Line Combos: Make the fourth line great again

[Holystik]

I wouldn't want to pay that much for a short term fix.

He is signed for 2 more years after this season. I would not qualify it as a "short fix". Either ways I would not want to overpay for a 4C...

 

[Archijerej]

Honestly, I have no idea why they released Plekanec.

That was weird to me as well. They seemed to really believe Peca is the answer.

 

[26Mats]

Marcus Johansson-Brassard-Lehkonen

(go with 4 two-way lines that can provide offense and are good defensively).

 

[frapp10]

Byron/Lehkonen - trade - weise
That could be a good fourth line

 

[L4br3cqu3]

A name I haven't seen for the 4th line C spot, Nate Thompson in LA. He doesn't produce a whole lot (LA is a wretch anyway), but he's something like 53-54%FO this season on average, and plays a gritty game. Pure rental.

Also, and this one is a stretch, but Darren Helm in Detroit. His best years are behind him, last full season he had was in '10-11, and he has a cap hit of 3.85M$/season til '21, but let's say we'd offer Alzner in return, maybe, just maybe he could be useful while our youth overtake his spot... his speed and 2-way play sure would fit our play style. (just not sure if he plays C at all nowadays)

 

[nhlfan9191]

Armia can take it and still be on the PK.



Weise is playing for Laval not Montreal.

That’s the point. A lot of posters are excited like we have the same 4th line player from 5 years ago. He’s garbage now.

 

[ProspectsFanatic]

Drouin-Danault-Gallagher
Tatar-Domi-Shaw
Byron-Kotka-Armia
Lehkonen-Peca-Weise

 

[ahmedou]

Fourth Line Combo (Update #1)

Armia/Thompson/Weal

 

[Harpo]

That thread bump will be embarrassing for a couple of posters that thought Weise was a solution.

 

[ahmedou]

Fourth Line Combo (Update #2)

Byron/Thompson/Weal

 

[angusyoung]

Fourth Line Combo (Update #2)

Byron/Thompson/Weal

Vast improvement from last season. AIAEC

 

[yianik]

Vast improvement from last season. AIAEC

Two years ago the way they played the preseason was a gong show, and last year MB had just too many fringe NHL players fighting for the bottom spots, including of course the 4th line. Basically MB figured competition between I dunno, 20 guys for 5 spots would give you some good players. Nope. What we got was maybe the worst 4th line in hockey and a joke of a bottom D pairing. All these guys got cleared out and it was mostly in season pick ups that took over those spots.

So yes, this 4th line is much better. Needs to produce about 25 goals to the offence, and with Byron hopefully that is on the low end.

 

[417]

I'd say the 4th line is

Drouin-Kotkaniemi-Armia

 

[ahmedou]

Vast improvement from last season. AIAEC

Definitively... Will Thompson follow the pace of his partners?

Two years ago the way they played the preseason was a gong show, and last year MB had just too many fringe NHL players fighting for the bottom spots, including of course the 4th line. Basically MB figured competition between I dunno, 20 guys for 5 spots would give you some good players. Nope. What we got was maybe the worst 4th line in hockey and a joke of a bottom D pairing. All these guys got cleared out and it was mostly in season pick ups that took over those spots.

So yes, this 4th line is much better. Needs to produce about 25 goals to the offence, and with Byron hopefully that is on the low end.

Their inputs would be appreciated... Playing with three lines, it's a unfair handicap. Case closed.

I'd say the 4th line is

Drouin-Kotkaniemi-Armia

With their actual shape, a round trip there is a no-brainer too...

 

[Justin11]

I'd say the 4th line is

Drouin-Kotkaniemi-Armia

Yup, Drouin and Armia will at least see some PP time, KK might not even hit 10 minutes tonight since CJ does not have the last change.

 

[DangerDave]

Fourth Line Combo (Update #2)

Byron/Thompson/Weal

That's a nice 4th line. Id swap Weal and Armia but this is fine too

 

[Habs Halifax]

Byron / Thompson / Weal is a pretty good 4th line if you ask me. It's got skill, speed, and some grit. A 20 goal man on the 4th line in Byron? Probably one of the best 4th line's in hockey. I'd like to see someone show me the contenders?

Habs are built to win with great goaltending, solid D, and a balanced attack 5/5 with all 4 lines. Just wish we had the weapons for our PP... All I'm asking is for a top 15-20 range PP... it that asking for too much?

 

[1909]

I'd say the 4th line is

Drouin-Kotkaniemi-Armia

By the way they played in pre-season: YES !

 

[417]

By the way they played in pre-season: YES !

Not to mention their usage - which has a direct correlation to how players play.

It's kind of odd to see people have high expectations for Kotkaniemi's usage suggests we should actually be lowering them.

But hey...on some level, I guess it's totally fair to expect him to put up 50+pts playing 8 mins a game like he did the last preseason game.

 

[BLONG7]

There was a preseason game, where we had 3 PP goals..........and Drouin was not in the lineup........just saying Clod.

 

[ahmedou]

Fourth Line Combo (Update #3)

Cousins/Thompson/Weal

 

[26Mats]

Fourth Line Combo (Update #3)

Cousins/Thompson/Weal

If Armia comes back and Tatar's not out, one of those 3 will come out. My guess is Weal.

I think Julien had Armia and Suzuki rotating, because if Armia's ready to go, he's playing with Domi, and Suzuki will take Weal's place on the 4th line.

 

[DangerDave]

If Armia comes back and Tatar's not out, one of those 3 will come out. My guess is Weal.

I think Julien had Armia and Suzuki rotating, because if Armia's ready to go, he's playing with Domi, and Suzuki will take Weal's place on the 4th line.

Wasn't Suzuki practicing with Domi before Tatar went down?

 

[Rapala]

What I'd really like is see is something that makes our fourth line irrelevant.

 

[26Mats]

Wasn't Suzuki practicing with Domi before Tatar went down?

yes, but now he's rotating with Armia, now that Armia's about to come back. I would suspect if Armia's good to go, he gets that spot, Suzuki goes to the 4th line, and Weal comes out.

If Tatar's not ready to go, not sure who would slot into the left wing spot with Danault and Gallagher. Suzuki? Armia? Byron? Weal? Lehkonen? Cousins?