I liked Kessel with Malkin, with Hagelin playing much better, I don't see why HMK shouldn't be a thing, even GMK was a good trio for a stretch. The thing with Geno's line is that there are so many options, the only line that seems to be limiting is Sid's because he likes a certain type of player and only seems to really mesh well with that type of player. So how do you remedy that and also make sure the 3rd line doesn't get shafted?
Because if we can get the same production from HMH that we can from GMK/HMK while giving our 3rd line better wingers to increase the production there, then as long as the overall production is greater or the same, it should be pretty obvious as to the benefits that having Kessel on his own line creates. It's a matchup nightmare for other teams - something that no one handled well in 15/16. TB (or was it SJ?) finally decided to ignore Malkin's line and focused on HBK. But it made no difference. That should be the goal here.
And unless Guentzel and Hornqvist or some other pair of wingers we haven't tried yet - either with Sheahan or with another center can be just as productive and as much as a threat to score, we should be doing everything possible to keep Kessel on the 3rd line. Even if only because of the name/star value that would be involved. I mean that was one of the reasons NYR/WSH focused their top guys on Crosby and Malkin's lines - because it was Malkin. And if him and Kessel are together, then regardless of how well that 3rd line is doing, Malkin and Kessel will both be seeing the toughest matchup's. Not the end of the world if the 3rd line can still produce... but we should be doing everything possible to give it the best chance we can... and for now in an ideal world that's with Kessel on the 3rd line.
For now I'd like to see the following lineup (when healthy). A rental that I think makes a lot of sense is Pouliot. I was opposed before, but after some thought I think he'd be a great fit as a depth player that can knock Kuhnhackl out of the lineup. We find a better/different 3C that fits better, push Sheahan down.
Guentzel - Crosby - Simon
Hagelin - Malkin - Hornqvist
Rust - Sheahan - Kessel
Sheary - XXXXX - XXXXX
That would give you a lot of different options, and a few different types of players that could be plugged in throughout the lineup. Pouliot would also be capable of replacing Kuhnhackl on the PK - which is I think the only thing keeping him in the lineup (PK/defensive game).
Guentzel - Crosby - Hornqvist
Hagelin - Malkin - Kessel
Pouliot - Sheahan - Sheary
XXXXX - XXXXX - Rust
Simon - Crosby - Hornqvist
Guentzel - Malkin - Rust
Hagelin - Sheahan - Kessel
Pouliot - XXXXX - Sheary
But my ideal lineup's are 1/3 instead of 2. I think the scoring will be more balanced, and something that will give the other teams much more trouble then what #2 will do. 2 is basically what we had last year... and it was more of a "I dare you to try and stop this". It worked, and for that I'll be ever thankful - especially that it was B2B. But I think one only needs to look at how different 15/16 vs 16/17 were to see the obvious advantages a very good 3rd line would give us. It's just a matter of how to make it work with the options available to us (internally/externally).
