Line Combos: HFPens Decides: Complete the First Line

[Randy Butternubs]

Vote for what you want to see.

I did this a few summers ago after the Pens acquired Kessel. And with more changes than normal this off-season, I thought this would be a good idea to do again.

This will be a thread series. Series? Yes, series. HFPens will be selecting what they feel is the best opening day lineup. I'll be limiting this to the top two lines for the time being as I'm sure there will be roster moves.

Polls will be open for a few days unless there is an overwhelming majority vote. What defines "overwhelming majority"? I'm not sure yet.

Some assumptions, as of 7/29/2019:

1. Crosby and Malkin are our top two centers and will not play wing.
2. Guentzel will be one of Crosby's wingers to start the season and can play either wing.
3. Blueger will be the fourth line center.
4. Hornqvist can only play right wing.
5. If in the top-6, Bjugstad will only be a right wing. Otherwise, he can be a center or RW in the bottom-6.
6. Similarly, McCann will only be a left wing in the top-6. If in the bottom-6 he can be a center or LW.
7. As a result, Bjugstad or McCann will likely be the third line center.
8. Rust, Galchenyuk, Simon, Kahun, Tanev, and ZAR can play either wing.
9. Despite being listed as such on certain websites, Galchenyuk, Kahun, and ZAR are not centers.
10. [added late] If Galchenyuk does not land on the first line, then he will be on the 2nd with Malkin.

I will add more assumptions as the HFPens lineup is decided. You don't like these assumptions? Do let me know.

We shall start with completing the first line. Who plays with Crosby and Guentzel? Vote for what you want to see.

If you vote someone who can play LW or RW, please let me know where you want them to be played.

Current HFBoards Lineup:

Guentzel/XXX-Crosby-XXX/Guentzel
XXX-Malkin-XXX
XXX-XXX-XXX
XXX-Blueger-XXX



FYI, this was the HFPens starting lineup for 2015:

Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist
Plotnikov-Malkin-Kessel
Kunitz-Bonino-Bennett
Sundqvist-Cullen-Dupuis
Wilson

Maatta-Letang
Pouliot-Cole
Dumoulin-Lovejoy
Scuderi

Fleury
Zatkoff

Click to read more...

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I think there are at least two very good options here and probably two other potential options on top of that that might work but I'll be going with Hornqvist even if it's unlikely (over a full season) because not only do I think that's generally a good compliment to the Crosby/Guentzel dynamic but also makes the best use of Hornqvist in this lineup.

 

[ColePens]

$5 @KIRK says ZAR

 

[ColePens]

I want Hornqvist.
I'm cool with Kahun.
It's going to be Rust - #sully

Voted Rusty.

 

[davemess]

I want Hornqvist.

Me to, that trio has worked at times before...... lets give it another try.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Not that it matters but are we going with what we'd do or what we think will happen?

Because I definitely wouldn't have gone with Hornqvist if it's what we think will happen.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

@ColePens @BlindWillyMcHurt vote for what you want to see.

 

[ColePens]

@ColePens @BlindWillyMcHurt vote for what you want to see.

Changed mine. The question was more suited for what i think Sully does. Changed mine to 72.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Changed mine. The question was more suited for what i think Sully does. Changed mine to 72.

I'll make it more clear on the following polls. The site won't let me edit the poll question.

 

[Shady Machine]

I am going with Kahun as a blend between what I want and what I think is best. He has potential to be a really nice fit there and I would like to see how it works out to start the year.

 

[Peat]

I picked Simon but might change my vote to Hornqvist if its tight between him and Kahun and Simon's nowhere near; think those have been the two best with Sid and am reluctant to give somebody a place on L1 in their first day in the org. Call me a dinosaur, but I want to see someone work for that.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I picked Simon but might change my vote to Hornqvist if its tight between him and Kahun and Simon's nowhere near; think those have been the two best with Sid and am reluctant to give somebody a place on L1 in their first day in the org. Call me a dinosaur, but I want to see someone work for that.

I'm in the same boat FWIW. I have a feeling Kahun could be a pretty great fit there but I'm not really cool with simply handing him that big a role right off the cut... not just for the team's sake but his.

Honestly I'm pretty lukewarm re: Simon but I understand why people seem to like him there.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

I want to see more of McCann with them. I want to see Kahun there as well.

 

[SHOOTANDSCORE]

I picked Horny because that's what I want to start with. I think Kahun will be a fixture there by the end of the season.

 

[DesertPenguin]

I'd like to see Kahun there but I predict Sully will make him earn it on the 4th line for the foreseeable future.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Oh yeah, another assumption:

10. If Galchenyuk does not land on the first line, then he will be on the 2nd with Malkin.

 

[UnrealMachine]

Paired with Crosby and Guentzel at 5on5 last season, Simon/60 yielded:

GF%: 66.7%
HDCF%: 69.6%
SCF%: 62.6%
GF/60: 5.3 (you want maximum Crosby points?)

That's where the bar is set in my opinion.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Nubbsy, f*** you for putting ZAR in that list.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Changed mine. The question was more suited for what i think Sully does. Changed mine to 72.

I went with HornDog as well.

 

[NMK11]

Horny all the way. Sid seems to hate playing with him, but he has looked the best consistently with Jake and Sid. Only reason not to do this is if you think horny is ready to fall off a cliff from a concussion standpoint.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Go Das Groß Kahunas or go Zuhause.

 

[CascadiaPenguin]

want - Kahun
think - Horny (and hoping he delivers a big "F U" to the critics who wrote him off after his last post concussion performance, irrespective of his line)

 

[Dangles78]

I really want to see what the Simon-Bjugstad-Hornqvist line can do some more. So that leaves Rust or Kahun. Although I think Sully tries Rust on L1, I don't think his tunnel vision will last with Sid. So gimme Kahun.

 

[Gurglesons]

I really want to see what the Simon-Bjugstad-Hornqvist line can do some more. So that leaves Rust or Kahun. Although I think Sully tries Rust on L1, I don't think his tunnel vision will last with Sid. So gimme Kahun.

Guentzel - Sid - Kahun
Galchenyuk - Malkin - Hornqvist
Tanev - McCann - Rust
ZAR - Teddy - Simon

Is what I think we see opening night given cap considerations.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

How many people have actually watched Kahun enough to make a strong opinion of him?