Line Combos: The First Lineups Thread

[NY2LV]

I'll go with the player's we currently have

Perron - Shipachyov - Neal
Marchessault - Haula - Smith
Lindberg - Karlsson - Tuch
Carrier - Eakin - Thorburn

Schmidt - Garrison
McNabb - Miller
Theodore - Engelland

Trade/Flip: Methot, Emelin, Stoner, Sbisa.

 

[gobbluth]

Putting Pulkkinen anywhere out of top 9 and pp-time is shooting yourself in the leg. Either you put him out of the roster or you give him a "big" role. Good deal for Vegas. Practically free. The guy has just been unlucky with detroit being a mess after the golden years and his injury. Many of you might never have heard of him. But his slapper is comparable to ovies and laines.

I know it is AHL. But a 54 goal season

 

[Nordiques1979]

I can see Mcphee pull the trigger on a guy like Radulov if the Habs can't sign him. I still think he will try to bring guys like Dadonov or DaCosta, to bring some more scoring touch. Btw anyone putting Pulkinen on his line-up is wrong... terribly wrong.....

 

[gobbluth]

I can see Mcphee pull the trigger on a guy like Radulov if the Habs can't sign him. I still think he will try to bring guys like Dadonov or DaCosta, to bring some more scoring touch. Btw anyone putting Pulkinen on his line-up is wrong... terribly wrong.....

May I ask why it is so terribly wrong, so wrong? Just curious how you back your argument...

 

[Matias Maccete]

He didn't get much time and it was on a terrible coyotes team but Pulkinen never impressed me much. Then again I've been wrong before, many, many times.

 

[Nordiques1979]

May I ask why it is so terribly wrong, so wrong? Just curious how you back your argument...

Terrible defense play, very average skating, great hands but lazy in the corner, typical euro player with excellent hands and hockey sense, great in AHL but unable to take the next step. Best wrist shot in American League. Just like Linus Omark who may be one of the best player in Europe but doesn't fit to NA play. Pulkkinen is a skilled player, but I highly doubt he will succeed in NHL, just ask Detroit, Arizona and Minny board.

 

[gobbluth]

Terrible defense play, very average skating, great hands but lazy in the corner, typical euro player with excellent hands and hockey sense, great in AHL but unable to take the next step. Best wrist shot in American League. Just like Linus Omark who may be one of the best player in Europe but doesn't fit to NA play. Pulkkinen is a skilled player, but I highly doubt he will succeed in NHL, just ask Detroit, Arizona and Minny board.

Doesn't fit NA play? Have you seen him play? You make good points, but exaggerate them a lot. He was bad defensively. Now average. And the very average skating is a myth, it was maybe true 5 years ago but not anymore.

But for those reasons you point out, it is useless to play him outside top 9 and pp.
My point was that getting him for 800k and motivated cause he knows this is his last chance in the NHL, was a good pick from vegas. Try him. If it doesn't work, do not play him. Very low risk, very high reward potential. You can quote me on this when he scores over 30 goals next season

 

[Matias Maccete]

Doesn't fit NA play? Have you seen him play? You make good points, but exaggerate them a lot. He was bad defensively. Now average. And the very average skating is a myth, it was maybe true 5 years ago but not anymore.

But for those reasons you point out, it is useless to play him outside top 9 and pp.
My point was that getting him for 800k and motivated cause he knows this is his last chance in the NHL, was a good pick from vegas. Try him. If it doesn't work, do not play him. Very low risk, very high reward potential. You can quote me on this when he scores over 30 goals next season

To be fair the Coyotes didn't have a ton of quality exposed players, but I still think Richardson or Domingue would've been far better choices. You could be right though, if he pulls it all together it's a great pick.

 

[Nordiques1979]

Doesn't fit NA play? Have you seen him play? You make good points, but exaggerate them a lot. He was bad defensively. Now average. And the very average skating is a myth, it was maybe true 5 years ago but not anymore.

But for those reasons you point out, it is useless to play him outside top 9 and pp.
My point was that getting him for 800k and motivated cause he knows this is his last chance in the NHL, was a good pick from vegas. Try him. If it doesn't work, do not play him. Very low risk, very high reward potential. You can quote me on this when he scores over 30 goals next season

Linus Omark is exactly the same player, he was just too good for AHL but wasn't able to adjust to NHL.

 

[TaLoN]

Doesn't fit NA play? Have you seen him play? You make good points, but exaggerate them a lot. He was bad defensively. Now average. And the very average skating is a myth, it was maybe true 5 years ago but not anymore.

But for those reasons you point out, it is useless to play him outside top 9 and pp.
My point was that getting him for 800k and motivated cause he knows this is his last chance in the NHL, was a good pick from vegas. Try him. If it doesn't work, do not play him. Very low risk, very high reward potential. You can quote me on this when he scores over 30 goals next season

Having watched him play with the Wild... He hit the mark pretty clean IMO. No exaggeration. That is what he is.

He was given time everywhere from the top line to the 4th line, the story was the same. He's not an NHL player.

 

[yukoner88]

Taking a stab at a possible roster. On XM i heard rumors that the team budget would be it the 60m dollar range once the season gets going so here's a shot with who i think could be signed as ufa's and a guess at what a couple rfa's will be signed for.


Neal(5.0m)-Shipachyov(4.5m)-Perron(3.75m)
Smith(4.5m)-Marchessault(0.75M)-Gagner(3.0m*)
Bellemare(1.45m)-Eakin(3.85m)-Linberg (0.9m*)
Haula(2.75m)-Karlsson(1.0m)-Wingels(2.0m*)
Pulkkinen(0.9m*) Jack Skille (0.85m*)

34.75M

Garrison(4.6m)-Sbisa(3.6m)
Alzner(4.0m*)-McNabb(1.7m)
Theodore(0.863m)-Schmidt(2.5m*)
Stoner(3.25m)

20.513M

Fleury(5.75m)
Pickard(1.0m)

6.75M


Team budget 62.013m


*guesses at contract values of current free agents

 

[Skobel24]

Taking a stab at a possible roster. On XM i heard rumors that the team budget would be it the 60m dollar range once the season gets going so here's a shot with who i think could be signed as ufa's and a guess at what a couple rfa's will be signed for.


Neal(5.0m)-Shipachyov(4.5m)-Perron(3.75m)
Smith(4.5m)-Marchessault(0.75M)-Gagner(3.0m*)
Bellemare(1.45m)-Eakin(3.85m)-Linberg (0.9m*)
Haula(2.75m)-Karlsson(1.0m)-Wingels(2.0m*)
Pulkkinen(0.9m*) Jack Skille (0.85m*)

34.75M

Garrison(4.6m)-Sbisa(3.6m)
Alzner(4.0m*)-McNabb(1.7m)
Theodore(0.863m)-Schmidt(2.5m*)
Stoner(3.25m)

20.513M

Fleury(5.75m)
Pickard(1.0m)

6.75M


Team budget 62.013m


*guesses at contract values of current free agents

No chance Alzner signs for a caphit of 4 mil. He'll be closer to 5.5-6.

 

[The Duck Knight]

Alzner is exactly the type of player teams should avoid at all costs in free agency. Fringe 2nd pairing stay at home d-man without great puck skills, coming from a highly successful team that could be making him look better than he is. The guys GMGM should be looking at on the UFA market are the ones willing to take short term deals. Can't be locking up money long term with guys that don't merit a 5/6/7 year deal and this UFA class doesn't have someone who does.

Perron-Shipachyov-Neal
Marchessualt-Haula-Smith
Eakin-Karlsson-Lindberg
Carrier-Kruger-Bellemare
Leipsic-Nosek

Schmidt-Mcnabb
Garrison-Theodore/Miller
Merrill/Theo-Engelland
Sbisa

Fleury
Pickard

I'd bet money on the opening 23 man roster looking pretty close to that. I don't think GMGM is going to do much of anything in free agency. Unless he moves some forwards there isn't room to sign any more forwards. Leipsic/Nosek/Carrier are all no longer waiver exempt. I see him moving Emelin and Merrill/Miller to finish the offseason.

 

[Blue Goose]

Alzner is exactly the type of player teams should avoid at all costs in free agency. Fringe 2nd pairing stay at home d-man without great puck skills, coming from a highly successful team that could be making him look better than he is. The guys GMGM should be looking at on the UFA market are the ones willing to take short term deals. Can't be locking up money long term with guys that don't merit a 5/6/7 year deal and this UFA class doesn't have someone who does.

Perron-Shipachyov-Neal
Marchessualt-Haula-Smith
Eakin-Karlsson-Lindberg
Carrier-Kruger-Bellemare
Leipsic-Nosek

Schmidt-Mcnabb
Garrison-Theodore/Miller
Merrill/Theo-Engelland
Sbisa

Fleury
Pickard

I'd bet money on the opening 23 man roster looking pretty close to that. I don't think GMGM is going to do much of anything in free agency. Unless he moves some forwards there isn't room to sign any more forwards. Leipsic/Nosek/Carrier are all no longer waiver exempt. I see him moving Emelin and Merrill/Miller to finish the offseason.

You make a lot of very good points here, especially the bolded. My only (minor) disagreement is that you've got us with 14F/7D, where I think we'll be better off going 13F/8D: the defensemen are the trade commodities this summer and early into the season, so we need to keep them up. No need to try to pass them through waivers, since there will be injuries throughout the league during training camp or early in the season, giving guys like McNabb and Emelin more trade value. Plus, Engelland can fill in on 4th line Wing if need be.

I also don't see McPhee moving Miller since he says he wants to hold onto the young guys, and he's our only RHD besides Engelland. Every team seems to have guys like Reinhart and Merrill, so I'm not sure of their trade value at the moment - we can just stick them in the press box in case of injuries/trades, and avoid the possibility of someone claiming them if we try to send them down. Emelin might have some value now, but I think we're better off holding onto him until the deadline (where players like Emelin are worth more) and trying to move Sbisa now.

Here's how my potential roster shakes down:

- (these lines aren't set in stone, just showing which 13F I'd keep up with the big club)
Perron - Marchessault - Neal
Eakin - Shipachyov - Smith
Haula - Lindberg - Leipsic
Bellemare - Karlsson - Carrier
Nosek

Schmidt - Garrison
Emelin - Miller
McNabb - Engelland
Reinhart, Merrill

AHL
Tuch
Bischoff
Duke
Hyka
Kolesar
Pulkkinen (cleared waivers)
Stoner (cleared waivers)
Theodore

- I can't find the quote right now, but I remember McPhee saying we'd only send 7-8 guys down to Chicago, due to the agreement with the Blues. Pulkkinen would likely slip through, and there's no way Stoner gets claimed with his cap hit. Also, I'm sure we'd prefer to have Theodore in Vegas, but we might as well use that last year of his waiver eligibility to send him down while we sort out the defense corps - he'll be an NHL regular from the trade deadline on...

 

[NY2LV]

AHL
Tuch
Bischoff
Duke
Hyka
Kolesar
Pulkkinen (cleared waivers)
Stoner (cleared waivers)
Theodore

- I can't find the quote right now, but I remember McPhee saying we'd only send 7-8 guys down to Chicago, due to the agreement with the Blues. Pulkkinen would likely slip through, and there's no way Stoner gets claimed with his cap hit. Also, I'm sure we'd prefer to have Theodore in Vegas, but we might as well use that last year of his waiver eligibility to send him down while we sort out the defense corps - he'll be an NHL regular from the trade deadline on...

You think that's a good move? I get it from a contractual stand point but he showed too much in the playoffs to be sent down to the AHL, plus our defense will need someone who can move the puck.

 

[Seedling]

I think Theodore and Tuch are on the starting roster. They are young and ready. If they go to the AHL it won't be for very long. There are still about 4 to 6 guys that will be traded IMO. They should be on the starting roster once that happens.

 

[Aurinko]

You think that's a good move? I get it from a contractual stand point but he showed too much in the playoffs to be sent down to the AHL, plus our defense will need someone who can move the puck.

I don't think we want to go that route.

The value for solid D guys is on average much higher than offensive ones. Now that everyone wants to be a Josi/Karlsson/Burns, there are some real D that could come cheap.

The D: Apart from Schmidt the defense is brutally bad in +/- stats.

FWD: Forwards are fast and furious... and are hopefully played that way also.

G: A lot of weight will be on MAF's shoulders, and those shoulders will break. Get backup goalies!

 

[Blue Goose]

You think that's a good move? I get it from a contractual stand point but he showed too much in the playoffs to be sent down to the AHL, plus our defense will need someone who can move the puck.

I'm sure it's not the most popular sentiment, but unless we move out some of these extra D, we're better off using his waiver eligibility to our advantage. Also, he'll need to learn a new system, so I'd prefer to have him work under Rocky Thompson in Chicago while we sort out the D corps and make all of the necessary trades. Theodore won't stay in the AHL all year, but he should at least start the year there.

I think Theodore and Tuch are on the starting roster. They are young and ready. If they go to the AHL it won't be for very long. There are still about 4 to 6 guys that will be traded IMO. They should be on the starting roster once that happens.

Exactly.

 

[Soundgarden]

Alzner is exactly the type of player teams should avoid at all costs in free agency. Fringe 2nd pairing stay at home d-man without great puck skills, coming from a highly successful team that could be making him look better than he is. The guys GMGM should be looking at on the UFA market are the ones willing to take short term deals. Can't be locking up money long term with guys that don't merit a 5/6/7 year deal and this UFA class doesn't have someone who does.

Perron-Shipachyov-Neal
Marchessualt-Haula-Smith
Eakin-Karlsson-Lindberg
Carrier-Kruger-Bellemare
Leipsic-Nosek

Schmidt-Mcnabb
Garrison-Theodore/Miller
Merrill/Theo-Engelland
Sbisa

Fleury
Pickard

I'd bet money on the opening 23 man roster looking pretty close to that. I don't think GMGM is going to do much of anything in free agency. Unless he moves some forwards there isn't room to sign any more forwards. Leipsic/Nosek/Carrier are all no longer waiver exempt. I see him moving Emelin and Merrill/Miller to finish the offseason.

That doesn't look that bad to be honest. Before the expansion draft I imagined we'd be set in net, strong on defense and weaker at forward, who knew we'd flip flop those last two, now we look stronger at forward and weaker at defense.

 

[Soundgarden]

How would you guys feel about Hartnell/Pouliot? Hartnell would make excellent captain material and could move someone like Eakin down a line.

 

[Blue Goose]

How would you guys feel about Hartnell/Pouliot? Hartnell would make excellent captain material and could move someone like Eakin down a line.

I see no reason to pursue either one, especially Hartnell - he should get interest from some contenders, so I imagine he'd sign with them rather than an expansion team. Besides, if we don't get rid of some of these extra players in the next two days, most UFA's will sign elsewhere (which is honestly what I expect to happen).

 

[Seedling]

Pouliot's first two years here in Oil country were really good. Last year was an unmitigated disaster. He's a great PK guy though but he's so inconsistent. Good hands, speed, shot. Just can't keep it all together consistently. If he was at 2 mill I am very sure we would have kept him. He's due to bounce back but I think the coach had enough of him TBH.

 

[derriko]

Gagner, now that I think about it would be an excellent PP option as I think he could play the point, or have another winger / center play the point and Gagner on the half wall.

You can argue all you want about the rest of his game, but he can score and make plays on the PP.

He's below average in the dot, which is unfortunate as he's more offensively gifted than Haula who looks like the 2C (barring Glass just turning heads in training camp and the pre-season) but I'd slot him in as a 4th line wing and 1st pp.

I think he could replicate, or at least hit close to his 50 points last year as a specialist.

Sign him short term and flip him too if you want. I would say he's a better option than Carrier / Leipsic / Tuch for the 12th / 13th forward on the roster (at this point in time only)

 

[lakai17]

People don't realize how good Tuch is.

He can make many teams out of camp this upcoming season. Vegas is one of them.

 

[Seedling]

People don't realize how good Tuch is.

He can make many teams out of camp this upcoming season. Vegas is one of them.

Agreed. I drafted this kid in my keeper his draft year. He's gonna be very good. I've been following him very closely since his draft year and I think he would have been on Minnesota's starting roster this year. Big, fast and can score. He'll stand out.