Line Combos: The Line Blender Edition, Pt. 1 (Gm.1-10)

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

Instead of having numerous posts containing line suggestions/comments/concerns, this will consolidate & streamline them into 1 thread for convenience.

It is clear that after 3 games Abby-AA-Vanek haven't generated much in the way of scoring chances, points, or even chemistry, despite a few decent shifts in 1 preseason game iirc.

Either Abby needs to drop to 4th line & be replaced by Helm and/or Vanek needs to be in the top 6. He has too much skill to waste flanking AA, if they don't regain their chemistry from 2 seasons ago post haste.

Mantha & Nielsen could use a boost in production as well.

Vanek/Bert-Larkin-Mantha...55-60% OZS
Bert/Vanek-Nielsen-Nyquist...55-60% OZS
Helm-AA-Ras...Helm can take Dzone draws or all draws til AA improves...55-60% DZS
Abby-Ehn-LGD...60% DZS

D pairings are in flux until everyone is healthy, but I'd like to see each Dman play their natural & preferred side...e.g., Cholo should be LHD. Daley (natural LHD) is an exception as he can play either side but prefers RHD & is probably more effective there as a result.

Cholo-Green...55-60% OZS
DDK-Hronek...50-55% OZS
Sulak-......Daley/Big E (trade 1 or both asap)
Jensen (trade bait)

Hicketts...1st call up

Click to read more...

 

[turkleton85]

vanek with larkin and mantha, that would be sweet

 

[Henkka]

The forward lines were good and balanced against the Ducks. Don't have to fix anything, imo. It was entertaining game to watch, with the way they played.

Defence... it will evolve with health. Tough to plan what the final outcome will be with everyone healthy. Only thing sure is Cholowski as a lock at Top6.

when Green and everybody comes back I think it could be:

DeKeyser - Green
Kronwall - Cholowski
Ericsson - Daley

But I think injurie will be on the play all season and we will never see that theoretical Top6.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

... Only thing sure is Cholowski as a lock at Top6.

when Green and everybody comes back I think it could be:

DeKeyser - Green
Kronwall - Cholowski
Ericsson - Daley

But I think injurie will be on the play all season and we will never see that theoretical Top6.

Didn't include Kronner in my lineup, but just assumed he's more LTIR/IR than active. Cholo & Hronek should stay when everyone is healthy as we need to break in at least 2 Dmen this season, then 2 next season.


AA's new shootout move:

 

[Frk It]

The forward lines were good and balanced against the Ducks. Don't have to fix anything, imo. It was entertaining game to watch, with the way they played.

Defence... it will evolve with health. Tough to plan what the final outcome will be with everyone healthy. Only thing sure is Cholowski as a lock at Top6.

when Green and everybody comes back I think it could be:

DeKeyser - Green
Kronwall - Cholowski
Ericsson - Daley

But I think injurie will be on the play all season and we will never see that theoretical Top6.

I would guess the top 4 when healthy is

Dekeyser-Green
Cholowski-Daley

Kronwall and Ericsson will probably get a limited role to try and keep them healthy. When they miss games Sulak and Hronek can hop in.

 

[Henkka]

I would guess the top 4 when healthy is

Dekeyser-Green
Cholowski-Daley

I would guess different. Either Kronwall or Ericsson hasn't been playing on the right anymore. Since the preseason, they have been using the Righties or Cholowski, Daley and Hicketts there. So if all DeKeyser-Ericsson-Kronwall are on the lineup, I could guarantee they are the LD's and others are somekind of mix on the right.

I see a Top6, and give away from TOP4 thinking. Ericsson on 2nd pair or 3rd or Kronwall, doesn't matter, equal level of pairs.

 

[Frk It]

I would guess different. Either Kronwall or Ericsson hasn't been playing on the right anymore. Since the preseason, they have been using the Righties or Cholowski, Daley and Hicketts there. So if all DeKeyser-Ericsson-Kronwall are on the lineup, I could guarantee they are the LD's and others are somekind of mix on the right.

I see a Top6, and give away from TOP4 thinking. Ericsson on 2nd pair or 3rd or Kronwall, doesn't matter, equal level of pairs.

If Daley is healthy he is in the top 4. Green and Daley will be the right side of the top 4.

Ericsson and Kronwall probably won’t be healthy at the same time - bottom pair will be a mixed bag.

 

[Henkka]

AA's new shootout move:

Does anyone have a gif or video about his moves on the LAK and ANA games. On LAK game breakaway where he lost the puck and that ANA game "out of this Universe stickhandling" which did lead to nowhere...

 

[Henkka]

If Daley is healthy he is in the top 4. Green and Daley will be the right side of the top 4.

Ericsson and Kronwall probably won’t be healthy at the same time - bottom pair will be a mixed bag.

I see Cholowski on the right side on the 2nd pair and Daley on the right on 3rd pair.

 

[Frk It]

I see Cholowski on the right side on the 2nd pair and Daley on the right on 3rd pair.

Why? Cholowski is naturally a LD and Daley has typically gotten a good amount of minutes under Blashill when he’s 100%. He played 23 minutes against Columbus.

 

[Konnan511]

Switch Helm and Abby, I've been very impressed by Helm from the preseason to now.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

Home: Hronek in Top 4 & Sulak Top 6 to gain experience/confidence & TOI.

Cholo--Green...55-60% OZS
DDK--Hronek...50-55% OZS
**Kronner/Sulak--Daley/Big E (trade 1 or both asap)
Jensen (trade bait)
**#55-(IR/LTIR, injury fill-in)

Road:

DDK--Daley/Green
Cholo--Green/Daley
Kronner/Big E--Hronek
Sulak

 

[Henkka]

Why? Cholowski is naturally a LD.

Get an experiment from the right side. Just like putting Zadina on the left on PP.

Develop players to be more complete, not let them just live on the comfort zone and become 1-dimensionals.

 

[Invictus12]

Switch Helm and Abby, I've been very impressed by Helm from the preseason to now.

Is it just me or his stickhandling got better?

 

[SirloinUB]

I really want to see Bert used with Vanek and AA. He brings that gritty forechecking element of Abby and Helm but with a little more skill and hockey sense. I think he would complement them well.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

I really want to see Bert used with Vanek and AA. He brings that gritty forechecking element of Abby and Helm but with a little more skill and hockey sense. I think he would complement them well.

I know it's way too early to pull the plug on the AA as a C experiment, but I'd rather not gift him anymore skilled players like Nyquist & even fairly skilled like Bert. He already has Vanek, so it's time to step up & produce. Nielsen 15:38 TOI, AA 17:12 TOI doesn't make sense if AA can't produce. Nielsen outproduced AA last year while facing toughest QoC% & had more DZS, saddled with Abby & Helm. Nielsen 3GP, 1A, +1 vs. AA 3GP, 1A (on the PP) & -4.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

AA's body language after the missed open net in LA tells me a lot about his current mindset..he looks up at the sky for 1-2 seconds while the puck is still in play. It'd be a bit different if it not still in play. Then the flub disaster on the penalty shot in ANA. If he has less than 5-6 pts @ the 10 game mark, I'd do a hard reset & staple Helm & Ras or Svech (if healthy) to his wing. He neesd to learn how to be a #3C before being relied on to be a #2C scoring center.

 

[lilidk]

time to demote Mantha and wave Abdelkador , bring Smith from GR

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

when healthy

Cholo-Green
DDK-Hronek
Sulak-Daley

Kronner-20-30 games as injury fill-in
Big E-waive/trade

Hicketts-GR; I'd rather have Saarijarvi as 1st callup.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

With DDK out (hand injury..to see specialist per Freep, timeline unknown), they should roll w/7 Dmen to take the TOI pressure off.

Cholo likely for Monday, Daley not on MTL trip...

Kronner played ~25 min. in Boston...

Cholo-Hronek
Kronner-Jensen
Sulak-Saarijarvi

either: Hicketts/Wikowski

Abby, AA or Vanek can sit a game to send a message.

 

[SCD]

I know it's way too early to pull the plug on the AA as a C experiment

Why? I think it was a lousy idea from the start. Did anyone really think this was going to be successful?

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

Why? I think it was a lousy idea from the start. Did anyone really think this was going to be successful?

I agree that AA should've never been an option at C for many justified reasons (too many to list/already been listed ad nausem), so I agree with you, however I know that they're experimenting with him at C as they have no other #3c options, other than Helm. I would prefer Helm as 3c myself, but obviously the Wings Brass know better & think otherwise.

Let AA & Mantha go against top D pairs & earn their next contracts. The 2nd line would remain intact, unless we're trying to inflate Nyquist's trade value (which we should be), then he can switch with AA. I would've already traded AA+ for a Top 4 Dman, so I'm probably the wrong person to ask about AA.

I'd go with: (bolded is fixed, rest is fluid)

AA-Larkin-Mantha
Bert-Nielsen-Nyquist
Ras/Abby-Helm-Vanek
Abby/Ras-Ehn-Luke

 

[SCD]

I think it is more important to prioritize Rasmussen's development, than AA's stagnation.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

I think it is more important to prioritize Rasmussen's development, than AA's stagnation.

I'd say slight edge to Ras's development, or possibly equally weighted only if they're trying to inflate AA's trade value, which might be the reason he's still at C.

 

[YpsiWings]

If Mantha continues to play like he has the first five games you have to take him off the first line. I’m not sure if it is just an effort issue or he is still trying to figure out his game, but something needs to change. Sometimes Mantha goes hard on the forecheck and gets the cycle going, but it’s just not consistent. The other times he goes for a skate and try’s to find the honey hole. If Mantha wants to go soft spot hunting then he needs to shoot a whole lot more. Disappointing start.

Speaking of disappointing how about Frans Nielsen. He is extremely frustrating and it’s not even all his fault. Has the role and paycheck of a 2C when it is clear those days are well behind him. If Blashill stood by his ice time meritocracy then Nielsen and Ehn should switch spots.