Speculation: Opening night line up

[Elche1975]

What will be the lines? Who are the new players coming with a regular spot?

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[Wabit]

If BB tries to run 4 scoring lines the first 9 games.

Parise/Staal/Coyle-preordained since Staal signed.
Granny/Koivu/Nino- Nino has to shoot 85 times a game and carry the line.
Zucker/JEE/Pommer- Lots of preseason time together.
Graovac/Haula/Stewie- poor Haula stuck on the 4th line again (much improved from previous 4th lines)
Dalpe-pressbox

Suter/Spurgeon
Brodin/Dumba
Scandella/Folin
Prosser-pressbox

Dub
Kemp

Reilly probably should make the team, but is waivers exempt so goes to Iowa and is an injury callup.
Stalock probably should be the backup but is more likely to slip through waivers than Kemps. Unless they put Kemps on injury list for an upper-body injury (he's a headcase)
Tuch gets first line mins in Iowa and is injury callup.
JEE makes the team because they want him so badly to be the next "1C in training". He gets his 9 game tryout to start the season, if he fails he's sent back to SHL.
Dalpe makes it as a pressbox guy because he's a RHS and insurance if JEE doesn't work out.
Graovac makes it because there isn't anyone else, unless they hit the trash bin to fill the spot.
23rd spot is open to save cap space for deadline trading of the 2018 2nd rounder.

 

[Elche1975]

If BB tries to run 4 scoring lines the first 9 games.

Parise/Staal/Coyle-preordained since Staal signed.
Granny/Koivu/Nino- Nino has to shoot 85 times a game and carry the line.
Zucker/JEE/Pommer- Lots of preseason time together.
Graovac/Haula/Stewie- poor Haula stuck on the 4th line again (much improved from previous 4th lines)
Dalpe-pressbox

Suter/Spurgeon
Brodin/Dumba
Scandella/Folin
Prosser-pressbox

Dub
Kemp

Reilly probably should make the team, but is waivers exempt so goes to Iowa and is an injury callup.
Stalock probably should be the backup but is more likely to slip through waivers than Kemps. Unless they put Kemps on injury list for an upper-body injury (he's a headcase)
Tuch gets first line mins in Iowa and is injury callup.
JEE makes the team because they want him so badly to be the next "1C in training". He gets his 9 game tryout to start the season, if he fails he's sent back to SHL.
Dalpe makes it as a pressbox guy because he's a RHS and insurance if JEE doesn't work out.
Graovac makes it because there isn't anyone else, unless they hit the trash bin to fill the spot.
23rd spot is open to save cap space for deadline trading of the 2018 2nd rounder.

Thanx good analyse!!

 

[jackouu]

I'm pretty sure Haula will play with Pommer tho.

 

[Sharppi]

Parise-Staal-Coyle - Sure thing
Zucker-Koivu-Granlund - Wingers might try either side
Nino-Haula-Pominville - Proven chemistry, should start together
Graovac/Dalpe-Graovac/Dalpe-Stewart - Might have JEE and Tuch for max 9 games to get a taste of NHL

Suter-Spurgeon
Scandella/Brodin-Dumba
Scandella/Brodin-Folin

Dubnyk
Kuemper

 

[42]

Is Stewart likely to see any top six minutes?

 

[57special]

Parise -Staal-Coyle
Tuch- Koivu- Granlund
Nino- Haula- Poms
Zucker- Graovac- Stewart
Carter

Swap Zucker, Stewart, and Tuch as their play and their opposition dictates.

Suter -Spurgeon
Brodin- Reilly
Scandella- Dumba
Folin

#1PP

PARISE- Staal- whoever is hot
Dumba - Reilly ( yes, that's right)

#2 PP
Granlund- Koivu- whoever is not hot
Spurgeon- Scandella ( hey, it's my fantasy)

#1 PK
Haula - Cullen
Suter- Brodin


One crazy thought. In the absence of any forward talent appearing, can Reilly play forward, then be put on PP point? Sort of a mini Burns? Has he ever played forward? I mean, if we aren't going to trade for a young forward, why not just create one? There is only so much TOI to go around on D. If Folin starts to play like a reliable bottom pairing guy you don't want to see him go, but Reilly needs to be playing in the NHL. He has all the tools. Playing in the AHL is wasting him.

 

[lakai17]

I like 57special's lines on offense, decent wing depth.

 

[nickschultzfan]

I think Reilly makes the team and gets paired with maybe Brodin.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

An interesting option if they are serious about rolling 4 lines:

Parise - Staal - Coyle (17 minutes)
Granlund - Koivu - Tuch (16 minutes)
Nino - Haula - Pommer (14 minutes)
Zucker - Eriksson Ek - Stewart (13 minutes)

Although I am not a fan of Tuch or Eriksson Ek in the NHL this year, as they will see very little special teams time.

What I think it'll be:

Parise - Staal - Coyle
Zucker - Koivu - Granlund
Nino - Haula - Pommer
Carter - Dalpe - Stewart

Suter - Spurgeon
Scandella - Dumba
Brodin - Folin

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

Tuch sent down so there goes that dream

Parise-Staal-Coyle
Granlund-Koivu-Zucker
Nino-Haula-Pommer
Stew-?

 

[Dee Oh Cee]

Today's practice:

Parise-Staal-Coyle
Granlund-Koivu-Stew
Nino-Haula-Pommer
Zucker/Dalpe- Ek - Bertschy

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Today's practice:

Parise-Staal-Coyle
Granlund-Koivu-Stew
Nino-Haula-Pommer
Zucker/Dalpe- Ek - Bertschy

So scoring 2 of the 7 goals isn't enough to keep Stewart out of the top 6, I guess.

 

[nickschultzfan]

Today's practice:

Parise-Staal-Coyle
Granlund-Koivu-Stew
Nino-Haula-Pommer
Zucker/Dalpe- Ek - Bertschy

Telling that BB has been playing Stewart above Zucker all camp.

 

[keppel146]

yeah I don't think JEE makes it past the 9 games. 4th line is still a question with a week to go? bad news.

11-12-3
64-9-22/16
16/22-56-29
18-44-7

46-20
25-55
4-6

 

[57special]

Bertschy is still up? Why? He's like a poor man's Schroeder.

Why was Tuch sent down, I wonder? Not that i am against it. If he is any good, it will become obvious down in Iowa.

 

[57special]

An interesting option if they are serious about rolling 4 lines:

Parise - Staal - Coyle (17 minutes)
Granlund - Koivu - Tuch (16 minutes)
Nino - Haula - Pommer (14 minutes)
Zucker - Eriksson Ek - Stewart (13 minutes)

Although I am not a fan of Tuch or Eriksson Ek in the NHL this year, as they will see very little special teams time.

Ek could do worse than that line. Stewart would watch his back, and Zucker would give him someone to pass to who can also get in on the forecheck quickly.

 

[Minnesota]

why was tuch sent down, i wonder? Not that i am against it. If he is any good, it will become obvious down in iowa.

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

BB is right

 

[Wabit]

I agree. Wondering if BB has Stewie playing top-9 mins RW or playing his offhand 4th line.

 

[lakai17]

Old Bruce boy stating only 8 minutes a night, he's going to really run his top two lines hard, which is good. He will like Haula and his wheels on the third though.

 

[Wabit]

So it's down to 25+1 for the Wild camp.

JEE, Dalpe, Bertschy as the roster FWDs, and Carter as a PTO.

Folin, Reilly, and Prosser for the D-men.

Stalock and Kemps for the backup goalie.

Guessing it's JEE, Dalpe, Folin, Prosser, and Kemps that make the final cuts. Carter maybe as the pressbox/23rd guy.

 

[123TripleDoge]

just sign porter and call it a day

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

So it's down to 25+1 for the Wild camp.

JEE, Dalpe, Bertschy as the roster FWDs, and Carter as a PTO.

Folin, Reilly, and Prosser for the D-men.

Stalock and Kemps for the backup goalie.

Guessing it's JEE, Dalpe, Folin, Prosser, and Kemps that make the final cuts. Carter maybe as the pressbox/23rd guy.

Not sure where Ek would play; hate the thought of him doing 4th line duty, unless it's just for the 9 games.

If they aren't set on keeping the Haula line together, what about:

Parise - Staal - Coyle
Granlund - Koivu - Nino
Ek - Haula - Pommer
Zucker - Graovac - Stewart

Gives us the best top 6 that we can put together; Ek gets acclimated to the NHL without having to worry about center responsibilities, and should play 14-15 minutes per game on that line (with Zucker there as a backup if need be).

 

[lakai17]

Ek + Haula on the third will be money.