Kuznetsov on the 4th line?

[InsideOut*]

Im not a Caps fan but I have a question for you guys. From what Ive read and heard, Kuznetsov will start the season on the fourth line..is that true? And if so what do you guys think of that decision?

I heard he didnt have a great camp but why not give him an opportunity to prove himself when it matters more or something? I mean he did pretty good last year from what I remember..

i cant copy the link i read but it was on RussianMachineNeverBreaks' website.

Click to read more...

 

[Capsman]

Im not a Caps fan but I have a question for you guys. From what Ive read and heard, Kuznetsov will start the season on the fourth line..is that true? And if so what do you guys think of that decision?

I heard he didnt have a great camp but why not give him an opportunity to prove himself when it matters more or something? I mean he did pretty good last year from what I remember..

i cant copy the link i read but it was on RussianMachineNeverBreaks' website.

Honestly I don't have a problem with that. Being a "leader" of that line may help him develop some assertivenss and toughness. Plus we get some skill on that line. I actually had a bigger problem with Wilson being on the 4th line last season because he was a guy who needed to think less like a goon and more about fulfilling his potential as a power forward.

 

[Burakovsky95*]

Im not a Caps fan but I have a question for you guys. From what Ive read and heard, Kuznetsov will start the season on the fourth line..is that true? And if so what do you guys think of that decision?

I heard he didnt have a great camp but why not give him an opportunity to prove himself when it matters more or something? I mean he did pretty good last year from what I remember..

i cant copy the link i read but it was on RussianMachineNeverBreaks' website.

I had the exact same thought as you. Why not challenge him at first and if he continues to show poorly then start moving him down the lineup. I think it's obvious he won't last on the 4th line but we do have a logjam on the wing even without Wilson healthy.

 

[Ajax1995]

It's a long season. I have no doubt Kuznetsov will get his opportunities playing higher up the lineup.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

If he does start on the 4th line, it will be a matter of 5-10 games before he gets promoted to the 2nd line. I hope Trotz doesn't put f***ing MoJo on the 2nd line instead of Kuzya.

In the long run, I think Kuzya will outperform Burakovsky.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I think it's a perfect spot for him with minimal pressure. Play him in spot duty, then occasionally double shift him around until he's ready for fulltime top-6 duty.

 

[noptov]

He should be getting a decent bit of powerplay time every night, too (unlike Wilson last season).

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

I think it's a perfect spot for him with minimal pressure. Play him in spot duty, then occasionally double shift him around until he's ready for fulltime top-6 duty.

This is my thought too. I think if the plan was to keep him at wing, he'd be in Mojo's spot in the top 6. The 4th line thing is about easing him in at the center position.

My prediction is that his promotion to the top-6, Wilson's return, and a Burakovsky demotion to Hershey will happen very closely together.

 

[Devil Dancer]

Bura looks more like an NHL player to me than Wilson did last year by a wide margin. Maybe Willy has matured over the summer.

 

[usiel]

Was only the last preseason game but I liked seeing Kuz playing with some physical bottom six players who can muck it up on the boards and cause a little havok which opens up room for him. He's top 6 depth also if someone goes down.

 

[NoLookPass]

Remember a 4th lines ice time under Trotz is much higher then under Oates.

 

[g00n]

Much ado about nothing

 

[RandyHolt]

Don't draft him on your fantasy team then

 

[ilovealistair]

didnt he used to be LW and is now being trained for Center? Its like above said, ease him in. No team is without injuries, he'll play 3rd and 2nd lines soon enough.

 

[ulvvf]

He is too good for playing in a 4th line, I think he will be traded in 1-2 years if he do not get a bigger role. There are a lots of team that would need him. And having Ovechkin, Backstrom , Burakovsky and Kuznetsov is perhaps to expensive? There are a lot of teams this season where he would be the big star.

 

[Capsman]

He is too good for playing in a 4th line, I think he will be traded in 1-2 years if he do not get a bigger role. There are a lots of team that would need him. And having Ovechkin, Backstrom , Burakovsky and Kuznetsov is perhaps to expensive? There are a lot of teams this season where he would be the big star.

Can't tell if you are being serious or not.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Crazy town has arrived. There's nothing wrong at all with Kuz playing on the 4th getting his feet wet again at C. Unless you want to jam him in at winger, who are you displacing, Burakovsky at 2C? Not happening right now that's for sure.

 

[RaindanceMaggie]

I think we will see Kuzya playing in many different roles as the season progresses.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

He got over 16 minutes of ice time last night. More than any of the 2nd liners.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

He got over 16 minutes of ice time last night. More than any of the 2nd liners.

Yeh but alot of that was junk time to end the game. Those minutes are really going to help him develop into they player we all want him to be.

 

[Acallabeth]

He still makes plays and gets assists as a 4th liner, and he plays the 2nd PP for 40-50 second shifts. I'm not worried.

 

[HOLDITHERE*]

Just another lazy, heartless Russian. Nothing to see here.

 

[MrGone]

I would not mind seeing him getting a few games at 2C down the stretch to help keep Bura fresh. I think it would good for both of them.

 

[Ajax1995]

I would not mind seeing him getting a few games at 2C down the stretch to help keep Bura fresh. I think it would good for both of them.

Through 4 games Burakovsky is averaging 13:59 per game, good for 9th amongst forwards. Whether or not that stays that way I don't know but if it does that is not a load that should lead to him wearing down IMO.

I'd like then to find Kuznetsov some more ice time also but outside of injuries I'm not sure where it is going to come from at this point...

 

[PucksInDeep]

I think once Kuznetsov gets going and/or if Burakovsky hits a wall, they'll have no issues putting Kuznetsov higher in the lineup

Wouldn't mind seeing Kuznetsov as the 2C and Burakovsky as the 3C by the end of the season (hopefully he gets better on face-offs)