Line Combos: Roster 2019-2020

[26Mats]

Don't forget Leskinen on our LD depth. Before long he could be a better option than Reilly.

Totally forgot him. I actually have him ahead of Reilly already.

 

[Miller Time]

It does not suck that Gardiner did not want to play for Montreal. When are we going to learn that other teams spare parts are not our answer?

His offensive stats are inflated due to the stars the Leafs have and his defensive play is Beaulieu like. Stay away from players like this.

MB isn't going to learn that lesson, it's the bedrock of his management philosophy.

Unfortunately for us, we got stuck with Chiarot instead of Gardiner this year. Neither were the solution we need, but at least Gardiner is a legit top 4 Dman.

 

[JianYang]

I think this is the opening night lineup.

Tatar - Danault - Gallagher
Drouin - Domi - Suzuki
Lehkonen - Kotkaniemi - Weal
Byron - Thompson - Armia


Mete - Weber
Chiarot - Petry
Kulak - Fleury

Meh

 

[A Loyal Dog]

I think this is the opening night lineup.

Tatar - Danault - Gallagher
Drouin - Domi - Suzuki
Lehkonen - Kotkaniemi - Weal
Byron - Thompson - Armia


Mete - Weber
Chiarot - Petry
Kulak - Fleury

I think you've got it. I doubt Bergevin will swap Thompson with Poehling, wasting the latter's growth in the 4th line.

 

[Rapala]

Drouin - Domi - Suzuki

I don't think there is much chemistry (read love loss) with Domi and Drouin. This is perhaps one of the reasons CJ is having such a hard time finding a seat for him. He certainly seems to pout when placed on that third line. It's actually sad to see.

 

[JianYang]

I think you've got it. I doubt Bergevin will swap Thompson with Poehling, wasting the latter's growth in the 4th line.

I think poehling is the first call up if a center goes down, even if it happens to be Thompson's spot.

I think the habs have the type of lineup where they can roll 4 lines if they want to, so poehling can still get some value out of a call up of that nature IMO.

 

[The Great Weal]

I would go with:

Tatar-Danault-Gallagher
Byron-Domi-Suzuki
Drouin-Kotkaniemi-Weal
Lehkonen-Thompson-Armia

Mete-Weber
Kulak-Petry
Chiarot-Fleury

 

[JianYang]

I don't think there is much chemistry (read love loss) with Domi and Drouin. This is perhaps one of the reasons CJ is having such a hard time finding a seat for him. He certainly seems to pout when placed on that third line. It's actually sad to see.

They are looking at him on the left wing. He is going to be given every opportunity to be a top 6 guy, and I highly doubt they want to break up the danault line.

Also, even though drouin had struggles later on, he did have some productive stretches with domi before that they can try to rekindle.

I think all signs point to him playing with domi to start out at least.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I would waive Reilly. 2 years @ $1,5m means no one will take him. Folin OTOH is cheaper and a RHD. Too many teams looking for that. Someone will take him.

Hudon also to waivers.

 

[Miller Time]

Suzuki should play at C...

Tatar - Danault - Gally
Domi - JKO - Drouin
Lekhonen - Suzuki - Byron
Cousins - Weal - Armia

That's how I'd roll until we can trade Drouin

 

[Ozmodiar]

WTF was Gagnon taking about at the intermission- Folin in the top 6?!

Has he been watching the games?

 

[Rapala]

They are looking at him on the left wing. He is going to be given every opportunity to be a top 6 guy, and I highly doubt they want to break up the danault line.

Also, even though drouin had struggles later on, he did have some productive stretches with domi before that they can try to rekindle.

I think all signs point to him playing with domi to start out at least.

I wonder. We know what a stickler CJ is for positional play. It's asking a lot of Domi to mentor the Kid while covering for Drouin's inevitable missed assignments in the Dzone.

 

[JianYang]

I wonder. We know what a stickler CJ is for positional play. It's asking a lot of Domi to mentor the Kid while covering for Drouin's inevitable missed assignments in the Dzone.

Those are good points. To be honest, even if it's the most likely scenario to me, I'm not really in love with the idea either.

 

[crazyd74]

Suzuki should play at C...

Tatar - Danault - Gally
Domi - JKO - Drouin
Lekhonen - Suzuki - Byron
Cousins - Weal - Armia

That's how I'd roll until we can trade Drouin

Not nasty at all. My only tweak would have to put another C on that 3rd line.

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

And I do agree that Drouin isn't meshing well in the mold of this team. Without him:

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

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Thought Suzuki showed some chemistry with Domi. They couldn’t quite connect, but they were close a few times. Hopefully it comes quickly.

 

[Kojo]

Can they send Kotkaniemi and Drouin to Laval because that's what I would do.

 

[blarneylad]

MB isn't going to learn that lesson, it's the bedrock of his management philosophy.

Unfortunately for us, we got stuck with Chiarot instead of Gardiner this year. Neither were the solution we need, but at least Gardiner is a legit top 4 Dman.

There is a requirement for different types of dman in a lineup. Gardiner is a soft turnover machine in his own end. Leaf fans despised him. Just wait till they watch Ceci lol

Chiarot is an upgrade on Jordie Benn. Bonus he is left handed. Will eat minutes and step up in playoffs unlike Gardiner.

Good luck in Caroline Gards.

 

[Canadienna]

Domi hasn't looked great either. Why is he guaranteed his #1C spot

Domi - Suzuki - Drouin
Lehkonen - Danault - Gallagher
Tatar - Kotkaniemi - Poehling
Byron - Weal - Armia

Mete - Weber
Chiarot - Petry
Kulak - Fleury

Price
Kinkaid

 

[Hannibal]

If only we could land Josh Anderson... we NEED that powerfoward presence in our top 9! Don’t talk to me about stone hand Joel Armia.

Tatar-Danault-Gallagher
Anderson-Domi-Suzuki

Please.

 

[Miller Time]

There is a requirement for different types of dman in a lineup. Gardiner is a soft turnover machine in his own end. Leaf fans despised him. Just wait till they watch Ceci lol

Chiarot is an upgrade on Jordie Benn. Bonus he is left handed. Will eat minutes and step up in playoffs unlike Gardiner.

Good luck in Caroline Gards.

Remains to be seen if Chiarot improves on Benn. Not convinced.

What is clear is that he is a worse NHL Dman than Gardiner. Not even remotely close in that regard, style doesn't change substance.

 

[robicgi]

I think this is the opening night lineup.

Tatar - Danault - Gallagher
Drouin - Domi - Suzuki
Lehkonen - Kotkaniemi - Weal
Byron - Thompson - Armia


Mete - Weber
Chiarot - Petry
Kulak - Fleury

Meh

I'd be good with that but I would swap lehkonen and drouin and put Poeling as 4c to start. 3rd line wing may help Drouin and Lehkonen can be a forecheck past which even if hes not scoring can create more chances for Domi and Suzuki. Poeling as 4c is not ideal I know but he seems ready for this league and some pk and mentoring from Danault playing against the best in the world would benefit him more than Ahl seasoning IMO Saying that , this is not my long term vision for the lines but the lines to start the season.

 

[26Mats]

Tatar-Danault-Gallagher
Lehkonen-Domi/kk-Suzuki (Kk may need Suzuki more than Domi does)
Drouin-KK/Domi-Weal (maybe Weal replaces Shaw with Domi and Drouin)
Byron-Poehling-Armia
Thompson

Mete-Weber
Kulak-Petry
Chiarot-Fleury
Reilly, Folin

Price
Kinkaid

 

[1909]

I think this is the opening night lineup.

Tatar - Danault - Gallagher
Drouin - Domi - Suzuki
Lehkonen - Kotkaniemi - Weal
Byron - Thompson - Armia


Mete - Weber
Chiarot - Petry
Kulak - Fleury

Meh

Drouin MUST be placed with Domi and Suzuki.

 

[Rapala]

Only a handful of sleeps until the puck drops for real!

 

[crazyd74]

Drouin MUST be placed with Domi and Suzuki.

Why? How can two playmakers on the same line make sense (Drouin-Suzuki)?