Line Combos: HFBoards Decides: Opening Lineup - Left Side of the 2nd D Pairing

[Randy Butternubs]

It really looks like Kunitz will win that third line left winger spot.

Some assumptions, as of 8/28/2015:

• Fehr will not start the season.
• Scuderi is staying. So is Lovejoy.
• Dumoulin would not survive waivers and will stay in the NHL.
• Clendening, Erixson, and Andersen have a chance to pass through waivers and one will be the 6th or 7th defenseman.
• Sundqvist has a chance to start in the NHL in a bottom 6 roll.
• Fleury is the starting goalie.
• Dupuis and Bennett can play either wing.
• Neither Gonchar or Sestito will be signed.

I will add more assumptions as the HFBoards lineup is decided. You don't like these assumptions? Too bad.

As per the assumptions, Clendening, Erixson, and Andersen will not be included in the polls until the third pairing. Lovejoy and Scuderi are still here and will be in this poll. Vote for who you believe should be on the second defensive pairing on the left side. They will have Ian Cole on their right side.

Voting for this one shall last for two days. Then, depending on results, I will take the top 2 or 3 results and do one final poll. If Pouliot does not win this poll, he will automatically be included on the third pairing on the left side.

Objections?

Current HFBoards Lineup:

Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist
Plotnikov-Malkin-Kessel
Kunitz-Bonino-XXX
XXX-XXX-XXX

Maatta-Letang
XXX-Cole
XXX-XXX
XXX

Fleury
XXX

Should've done this during the Bylsma years and sent it to him.

Click to read more...

 

[GFF]

Don't shoot me, but I have gone with Scuds because he is going to get used somewhere and I think Pouliot may be a little out of his depth on the 2nd pairing from the off this year.

Give it a few months and DP will be a cert for that 2nd pairing. I think through these bottom 2 pairings we need some stability with Pouliot and I would NOT want Lovejoy and Scuds on the last pair together. I think one of them with Pouliot is OK and Lovejoy would be better on RD I think. I don't think Dumo is ready for action on 2nd Pair and I wouldn't want to pair him with Scuds or Lovejoy either really...

 

[Shady Machine]

I'm going with Dumo just for fun. I think Pouliot may have some growing pains and I'd rather play him sheltered ES minutes and tons of PP minutes and offensive zone starts. Dumo-Cole can be a shutdown pairing of sorts and hopefully Lovejoy can remember how he played with Fowler.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I'm going with Dumo because I honestly think he's the best fit.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think it would be best for us to run with 2 evenly distributed pairs, with Dumoulin-Cole as one pair and Pouliot-Lovejoy as another pair. I also don't think Pouliot is ready for a top-4 role and I think Dumoulin would do better in a top-4 role than Pouliot would due to his superior defensive play.

 

[Penguinator]

Voted Dumoulin, Pouliot worked well with Lovejoy on a third pairing.

 

[#66]

Scuds... I think Cole being well rounded will help him out and he can just be simple and safe.

To be honest I would love to see Dumo snag that roll. I would rather see kids playing in a structured system rather than vets getting cut some slack.

 

[Shady Machine]

Are people voting for Scuds saying that's what they want or that's what they expect?

 

[Penguinator]

Are people voting for Scuds saying that's what they want or that's what they expect?

I was about to write that, lol!

 

[TNT87]

I'm going with Pouliot.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Dumoulin or Pouliot, but I'd say Dumoulin because of Pouliot's defence. Although I do think that the 2nd and 3rd pairings will see similar usage overall so it's kind of a moot point. If Pouliot gets his d relatively sorted out then it will be him.

Scuderi can't be playing, that's the big thing,

Maatta-Letang
Dumoulin-Cole
Pouliot-Lovejoy

Looks pretty good and balanced, young and inexperienced but balanced. Throwing Scuderi in wrecks that and is going to add deadweight that will clash with the system.

 

[systemsgo]

Going with Dumoulin. He's more of a stay at home guy than Pouliot, if he were paired with Lovejoy or Scuderi, they'd probably have problems getting the puck out. Pouliot's defence is weaker and would do better in more sheltered minutes. Hopefully playing with a good PMD again will help Lovejoy look less crappy.

 

[Jacob]

I think it would be best for us to run with 2 evenly distributed pairs, with Dumoulin-Cole as one pair and Pouliot-Lovejoy as another pair. I also don't think Pouliot is ready for a top-4 role and I think Dumoulin would do better in a top-4 role than Pouliot would due to his superior defensive play.

I agree with this. If we're loading up the top pair, the next two should be evenly balanced and just let performance dictate which one becomes the #2 pair.

 

[#66]

Are people voting for Scuds saying that's what they want or that's what they expect?

Expect for me. I've always liked Scuds but he's going downhill fast. I do like him to bring along some of the kids but not at that price tag.

If he does get regular mins I hope its as a PK specialist.

 

[PensandCaps]

Scuds... I think Cole being well rounded will help him out and he can just be simple and safe.

To be honest I would love to see Dumo snag that roll. I would rather see kids playing in a structured system rather than vets getting cut some slack.

Scuds????omg he shouldnt even be the 7th dman

 

[NeedleInTheHay]

The best we can do now is

Maatta - Letang

Dumo - Cole

Pouliot - Lovejoy


It sure would be nice to get a number 3/4 dman to push Dumo down and send Lovejoy to Siberia if that's what it takes.

 

[robopigeon]

Off topic: I'm constantly reminded at how even headed and rational this site is, compared to... other... Pens blogs. There's one rather popular Pens blog that, the other day, suggested Dumo and Clendening are about equal prospects, at about equal places in their development...

...

I want to see Dumo - Cole to start the year, and see if Pouliot makes the jump. Maybe switch them around Christmas, if Pouliot looks good.

 

[Wes Mantooth]

Are people voting for Scuds saying that's what they want or that's what they expect?

Because that's what I expect
Scuderi-Cole
Pouliot-Lovejoy

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Because that's what I expect
Scuderi-Cole
Pouliot-Lovejoy

I'd be stunned if Scuderi ended up in the top 4. What would be more likely is

Cole/Dumoulin/Pouliot-Lovejoy
Scuderi-Pouliot/Dumoulin/Cole

Playing Scuderi is an automatic and colossal fail, they'll most likely do it anyway and then blame the youth.

 

[Shady Machine]

I know we've heard the "Despres is a top 4 dman" quotes before, but I'm inclined to believe JR that Dumoulin will be a regular Dman this year. So that leaves Lovejoy, Scuderi, or Pouliot to sit. With MJ's love of Pouliot, it's likely either Lovejoy or Scuds sitting.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

Dumo is more ready for tough defensive assignments and more minutes. DP needs more sheltering, DP + Lovejoy should be a very solid third pair.

 

[Shady Machine]

Dumo is more ready for tough defensive assignments and more minutes. DP needs more sheltering, DP + Lovejoy should be a very solid third pair.

Agreed.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Poo Bear please.

I am afraid he is gonna start in the A, though...

 

[WayneSid9987]

Domoulin.

Domoulin-Chorney proved to be a lights out pair in the AHL and a solid pairing in the NHL playoffs. A Domoulin-Cole/Domoulin-Pouliot or Domoulin-LJ 2nd pairing should be solid enough to start out the season.

I don't want Scuds getting 2nd pairing minutes at all with the type of forward roster we have now.

 

[BHD]

Originally voted Scuderi, thinking that is what the staff will start with. But on second thought, it might be Dumo.