Things to remember:
1. Iginla did not choose to come here to play on a line centered by Jokinen or Sutter, and I'm sure DB recognizes that. Experimenting with this line is hardly apocalyptic, because if it develops some chemistry, it gives the team a few options.
2. Switching wings can work. Everybody and their sister told us Neal sucked on RW, then he comes here and tears it up. Everybody said it was stupid when Ovie was tried on RW early in the season and struggled, and now he's an MVP candidate.
I'd like to see Iggy with Sid too, but he's out, and we have the opportunity to try a few different looks.
I care more that Iginla is playing with Neal than that he's on the left wing.
Things to remember:
1. Iginla did not choose to come here to play on a line centered by Jokinen or Sutter, and I'm sure DB recognizes that. Experimenting with this line is hardly apocalyptic, because if it develops some chemistry, it gives the team a few options.
2. Switching wings can work. Everybody and their sister told us Neal sucked on LW, then he comes here and tears it up. Everybody said it was stupid when Ovie was tried on RW early in the season and struggled, and now he's an MVP candidate.
I'd like to see Iggy with Sid too, but he's out, and we have the opportunity to try a few different looks.
If we had 25 more games for Iggy to get used to it I might agree..
How would you go about it?
Neal isn't leaving Malkin.
Iginla should play with one of Crosby or Malkin.
Crosby isn't playing.
Two flaws with that:
1.) When Neal switched wings, he was still very young and did not establish himself in the NHL yet. Iginla has been around since the mid-90's and has established himself in the NHL playing RW all that time. You don't mess with that.
2.) Ovechkin may have adjusted to RW now, but he struggled mightily for much of the season trying to adjust. Want to see Iginla struggle for the postseason trying to adjust?
Those aren't flaws, they are factors.
1. Neal had most certainly established himself. He was a 3-time 20+ goal scorer and was on pace for 30 in the year he was traded here.
2. Ovechkin was expected to be the best player on his line. Iginla doesn't have to be the best, or even 2nd best.
Things to remember:
1. Iginla did not choose to come here to play on a line centered by Jokinen or Sutter, and I'm sure DB recognizes that. Experimenting with this line is hardly apocalyptic, because if it develops some chemistry, it gives the team a few options.
2. Switching wings can work. Everybody and their sister told us Neal sucked on RW, then he comes here and tears it up. Everybody said it was stupid when Ovie was tried on RW early in the season and struggled, and now he's an MVP candidate.
I'd like to see Iggy with Sid too, but he's out, and we have the opportunity to try a few different looks.
Things to remember:
1. Iginla did not choose to come here to play on a line centered by Jokinen or Sutter, and I'm sure DB recognizes that. Experimenting with this line is hardly apocalyptic, because if it develops some chemistry, it gives the team a few options.
2. Switching wings can work. Everybody and their sister told us Neal sucked on RW, then he comes here and tears it up. Everybody said it was stupid when Ovie was tried on RW early in the season and struggled, and now he's an MVP candidate.
I'd like to see Iggy with Sid too, but he's out, and we have the opportunity to try a few different looks.
How would you go about it?
Neal isn't leaving Malkin.
Iginla should play with one of Crosby or Malkin.
Crosby isn't playing.
I don't buy that he's playing with Geno and Neal because Sid is out. He's playing with Geno and Neal because Disco is seriously considering keeping him there when Sid is back. Getting some time playing with his playoff wing partner - even with a different center - would be more useful for doing that. Not to mention, Geno and Neal haven't looked great all season long. They need as much practice as possible with their long term line-mate.
Rowdy: your statements about Neal and Ovy are true but both of those guys had the benefit of something Iginla doesn't: a couple months worth of games on the opposite side to get used to it.
This could end badly IMO if Bylsma is inflexible after a certain amount of time. Iggy is fine on the left half-wall on the Powerplay but not even strength. Maybe next year we could try it if he re-signs and starts there in camp but for now it's a dumb idea because there's not enough time for him to acclimate.
Just once I would like someone on the wrong side of this debate to not bring up Iggy playing with Sid. That's not what this is about. Iggy didn't come here to play with Geno or Crosby, he came here to win. Iggy on the 2nd-line LW isnt winning.
People kept harping on ES production for the 2nd-line at the beginning of the year. It's just as bad now, because it doesn't work.
It can be two things. Like I said, Crosby is out now, so there's the opportunity to try it. It could give us some added flexibility moving forward.
The way Dupes and Kunitz have worked with Crosby this year I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to try to keep the line together, and in that case, where else does Iggy go?
What about Sid's acclimation time? He's coming back from injury with limited vision, and adjusting to new linemates and different tendencies in the playoffs with those limitations isn't ideal either.
No matter what, somebody's are going to have a lot to get used to in a short period of time.
And it would be disrespectful to him. Since when is Iginla a 3rd line winger? I think he needs to be on Sid's line and let Duper play on the 3rd line. He won't get upset about that. He is a team man. Not sure about Beauner on the 2nd line in the playoffs. Put Morrow up there and give Geno and Neal a net presence.
That is my two cents anyway.
You and everyone else thinks that this is how it should go. BUT, it won't. Because keeping Dupuis in the top six at RW and having Iginla in the top six because it's disrespectful otherwise is more important than winning a cup.
I hope they lose 10 nothing and that line is a solid -10.
Looks like he's going to force feed that line until they're down to an elimination game, when it'll already be too late.
Congrats DB. I could have never hated you, but you just planted the seed.
What about Sid's acclimation time? He's coming back from injury with limited vision, and adjusting to new linemates and different tendencies in the playoffs with those limitations isn't ideal either.
It can be two things. Like I said, Crosby is out now, so there's the opportunity to try it. It could give us some added flexibility moving forward.
The way Dupes and Kunitz have worked with Crosby this year I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to try to keep the line together, and in that case, where else does Iggy go?
Its not ideal. But its better than putting two shooters together on a line and nobody to go get them the damn puck. One of them playing out of position.What about Sid's acclimation time? He's coming back from injury with limited vision, and adjusting to new linemates and different tendencies in the playoffs with those limitations isn't ideal either.
No matter what, somebody's are going to have a lot to get used to in a short period of time.
Doesn't have to be like that. Unlike Iginla, Dupuis actually can move to LW. So take advantage of that:
Dupuis-Crosby-Iginla
Kunitz-Malkin-Neal
Not sure why Bylsma hasn't figured it out.