Thank you for answer!
I'm not focused on lines order at all, it's expected to try a various line-combinations in pre-season games, but when I saw Fagemo on the 4th line in third consecutive game, I just was curious why.
Honestly, I think separating Fagemo from Lasch can really hurt his production. Don't get me wrong, Samuel is a terrific player and you have to be damn good to be on scoresheet so often (especially that play-off performance amazed me), but I have a bad feeling that last season he was in right place at the right time. He got in very comfortable situation in playing at the top line in the very offensive and strong team and now it looks like Rönnberg wants him to ''lead'' his own line, and I think it can hurt his development, because I always saw Fagemo as rather complimentary winger who needs a good playmaker in line.
IMO, he was in an almost-perfect situation last year, however he seized it perfectly, no doubts about it.
(By the way, I don't know your background, if you are a Frölunda fan, most of what I write below is probably well known)
In parts I agree with you, and in others I don't.
Personally I would put Fagemo with Lasch, as you are suggesting, because I totally agree with you that he is more of an complimentary winger, and works best with a playmaker. I see him quite similar to Arvidsson in Nashville, by himself he probably wouldn't make much of a difference, but his playstyle of always going to the hard areas opens up space and time for the playmakers to do what they do best.
However I do think you are selling Fagemo a bit short. IMO Fagemo did not get the perfect opportunity, for the first half of the season he was bouncing up and down the lineup when Rönnberg shuffled the lines quite frequently. Something that was a constant during this time was that the line with Fagemo was always the best one.
I would also argue the fact that Frölunda was a very "offensive and strong team" because I think Fagemo was a large part of what made it offensively strong. (A lot of Frölunda's forwards are actually what I would call Defensive forwards).
When it comes to Fagemo's production, if the pre-season is an indicator, I think he will be fine, since he averages over a ppg and has had a point in every game of the pre-season so far. Even without playing with Lasch.
I obviously don't know Rönnbergs reason for breaking up the Fagemo - Hjalmarsson - Lasch line, but if I would guess I think there are many small reasons that add up.
First of all, I think Fagemo's uncertain situation with Frölunda might be one reason. When SHL starts, Fagemo will be in the US, participating in the Kings Rookie camp, and quite possibly the main camp as well. And who knows, perhaps he impresses the front office so much that he plays in the NHL? Personally I don't see this as likely, because I think Fagemo will need some more developing before stepping up with the big boys. But this is still something Rönnberg needs to have in mind when forming his lines for the preseason.
Secondly, I think the recruitment of Nicklas Lasu has a part of it. Lasu played in Frölunda a few years back and was very liked, by fans and coaches (Lasu will probably become the Captain of Frölunda once Lundqvist stops playing). However he was more of a 3rd line center and he thought he could do more, and started playing in the Finnish league where he ended up playing on the first line.
I'm speculating here, but I think one of the things Frölunda promised Lasu in order to make him come back, was that he would get the shot at playing on an offensive line with Lasch.
Thirdly, the line of Fagemo - Hjalmarsson - Lasch was for sure dangerous offensively. However there is a problem with Lasch + Fagemo, and that is that neither is very good in their own zone. Especially early in the playoffs when Frölunda faced bigger teams (Luleå and Malmö) that line had problems where they were getting pinned down in their own dzone. (Personally I would put them together in order to train Fagemo to be better defensively, because I think that is the area where he needs to improve the most).
Fourthly, As I mentioned another new forward on the team is Sundström, who also played in Frölunda a few years ago, and was the MVP when Frölunda won in 2016. He spent the past 2 seasons in the KHL, where he played very few games due to injury. I think Rönnberg wants to get Sundström ready to play as soon as possible, and tbh I don't think there is anyone better to help you with that than Fagemo. I would think Fagemo's energy and willingness to drive to the hard areas will make it much easier for Sundström to get back in to fighting shape. I would also guess that Rönnberg hopes Sundström could be the playmaker for Fagemo.
Therefore I think Rönnberg plans something like this:
He will try to find an environment that works for Lasch, that doesn't rely on Fagemo, (ergo, trying Hjalmarsson - Lasu - Lasch).
During the preseason he plays Fagemo with Sundström to fast-track Sundström's time back to top quality.
When (If) Fagemo returns from the US, Rönnberg will evaluate if he thinks the HLL line works, if not he will most likely try FLL line, if that doesn't work he will most likely go back to the FHL line. If the HLL line works he will probably insert Fagemo in a line that struggles offensively.
