Speculation: Opening Night Line Predictions

[Digitalbooya]

What is your way too early opening night lineup?

I'll start.

1st line: Kaprizov-Eriksson Ek-Zuccarello

Kaprizov and Zuccarello have a ton of chemistry and have been really productive together. I'd like to start with them together and see if that continues. Eriksson Ek is the best center on the team and a significantly better player than Ryan Hartman. He can cover for any defensive deficiencies from Kap and Zucc.

2nd line: Boldy-Rossi-Johansson

Boldy and Johansson is Kap-Zucc lite. They showed chemistry playing together. Boldy seems to work well with a winger that is faster than him. It's put up or shut up time for Rossi. I don't think there's any chance he plays with Kap and Zucc until he shows he can produce on the 2nd or 3rd line.

3rd line: Foligno-Gaudreau-Hartman

I am hoping for a bounce back year from Foligno. Last year he was terrible and even worse in the playoffs. Hartman and Gaudreau bring speed, grit, and some offensive skill to the line.

4th line: Duhaime-Dewar-Maroon

Grinders that play a solid two way game.

1st pair: Middleton-Spurgeon

I don't see a way they split these two currently. They are pretty consistent and each player complements the other's flaw.

2nd pair: Brodin-Faber

Faber showed he has the defensive capabilities to be a top 4 dman. The question remains if any offense will translate over. Brodin will carrying the pairing regardless.

3rd pair: Hunt-Addison

Hunt is the first LD up in my books. I see Merrill as trade bait and Goligoski as a pressbox guy. Addison as the right d because there isn't anyone better than him to take his spot.

Goaltenders:
1. Gus
2. MAF

Pretty self explanatory. Gus is a better goaltender and the team plays better with him in net.

Click to read more...

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

It'll be the same as last year, pretty much:

Kap - Hartman - Zucc
MoJo - JEE - Boldy
Maroon - Gaudreau - Foligno
Duhaime - Dewar - Rossi

Middleton - Spurgeon
Brodin - Faber
Merrill - Addison

Gus/Fleury

 

[Spurgeon]

Kap - Rossi - Zucc
Johansson - Ek - Boldy
Foligno - Gaudreau - Hartman
Duhaime - Dewar - Walker
Maroon

Brodin - Faber
Middleton - Spurgeon
Merrill - Addison
Goli

Gus
Fleury

 

[Wasted Talent]

Is Ek expected to be 100% healthy for opening night?

 

[saywut]

It'll be the same as last year, pretty much:

Kap - Hartman - Zucc
MoJo - JEE - Boldy
Maroon - Gaudreau - Foligno
Duhaime - Dewar - Rossi

Middleton - Spurgeon
Brodin - Faber
Merrill - Addison

Gus/Fleury

I have it Folgino-Rossi-Gaudreau and Maroon-Dewar-Duhaime, rest the same. I still remember Deano playing Foligno with Zuccarello, so I'm sure he feels he's a great fit with Rossi and has his 2 favorites teach him to "play the right way". Lettieri as the extra unless something happens between now and then(signing/waiver claim)

 

[BagHead]

Kap-Rossi-Zucc
Mojo-Rossi-Boldy
Foligno-JEE-Hartman
Duhaime-Dewar-Rossi
Maroon

This is his year.
Where's that sarcasm smiley? But then do I really want to use it?

 

[DC4MVP]

Is Ek expected to be 100% healthy for opening night?

He'll be 100% for camp.

 

[TaLoN]

He'll be 100% for camp.

Then opening night, he'll take the opening faceoff, something won't feel right and after a 13 second shift, won't see him for weeks....

 

[MNRube]

What it will be:
Kaprizov-Hartman-Zucc
Boldy-JEE-Mojo
Foligno-Rossi-Gaudreau
Duhaime-Dewar-Maroon

What I’d like to see:
Kaprizov-JEE-Zucc
Boldy-Rossi-Mojo
Beckman/Walker-Gaudreau-Hartman
Foligno-Dewar-Maroon

 

[thestonedkoala]

When was the last time a genuine rookie made the Wild as a surprise? Bulmer?

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Kaprizov-Hartman-Zuccarello
Boldy-Ek-Mojo
Foligno-Gaudreau-Rossi
Maroon-Dewar-Duhaime

 

[AKL]

Doesn't really make sense to me to have Rossi in the bottom six, but after last year that's probably what I should expect.

At a certain point you gotta give him an extended look in the top six and hope he can work through any issues he has.

 

[Circulartheory]

What I want

Kaprizov - JEE - Zuccarello (but will slowly pushed down as season progresses)
Johansson - Rossi - Boldy
Gaudreau - Hartman - Duhaime/Beckman/Walker
Maroon - Dewar - Foligno

Brodin - Faber
Middleton - Spurgeon
Merrill - Addison
Goligoski

Gustavsson
Fleury

What Dean is going to go with (or least will revert back to after 10 games)

Kaprizov - Hartman - Zuccarello
Johansson - JEE - Boldy
Gaudreau - Rossi - Foligno
Maroon - Dewar - Duhiame/Walker/Beckman

Middleton - Spurgeon
Brodin - Faber
Merrill - Goligoski
Addison

Gustavsson/Fleury

 

[Wabit]

I'd like Ohgren to go the JEE route and get a cup of coffee to start the season before going to the SHL.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

When was the last time a genuine rookie made the Wild as a surprise? Bulmer?

I am not sure what you are really asking. Faber was just added for two regular season games and then playoffs, some might consider that pretty surprising. Rossi, Addison, Shaw, Dewar, Duhaime are all varying levels of surprising over the past two seasons. We are on a prospect related forum, realistically none of this is really a true surprise.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I am not sure what you are really asking. Faber was just added for two regular season games and then playoffs, some might consider that pretty surprising. Rossi, Addison, Shaw, Dewar, Duhaime are all varying levels of surprising over the past two seasons. We are on a prospect related forum, realistically none of this is really a true surprise.

Bulmer was a surprise, but you're right - he was D+1 when he joined the team, before sending back to the WHL.

Faber was slated to join, but he didn't join out of camp. Joining at the end of the season vs the beginning of the season is a lot different. Addison, Rossi, Dewar, Duhaime all had time in the AHL before being added to the club.

Bulmer came from the WHL directly to the NHL, which was a huge surprise.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Kaprizov - Rossi - Hartman
Boldy - Eriksson-Ek - Johansson
Duhaime - Gaudreau - Foligno
Maroon - Dewar - Lietteri/Beckman/Walker

Trade Zuccarello to open up cap space and a spot in the top 6 for Rossi

Brodin - Faber
Spurgeon - Middleton
Goligoski - Merrill

 

[AKL]

Kaprizov - Rossi - Hartman
Boldy - Eriksson-Ek - Johansson
Duhaime - Gaudreau - Foligno
Maroon - Dewar - Lietteri/Beckman/Walker

Trade Zuccarello to open up cap space and a spot in the top 6 for Rossi

Brodin - Faber
Spurgeon - Middleton
Goligoski - Merrill

Bold predictions only speedrun

 

[Spurgeon]

Kaprizov - Rossi - Hartman
Boldy - Eriksson-Ek - Johansson
Duhaime - Gaudreau - Foligno
Maroon - Dewar - Lietteri/Beckman/Walker

Trade Zuccarello to open up cap space and a spot in the top 6 for Rossi

Brodin - Faber
Spurgeon - Middleton
Goligoski - Merrill

What would be the reason to open up cap space if we’re not going to use it anywhere (based on your lineup)?

 

[Circulartheory]

I'd like Ohgren to go the JEE route and get a cup of coffee to start the season before going to the SHL.

I would love that idea. Despite me having Yurov clearly a better prospect than Ohgren, Ohgren might be the most NHL ready prospect we have and from the sounds of recent reports, tweets and devcamp and etc. he seems to not look out of place.

He might surprise in camp and would love to see the same thing as you. A few games then back into the NHL. He might out play Walker/Beckman/Duhaime.

 

[thestonedkoala]

What would be the reason to open up cap space if we’re not going to use it anywhere (based on your lineup)?

Cushion for Gus's extension. Next season as well and see if they can't make a move or two.