Sens Rule
Registered User
- Sep 22, 2005
- 21,251
- 74
Don't touch it.
I think Turris might be better with MacArthur and Ryan then Spezza would be. They just suit each other all perfectly. I think that Spezza is STILL a better player then Turris and better offensively, however that doesn't mean that Spezza centering MacArthur and Ryan would produce more points.
Last year Turris was with Alfredsson. Alfie slowed down the play and Turris had a lot of success with him, especially defensively. Offensively this year we are seeing how great it is for Turris to have attack first wingers who don't slow it down as soon as they reach the offensive zone. MacArthur has speed and MacArthur and Ryan just relentlessly attack the net. That works for ALL THREE. Spezza likes to slow it down and make sweet cerebral plays. That was the bread and butter of the classic Pizza line. They didn't really attack you, as much as they passed in perfect unison and set up shots for Heatley or Alfie or Spezza.
Spezza simply would work better with different wingers then Turris. What Turris's line has now is magic, and it has been every game! Why change it? Even in games they don't get points, they play awesome and have possession and chances and are good at both ends.
Spezza is STILL the best forward on the team IMO. He hasn't played that well, hasn't had linemates he gelled with and had to take a game off, so might not be 100% and he still has a PPG! Plus he is doing awesome on the PK. Regardless of who Spezza plays with, his line is dangerous to score, even in games where the line isn't playing that well, gets hemmed in the zone etc.... All Spezza needs is a couple of great moments and he produces a couple of points. Eventually Maclean will find the right linemates that have chemistry with Spezza (NOT MACARTHUR OR RYAN!) and the Spezza line will dominate possession in most games, be sound defensively most of the time and produce even more offense for the wingers and Spezza himself. It is going to happen, might be next game, might be in 3 weeks or 6 weeks... but it will happen.
Once Condra comes back we can get down to deciding the bottom 2 lines and Spezza line more consistently. The fact Turris's line is so fantastic and Karlsson has come on, gives us the latitiude to still sort out the lines.
I think Turris might be better with MacArthur and Ryan then Spezza would be. They just suit each other all perfectly. I think that Spezza is STILL a better player then Turris and better offensively, however that doesn't mean that Spezza centering MacArthur and Ryan would produce more points.
Last year Turris was with Alfredsson. Alfie slowed down the play and Turris had a lot of success with him, especially defensively. Offensively this year we are seeing how great it is for Turris to have attack first wingers who don't slow it down as soon as they reach the offensive zone. MacArthur has speed and MacArthur and Ryan just relentlessly attack the net. That works for ALL THREE. Spezza likes to slow it down and make sweet cerebral plays. That was the bread and butter of the classic Pizza line. They didn't really attack you, as much as they passed in perfect unison and set up shots for Heatley or Alfie or Spezza.
Spezza simply would work better with different wingers then Turris. What Turris's line has now is magic, and it has been every game! Why change it? Even in games they don't get points, they play awesome and have possession and chances and are good at both ends.
Spezza is STILL the best forward on the team IMO. He hasn't played that well, hasn't had linemates he gelled with and had to take a game off, so might not be 100% and he still has a PPG! Plus he is doing awesome on the PK. Regardless of who Spezza plays with, his line is dangerous to score, even in games where the line isn't playing that well, gets hemmed in the zone etc.... All Spezza needs is a couple of great moments and he produces a couple of points. Eventually Maclean will find the right linemates that have chemistry with Spezza (NOT MACARTHUR OR RYAN!) and the Spezza line will dominate possession in most games, be sound defensively most of the time and produce even more offense for the wingers and Spezza himself. It is going to happen, might be next game, might be in 3 weeks or 6 weeks... but it will happen.
Once Condra comes back we can get down to deciding the bottom 2 lines and Spezza line more consistently. The fact Turris's line is so fantastic and Karlsson has come on, gives us the latitiude to still sort out the lines.
But I do think he needs a couple of months in the AHL injury free and then you need to hope he can keep up with the pace of the NHL. It's also the reason Zibanejad is a decent fit on this line and Im not so sure Conacher is. The only way Conacher on this line works is if Michalek becomes more of the trigger man and Conacher just creates havoc.
