This line has never produced a goal.
4) (in conclusion) This is hardly an untapped source of potential awesomeness.
 

jeromeo87

Registered User
Jul 23, 2010
1,752
84
Lines like that have been used sparingly in some situations. The problem is, we signed Jordan for 60m over 10 years to be a 2nd line C, not a 1st line C, we already have one of those, who makes even more :laugh:

Exactly.. We HAVE to get J.Staal and that second line going. That's a huge problem for this team. I wish J.Staal could get that line going by himself, it just doesn't appear like he's able to do that. He's still a fantastic asset to have, but you HAVE to give him the pieces and tools in order to be as great as he can be. This team is starved for one more top 6 forward..
 

tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
84,982
137,355
Bojangles Parking Lot
1) Muller also did it during the Colorado game, and not just once or twice.

I thought I remembered seeing this. Clearly Muller has at least humored the idea of putting the Staals together.

IMO, the real problem here is that this line makes it exceedingly hard to create good matchups.

Jordan should be matched against the other team's top threat, because nobody else can handle that duty. But you want Eric/Semin up against the other team's worst lines. So one way or another, you're making a deep sacrifice in order to get these guys together.

Also, in general the concept of top-loading doesn't work well on a team as shallow as the Canes. We really need another quality C before it would even have a chance of working on a 60-minute basis.
 

nobuddy

Registered User
Oct 13, 2010
17,994
97
Nowhere
This is a lineup I'd like to see tried:

Skinner-Staal-Semin
Gerbe-Staal-Dvorak
Tlusty-Lindholm-Ruutu
Bowman-Nash-Dwyer

I think given how much 53 has seemingly developed since last year it's worth revisiting he and 12 together.
 

What the Faulk

You'll know when you go
May 30, 2005
42,121
3,851
North Carolina
I don't see much happening from that 3rd line. Skinner works on the third line because he's going against easier competition. If he gets bumped up to Line 1, he'll be with more skilled players, but he'll likely face the other team's checking line. It might end up as a wash while weakening the 3rd line.
 

Boom Boom Apathy

I am the Professor. Deal with it!
Sep 6, 2006
48,174
97,101
This is a lineup I'd like to see tried:

Skinner-Staal-Semin
Gerbe-Staal-Dvorak
Tlusty-Lindholm-Ruutu
Bowman-Nash-Dwyer

I think given how much 53 has seemingly developed since last year it's worth revisiting he and 12 together.

My #1 issue with that is it now puts 3 guys who think offense first and aren't always willing to do the dirty work. I know it's been a struggle this year, but IMO, one of the reasons Tlusty was effective on that top line, was because he did a lot of the dirty work. Was the responsible high forward when Semin and Staal cheated or stayed in deep. When it was dumped it, he was the one in on the forecheck trying to shake loose a puck. Went to the net to pick up a lot of "loose change", etc..

I'm not saying Skinner won't work on that line, but I don't think it's optimal.

Injuries have really hampered the team in terms of chemistry, but I think Skinner and Lindholm are a good match (along with 1 vet). Also, having Skinner and Lindholm play against weaker competition isn't a bad thing.

I'd keep Tlusty with Staal and Semin as eventually, that line should get clicking again. It really depends more on Staal and Semin getting their heads out of their ass more than it depends on who is with them.
 

Lazyking

Never Forget
Oct 15, 2011
3,730
5
Connecticut
My #1 issue with that is it now puts 3 guys who think offense first and aren't always willing to do the dirty work. I know it's been a struggle this year, but IMO, one of the reasons Tlusty was effective on that top line, was because he did a lot of the dirty work. Was the responsible high forward when Semin and Staal cheated or stayed in deep. When it was dumped it, he was the one in on the forecheck trying to shake loose a puck. Went to the net to pick up a lot of "loose change", etc..

I'm not saying Skinner won't work on that line, but I don't think it's optimal.

Injuries have really hampered the team in terms of chemistry, but I think Skinner and Lindholm are a good match (along with 1 vet). Also, having Skinner and Lindholm play against weaker competition isn't a bad thing.

I'd keep Tlusty with Staal and Semin as eventually, that line should get clicking again. It really depends more on Staal and Semin getting their heads out of their ass more than it depends on who is with them.

I agree. Even if Tlusty isn't doing his part, that doesn't change the fact that Staal and Semin need to play better. Tlusty doesn't make them better, they make him look better when they're on.
 

golfpro827

Registered User
Jun 30, 2013
220
0
Raleigh, NC
I think playing the Staal's together was severely overhyped.

With the exception of a few games last year, they haven't even tried it.
 

tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
84,982
137,355
Bojangles Parking Lot
I agree. Even if Tlusty isn't doing his part, that doesn't change the fact that Staal and Semin need to play better. Tlusty doesn't make them better, they make him look better when they're on.

IMO Semin has been fine. Not on his A+ game, but probably in the B+ range by his standards.

Eric needs to find his game. It's that straightforward. He's only had a couple of strong performances in our first dozen games, and that leads to Tlusty becoming invisible and Semin constantly shooting over the net while trying to carry the line.
 

RodTheBawd

Registered User
Oct 16, 2013
5,529
8,604
Perhaps you can run this idea by your fellow fans on the Canes Facebook page? I'd be very interested to hear their take
 
Last edited:

Clark Gillies

Registered User
Oct 3, 2006
1,088
226
Carolina
First off Jordan is a #3 center and always will be, we can sugar coat it all we want, call it the number 2 line - but it will never be. Jordan's strength is defense and shutting down other teams top lines -- he is not going to be a consistent 65+ point guy.

E and Semin will not be separated.
Elias and Skinner together I think is the ideal match - and should stay together and either can center the line but ideally Lindholm will lock it down.
The real question is where does the waste of space Ruutu fit in and where he plugs in effects everything else. I can see him penciled in on any of the top 3, just like Tlusty can.
I would like to see Tlusty with Skinner and Lindholm, if the first line still struggles to shake it up.
I think Jordan and Gerbe will also be set to stay together.

I would try - if we ever get healthy which ma be never with 53 and 18 going on IR
Ruutu E. Semin
Gerbe J. Dwyer
Skinner Lindholm Tlusty
Nash Malhotra Dvorak

For right now I would keep The top 2 as the have been
Ruutu Nash Lindholm as the third
Bowman Malhotra Sutter as the fourth

Dump Westgarth in the trash.
 

What the Faulk

You'll know when you go
May 30, 2005
42,121
3,851
North Carolina
So two players playing out of position, one of whom you called a waste of space then stuck on the first line, and more arguments about irrelevant line numbers. Alright then.
 

Clark Gillies

Registered User
Oct 3, 2006
1,088
226
Carolina
So two players playing out of position, one of whom you called a waste of space then stuck on the first line, and more arguments about irrelevant line numbers. Alright then.

Ruutu at LW is not out of position it is where he has spent most of his minutes.
Right now he is a waste, doesn't mean he doesn't have talent or can't be valuable, it just isn't happening right now.

If it makes you feel happy- call Jordan's the second line, We all know what it is and what its purpose is.

Who else would you say is out of position that is of any consequence not getting garbage 4th line minutes, Because Malhotra can take draws but play LW.
And if your bent on having a Left shot play LW and Right shot RW -- Skinner can center and Lindholm can play right.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->