Line Combos: Roster 2019-2020

[CauZuki]

This is my team (assuming no signings or changes):

Tatar - Danault - Gallagher (Can't touch this line with the chemistry they have)
Drouin - Domi - Poehling (I think Poehling adds a big body and would be great to not waste him on the 4th line)
Lekhonen - Kotkaniemi - Armia (These guys have chemistry and are defensively responsible)
Byron - Cousins - Weal (I hate to have Byron outside the top 9 but he will get plenty of PK/PP time)
Thompson

Mete - Weber
Kulak - Petry
Chiarot - Juulsen
Reilly - Folin

Price
Kinkaid

Suzuki,Evans,Brook,Primeau all to the AHL.

 

[The Real Timo]

It's like rearranging chairs on Titanic

 

[26Mats]

The D and extra forwards and extra dmen are identical to my list.

The forwards are a tough call.

I think that if CJ has the balls to put Poehling up with Domi then use him at center as he is a much better defensive player than Domi.

I think it is more likely to see Poehling with Weal and Cousins on the 4th line with the Finnish line reunited and Byron with Domi and Drouin.

Drouin-Domi-Byron were too small together. They couldn't maintain puck possession in the O-zone. Byron-Kk-Armia also sucked.

My solutions? Poehling with Domi and Drouin is one option. I'd then like to see if Suzuki can hack it with skilled player KK and puck possession demon Armia.

Another option is Byron-Domi-Lehkonen - see if Byron can fill Shaw's shoes. That would leave Poehling and KK together, with Drouin. Or, Droui-KK-Suzuki (won't happen under CJ).

 

[Habs Halifax]

It's like rearranging chairs on Titanic

No, it's not like that. We are not going down under the ocean. Do you think we are in panic mode or something?

 

[Habs Halifax]

Drouin-Domi-Byron were too small together. They couldn't maintain puck possession in the O-zone. Byron-Kk-Armia also sucked.

My solutions? Poehling with Domi and Drouin is one option. I'd then like to see if Suzuki can hack it with skilled player KK and puck possession demon Armia.

Another option is Byron-Domi-Lehkonen - see if Byron can fill Shaw's shoes. That would leave Poehling and KK together, with Drouin. Or, Droui-KK-Suzuki (won't happen under CJ).

There are several Habs fans that want to see the Poehling / Domi / Drouin option and I am one of them!

 

[The Real Timo]

No, it's not like that. We are not going down under the ocean. Do you think we are in panic mode or something?

Of course we are not... 25 years of this we're all used to it and taking this in stride...

 

[26Mats]

There are several Habs fans that want to see the Poehling / Domi / Drouin option and I am one of them!

I think Poehling will show he's ready, as KK did last camp and will be an important part of the team, as Kk was last year for the first 2/3 of the season. Kk was one of the major reasons for our improvement. I just hope these two don't hit walls 2/3 of the way into the season.

IF Suzuki is ready that will also be huge. But we have to be patient.

But back to Poehling. Although I think he'd make an excellent 4c, I'd like to see him in the top 9. Mainly for his sake. But his big body will be a welcome addition to lonely Armia's.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Of course we are not... 25 years of this we're all used to it and taking this in stride...

It's been decades since we had a prospect pool like this. Don't give up yet

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

The dude in the thread said we need to put Drouin on a 3rd line if he's worthy to play top 6

 

[Megaforce]

I remember how these threads used to always attract comments like "let him stay in the AHL for 3 years to perfect his craft."

Subban would still be winning AHL defenceman of the year trophies each year if it was up to the guys on this board.

 

[WinterLion]

For **** sake. No young centers on the wing. PLEASE. Enough of this bull****.

Why not?

 

[SakuKoivu11]

We had to move Shaw at one point cause the RW side was getting cluttered. We moved him at high value based on what his value was since coming to the Habs. I think most are happy with that return. He could have very good seasons with the blackhawks but the Habs unloaded salary to make room for the future.

I don't believe we are tanking for AL. The only way I see us being a bottom 10 lottery pick is we have another season of injuries to key players. If this roster stays healthy, we will be in the 2nd/3rd and wild card mix.

This is all about our youth and if they can take steps forward. And before someone tries, NO!!!, our prospect pool is not the same as before. It's been decades since we had youth trending like this.

One minute we trying to compete, next minute we retool, Weber and Price aren’t getting any younger. Weber 34 this year and Price 32.

 

[26Mats]

I remember how these threads used to always attract comments like "let him stay in the AHL for 3 years to perfect his craft."

Subban would still be winning AHL defenceman of the year trophies each year if it was up to the guys on this board.

Subban was so good for us in his first run to the conference finals. What was he 19? They wanted to test the waters and ended up not being able to keep him off the ice. What was he 19?

Why we didn't bring him back this summer when he was available for next to nothing is ridiculous.

 

[rickthegoon]

From what was shown and reported about dev. camp, Poehling is way ahead of what KK showed last year at the same time.
I think KK is actually the one guy that could lose his spot in the line Up right now.
At the present, we have a weaker and softer lineup than last season, I cannot imagine Poehling not making the cut.

 

[A55P2]

I think KK is actually the one guy that could lose his spot in the line Up right now.

 

[Habs Halifax]

One minute we trying to compete, next minute we retool, Weber and Price aren’t getting any younger. Weber 34 this year and Price 32.

Weber is a concern in terms of how many more good years we get from him. Not worried about a superstar goalie at 32 cause there are many examples of top goalies performing very well in their early to mid 30's. Time to worry about Price is 37 or 38 IMO. That's 6 more seasons. Weber is another story cause I think we get 2 more good years and hard to predict at 36/37. He is a big body that does not have elite level foot speed so I think he needs to up his conditioning if he wants to stay a top pairing or top 4D past 35.

We retooled before last year and various prospects trended very well. Our direction changed but we are still a playoff hunting team and we have not made too many drastic moves. Our ability to take steps forward is all about the kids and how they do once they turn pro.

It is what it is. We will try to add top end talent in the short span (Aho or a trade) but this is not easy to accomplish... unless you want us to trade some of our top prospects and futures?

 

[Intangir]

My 23-man roster:

Drouin-Domi-Lehkonen*
Tatar-Danault-Gallagher
Poehling-Kotkaniemi-Armia**
Byron-Thompson-Weal
Cousins

Mete-Weber
Chiarot-Petry
Kulak-Juulsen
Reilly-Folin

Price
Kinkaid

* : Lehkonen would take Shaw's spot and use his relentless pursuit of the puck and nice shot to complement Drouin's and Domi's games. That line will be a bit soft but strong 5-on-5, with good defensive ability and speed.

** : I would try to play Poehling at center first, probably on the fourth line, but I would also try and slot him at different places in the lineup to see what he could do at all forward positions. In the end, I think he rounds out our third line of Kotkaniemi and Armia and rotates with Eagle Peninsula for the third line center position depending on their performances. If Poehling has an underwhelming camp, send him down to the AHL for work, but I don't think it will be the case.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I think the wrinkle is that someone will be on IR to start the season. I expect both Suzuki and Poehling to start with the big team. Suzuki because of the lack of depth on RW. Since Juulsen does not need to be exposed to waivers I think if they come out of camp injury free he starts in the AHL and they go with 7 D to start. In all probability someone is on IR and Juulsen starts in mtl. Suzuki will get a look on the second/third line if he has a good camp. he won't be on the 4th, it is top 9 or AHL.

Tatar / Danault / Gallagher (This line starts together after the year they had last year. Top 2 lines interchangable no real no 1)
Domi / Kotkaniemi / Suzuki (If Kotkaniemi is not ready for 2nd line Then Domi at C and Poehling at LW on 3rd and Drouin up to line 2 LW)
Drouin / Poehling / Byron
Lehkonen / Weal / Armia
Thompson /Cousins

Mete / Weber
Chariot / Petry
Kulak / Folin
Reilly,

Juulsen won't start in the AHL IMO. He is NHL ready and won't have a difficult time winning the job over Folin. Juulsen was among our team leaders in hits and blocks before he got hurt. He was our 2nd best D man behind Petry and before Weber came back from injury. I think he has to take major steps back if he plays AHL this season

I agree about Suzuki (top 9 or AHL) but I am not sure about his ability to crack the RW spot with young centers like Kotkaniemi and Poehling. We are not a rebuilding team so Julien will be trying to balance out the top 9 with youth and proven players

 

[Rapala]

You can call it BS but it's really just different perspectives and I think our Fan base is fragile based on how Galchenyuk went down.

The fragility has been evident on the ice not in the stands

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Drouin - Domi - Lehkonen
Tatar - Danault - Gallagher
Poehling - KK - Hudon
Byron - Weal - Armia
Cousins
Thompson

Mete - Weber
Chariot - Petry
Kulak - Folin
Rielly

Price
Kinkaid

 

[Binary Code]

No way we make the playoffs with this group. Aye aye aye.

Lafrenière year.

 

[VirginiaMtlExpat]

Still unchanged:

Byron (L) - Domi (L) - Gallagher (R)
Tatar (L) - Kotkaniemi (L) - Lehkonen (L)
Drouin (L) - Danault (L) - Armia (R)
Poehling (L) - Suzuki (R) - Weal (R)
Thompson (L)

Mete (L) - Weber (R)
Chiarot(L) - Juulsen (R)
Kulak (L) - Petry (R)
Folin (R), Reilly (L)

Price
Kinkaid

Rolling 4 lines almost on equivalent ice time and starting Petry slowly.

I like it. The X-factor that suggests that both Poehling and Suzuki could make it this year is that they are both very good defensively, in addition to what they bring on the offensive side. Even if the two rookies take time to develop offensively, this could be a team even tougher to score against than last year, and therefore moderately more competitive. I envision a comparable or slightly better year than the previous, narrowly making the playoffs (and I view that as a conservative assessment - I could go full-on SBah on this team...). In particular, the third and fourth lines are better than most other teams'. Balanced scoring and defense throughout the lineup, at least among forwards, and fewer boat anchors on defense than previous years.

 

[SakuKoivu11]

Tatar Danault Gallagher
Drouin Domi Lehkonen
Byron Kotkaneimi Armia
Cousins Poehling Weal
Thompson

Mete Weber
Chariot Petry
Kulak Juulsen
Reilly Folin

Price
Kinkaid

 

[vokiel]

Physical strength will be a challenge for him IMO. If he didn't dominate the WJC, he is not going to dominate or perform in the NHL so quick. I think next season is a transition season for him and we give him a few games where he can evaluate the parts of the game he needs to work at.

He plays a soft style but his vision and play making are off the charts. He needs to be paired up with players like Ratcliffe IMO. I watched Suzuki very closely at the Memorial cup and the sample size I saw was similar to the WJC... great vision and play making ability but does not engage in the physical stuff. When the games get tight, less time and space affected his ability to produce. I think we are looking at a PP specialist in the future

If you play him at center he won't really have to be all over the place, that's a point to consider. DD, Pleks and Koivu weren't exactly physical either. Now if you push him to the wing, then I agree and I would rather have him in the AHL. Like if Thompson gets the roster spot on most night then it's just not very useful to keep Suzuki on the lineup.

The first 10 games is all I'm wishing for.

 

[CapSpace]

It's like rearranging chairs on Titanic

And we don't even have the musicians to help us accept we are sinking.