Mcclement: 3rd line winger or 4th line C

[Puckstuff]

Either way he will get his minutes on the P.K but do you feel he should be used more in a top 9 role? This guy can flat out play hockey, he's probably our most dependable player... is he wasted on the 4th line? I believe he was voted the 6th best defensive player in the NHL.

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[Hero]

I'd rather see Kulie-Bolland-McClement together.

But we don't have a 4th line C right now.

 

[Ari91]

We don't have an abundance of players that can play centre should McClement be moved to wing. And McClement is the only player I trust to anchor down a line that has Orr and McLaren as the wingers.

 

[LeafOfBread]

This is how I see it

Full, healthy roster with Clarkson in the line-up:

Raymond-Bolland-Kulemin
Ashton/McLaren-McClement-Orr

Right now:

McClement-Bolland-Kulemin/Raymond (depends who Carlyle wants to put on the 2nd line)

Shut-down situations

McClement-Bolland-Kulemin

 

[Paradoc]

I think Mcclement is much better suited for 4C. You get to play him 8-9 minutes a night plus a lot of P.K time. Overplaying him will lead him to make more mistake. Plus leafs don't really need him to be 3rd line winger. We already have tons of winger depth.

 

[Pinto]

I think Mcclement is much better suited for 4C. You get to play him 8-9 minutes a night plus a lot of P.K time. Overplaying him will lead him to make more mistake. Plus leafs don't really need him to be 3rd line winger. We already have tons of winger depth.

This.

Raymond - Bolland - Kulemin
Ashton - McClement - Orr

 

[Porn*]

I'd keep him on the 4th... kulemin and raymond are 3rd line wingers for us... IF for whatever reason he's bumped up... bolland moves to wing.

 

[veedubn1]

3rd line minutes (16 mpg) + primary PK duty = way too many minutes

He was great centering our 4th line last season... I see no valid reason to change it.

 

[snizzbone*]

I'd honestly rather him on on the 3rd line.. he is very effective as a 3rd line shutdown guy. But it might be best to have him on the 4th line and let him get his minutes on the PK exclusively.

 

[Rare Jewel]

4th C

 

[snizzbone*]

3rd line minutes (16 mpg) + primary PK duty = way too many minutes

He was great centering our 4th line last season... I see no valid reason to change it.

3rd liners don't get 16 mpg.. our top line last year all averaged in the 15-16 minutes of ES time per game range (19-20 with PP). 3rd line on our team would be around 13 minutes of ES time + the PK for McClement. 16 minutes per game with PK included would be realistic for McClement, and is just slightly more than he played last year.

 

[infrah]

4th line c like last year with orr and mclaren on the wings

 

[veedubn1]

3rd liners don't get 16 mpg.. our top line last year all averaged in the 15-16 minutes of ES time per game range (19-20 with PP). 3rd line on our team would be around 13 minutes of ES time + the PK for McClement. 16 minutes per game with PK included would be realistic for McClement, and is just slightly more than he played last year.

McClement averaged 16 mpg last year playing 4th line ES minutes and you want to increase his ES time? He needs to be fresh for the PK and not run ragged on our shutdown line.

 

[Mr Scarface*]

The correct answer would of course: The best 4th line center in the whole league.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

4th line center 5 on 5, top PKer.

The puck completely dies on his stick 5 on 5 and by playing him on the 4th line we keep him fresher for the PK.

If we put McClement on the 3rd line who'd play the 4th line center spot?

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

As much as I love him- our 4th line is a disaster without him

 

[Quares27]

Not really... he's a PK specialist who also plays at the end of the game when we're protecting a lead, no need to push him up further as he's not that great otherwise

 

[pspot]

4th line C, he needs to be ready to kill penalties and able to recover after

 

[Suntouchable13]

I suspect we'll see him all over the place like last season.

 

[My Sweet Shadow]

With Colborne traded and Smith sent down, it's pretty much guaranteed that he'll start off as the 4th line center. Until Clarkson comes back from his suspension, it'll likely be either Ashton or D'Amigo on the 3rd line wing with Bolland and Raymond/Kulemin.

 

[TOG26]

4th line C who will play 3rd line when the game is on the line.

 

[member 147413]

When he was on 4th line with Orr and McLaren, he turned two goons into effective players. The team is best with him down there. He should get a slight raise next year... About 1.8 or so IMO.