Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Blackwell - Tavares - Nylander
Engvall - Kampf - Mikheyev
Knies - Kerfoot - Kase/Spezza
Simmonds
We should try that 2nd line. I think they need a bit of grit on it. Blackwell seems to have enough skill to dance with those guys.
The 4th I think, as much as people seem to not want Simmonds, you need his edge. We don't need a goon, but we don't want to be pushed around either. That Boston game in their last series against the Leafs, when Kadri got suspended for example was atrocious. You can't depend on the refs to manage the game. We were beaten up in that game, straight up. Kadri was the only one trying to respond, but overdid it obviously. Habs ran us over- literally last playoffs.
Of course that's not going to happen every game, but you need a deterrent on each line, a bit of grit and push back, or even better, initiate the contact, take the initiative and make the other team go on their heels. I like our defence now in terms of physicality once Muzzin comes back.
I think Kerfoot - Spezza - Simmonds has enough speed and smarts to shut down other teams as a 4th unit at 6 minutes a night 5/5. Kerfoot and Spezza getting some extra ice time on special teams. The amount of time Simmonds gets isn't going to over stretch his usefulness. If things get hairy, throw him up the lineup for a shift to take care of things.