How will the lines look after the all-star break barring a trade

[Jumptheshark]

With Yak and McDavid getting ready to come back and Kassian MAYBE recalled from the farm

we could be adding 3 guys to the line up--obviously we will subtract 3 guys from the 12 FW skating

how do you guys seeing all four lines looking say on Feb 2nd when McDavid is reportedly to come back

in theory we will have
Lw
Hall-Pouliot-Hendricks-Klinkhammer-Kassian-Gazdik
C
McDavid-Nuge-Leon D-Lander-Letestu
RW
Eberle-Yak-Purcell-Korpikoski-Pakarinen

do you keep McDavid with Yak or do you put him with Eberle and or Hall?

nice to have options

just wont to move off of tonight game and talk about something else

Click to read more...

 

[Ritchie Valens]

Sticking with Mclellan's "pairs" (bolded) he likes to have:

Pouliot-McDavid-Yak
Hall-Draisatl-Kassian/Purcell
Purcell-RNH-Eberle
Wagon 2.0 Hendricks-Letestu-Korp

13th man: one of: Klink/Pak

AHL: Gazdic, Lander, one of Klink/Pak.

As many are hoping, I think he may experiment with a Pouliot- McDavid-Eberle line and try Purcell on his off wing with Yak and RNH...but I think my original lineup is what he will go with.

 

[Mowzie]

Assuming we go with a loaded top six:
Hall-Draisatl-Hopkins
Eberle-McDavid-Yakupov
Pouliot-Hendricks-Purcell
Kassian-Letestu-Korpikoski
Lander/Gazdig

If we go for three balanced lines:
Hall-Draisatl-Purcell
Kassian-McDavid-Yakupov
Pouliot-Hopkins-Eberle
Hendricks-Letestu-Korpikoski
Lander/Gazdig

 

[McIce Whole]

Hall - Drai - Purcell
Kassian - RNH - Eberle
Pou - Mcdavid - Yak
Hendricks - Letestu - Paka

Klef - Schultz (ew)
Nurse - Sekera
Davidson - Gryba

Talbot
Nilsson

I hate having Schultz with Klef but that's what will happen IMO. I hope we swing a deal for Hamonic or something somehow. A Klef - Hamonic pairing would be special.

 

[IAGTTAYM]

Hall-Draisaitl-Purcell
Pouliot-RNH-Eberle
Yak-McDavid-Kassian
Korpi-Letestu-Hendricks
Lander, Gazdic/Pakarinen/Klink

Klefbom-Schultz
Nurse-Sekera
Davidson-Gryba
Ference

Talbot, Nilsson

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Going slightly mad scientist here but... Instead of going 3 lines deep, why not shift one of the centres to wing?


Hall-Draisaitl-Eberle
RNH-McDavid-Yakupov

Putting Hall-RNH-Draisaitl back together is intriguing, but then I'm not as big a fan of a Yakupov-McDavid-Eberle combination. Nor do I want one of Eberle or Yak in the bottom six.

I think the cerebral RNH mixes best with McDavid (really it doesn't matter which plays C), and Yak's then allowed to be the little ball of energy. Eberle also goes to an ideal situation: complementary guy to two physically dominate players.

Going to the bottom 6...

Pouliot-Letestu-Purcell
Kinkhammer-Hendricks-Korpikoski
Lander

You said no trades, so here what I would roll with for the bottom 6.

Though ideally I would be moving Purcell for a pick, and Letestu for a bigger centre. Matthais, Berglund, Fehr, Boyle... Someone in the 6'3+ and 215+ range, who can play a 2 way role.

Pouliot-Fehr-Kassian
Korpikoski-Hendricks-Pakarinen

... Is what I would love at the end of the season. Even if they're not scoring, they're still capable of cycling and grinding the other team down, something that can't be said about the current group.

 

[McShogun99]

I think the top 2 lines stay the same. Why fix what isn't broken.

Hall-Draisaitl-Purcell
Pouliot-RNH-Eberle
Yakupov-Mcdavid-Kassian
Hendricks-Letestu-Korpikowski
Gazdic

I'm going to pretend that Klefbom is back also.

Klefbom-Sekera
Nurse-Schultz
Davidson-Gryba
Fayne, Ference

Lander probably gets traded or put on waivers, Klink gets put on waivers.

 

[tinfish]

Kassian is a RW. Not sure if he can play LW. Would be great for us if he could though.

 

[Aerchon]

I think McLellan will run with this cause he loves his top heavy top 6.

Hall RNH Leon
Poo Mcdavid Ebs
Purcell Lander Yak
Hendricks Lets Korpi

 

[McFlyingV]

Expecting this:

Hall-Drai-Purcell
Kassian-McD-Yak
Pouliot-Nuge-Eberle
Hendricks-Letestu-Korpikoski

Klefbom-Sekera
Nurse-Schultz
Davidson-Gryba

Talbot
Nilsson

Other expectations I have in times of slumping or line shuffling is to see Eberle spend time with McDavid, Yak spend time on Hall-Drai line, and Pouliot getting time with McD. Also wouldn't be surprised to see the Hall-Nuge-Drai line reunited at some point with either Letestu sliding up to 3C and Lander at 4C, or Pouliot sliding to 3C if needed (we've already seen McClellan throw 3 wingers on one of the bottom 2 lines in a game or 2 back when Slepyshev was still up). I also expect to see Brossoit get a call-up at some point if one of the goalies gets injured or if Nilsson can't get back on track.

Actually I forgot Hendricks plays centre, so I could see Letestu move up to 3C and Hendricks 4C if they decide to roll Nuge with Hall and Drai.

 

[Wewillrise]

Hall-Nuge-Drai
Pou-Mcd-Ebs
Purcell-Letestu-Yak
Pak-Hendo-Kassian

 

[Draw Me a McElephant]

I think the top 2 lines stay the same. Why fix what isn't broken.

Hall-Draisaitl-Purcell
Pouliot-RNH-Eberle
Yakupov-Mcdavid-Kassian
Hendricks-Letestu-Korpikowski
Gazdic

Start with this balanced lineup.

I think McLellan will run with this cause he loves his top heavy top 6.

Hall RNH Leon
Poo Mcdavid Ebs
Purcell Lander Yak
Hendricks Lets Korpi

Then switch to this top heavy lineup if they are down.

 

[thadd]

2 notes on Kassian

1 - I think the odds are that they're going to try to get him to play LW. Only way they put him on the RW is if they want him to play with Hall and Drai. I'm thinking he'll be on McDavid or Hopkins' line, so that's looking like a LW slot to me.

2 - Also think that some people are rushing the gun a little when it comes to Kassian's return. Guy has been kicking around for 2 weeks. Last I heard he's still getting in game shape.

 

[McDrai]

Hall/RNH/Draisaitl
Yakupov/McDavid/Eberle
Pouliot/Letestu/Purcell
Korpikoski/Hendricks/Kassian

 

[MuzzaFuzza]

Hall - Draisatl - Purcell
Pouliot - McDavid - Yakupov
Lander/Klink - RNH - Eberle
Korpikoski - Letestu - Hendricks
Lander/Klink

Waive Gazdic, Pak in the minors. Purcell gone at the deadline, Kassian in his spot.

The defence? Sheesh, ideally something like this.

Klefbom - XXXX
Sekera - XXXX
Nurse - Davidson
Gryba

More likely

Nurse - Sekera
Klefbom - Schultz
Davidson - Fayne

 

[MinisterOfSinister]

Hall - Draisatl - Purcell
Pouliot - McDavid - Yakupov
Hendricks - RNH - Eberle
Kassian - Letestu - Korpikoski

 

[MPStoEberletoHall*]

Hall - Draisatl - Purcell
Pouliot - McDavid - Yakupov
Lander/Klink - RNH - Eberle
Korpikoski - Letestu - Hendricks
Lander/Klink

Waive Gazdic, Pak in the minors. Purcell gone at the deadline, Kassian in his spot.

The defence? Sheesh, ideally something like this.

Klefbom - XXXX
Sekera - XXXX
Nurse - Davidson
Gryba

More likely

Nurse - Sekera
Klefbom - Schultz
Davidson - Fayne

This

 

[Bangers]

Hall - Draisaitl - Purcell
Korpikoski - McDavid - Yakupov
Pouliot- Nuge - Eberle
Hendo - Letestu - Klinkhammer
Lander

Klefbom - Schultz
Nurse - Sekera
Davidson - Gryba
Fayne

 

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

Start with this balanced lineup.



Then switch to this top heavy lineup if they are down.

Love it. We have an unprecedented (in the cap era) amount of forward talent on this team. It's really imbalanced, which is why we suck, but it also opens the door to try cool stuff like this.

 

[Jumptheshark]

2 notes on Kassian

1 - I think the odds are that they're going to try to get him to play LW. Only way they put him on the RW is if they want him to play with Hall and Drai. I'm thinking he'll be on McDavid or Hopkins' line, so that's looking like a LW slot to me.

2 - Also think that some people are rushing the gun a little when it comes to Kassian's return. Guy has been kicking around for 2 weeks. Last I heard he's still getting in game shape.

That is why I said after all star break and in to feb

 

[cbzblaze]

Hall - Draisatl - Eberle
RNH - McDavid - Yakupov
Pouliot - Letestu - Kassian/klinkhamer
Pak - Hendricks - Korpikoski

Klef - sekera
Nurse - Schultz
Davidson - gryba
Fayne

I'm done with both lander and Purcell.
Especially Purcell. He makes so many ridiculously dumb plays and is lazy.
On the other hand, Lander tries real hard but sucks.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Hall - Drai - Purcell
Kassian - RNH - Eberle
Pou - Mcdavid - Yak
Hendricks - Letestu - Paka

Klef - Schultz (ew)
Nurse - Sekera
Davidson - Gryba

Talbot
Nilsson

I hate having Schultz with Klef but that's what will happen IMO. I hope we swing a deal for Hamonic or something somehow. A Klef - Hamonic pairing would be special.

That would be an amazing pair. We'd finally have a pairing we can put out there to close games out. I really hope we can grab him somehow. I'd be willing to trade a good piece up front, because we need the help on D so badly.

 

[cbzblaze]

Loosing klefbom has been huge.
I'd say even bigger than losing McDavid.

Shoulda won these last 3 games

 

[Titsuple]

Hall - Nuge - Draisaitl
Yakupov-McDavid-Eberle
Pouliot-Letestu-Kassian
Hendricks-Lander-Purcell (korpi after deadline)
Lander/Korpi

Klefbom - Sekera
Nurse - Schultz (man we need to move this guy)
Davidson - Gryba
Fayne

Talbot
Nilsson (needs to be better)

 

[ekcut]

Hall, Drai, Purcell 1a
Pouliot, RNH, Eberle 1b
Kassian, McDavid, Yak 1c
Hendricks, Letestu, Korp

I think we will see Kassian riding shotgun for McDavid, and McDavid turning him into the Lucic we've been dreaming of. Yak will play 5 inches taller, and will turn up the pest level. Yak will waive the red cape, Kassian will be a lurking shadow above him, and McD will work magic with the extra room.

1a will see the top pairing Dmen
1b will draw the tough assignment of matching uop again the other teams top line
1c will get the left overs
4 will get more than the 4th line now, and will create energy.

You can win a cup this forward group.

I wont talk about the defense in order to leave this post with a positive attitude.