Would you try Poehling on the wing in the top 9?

[26Mats]

So far, Poehling has only been tried at center in the preseason.

MB said he's fine with Poehling playing the 4c if he's getting 10-12 minutes a night.

But if Poehling shows he's making a difference offensively, would you move him into the top 9 on the wing?

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[ZUKI]

He's such a natural centre , no i wouldn't . he will find his NHL rhythm and at one point he will replace someone injured to gain experience

 

[dralaf]

you could merge both "no" options into one IMHO...

by the way, we've been in desperate need of a big, speedy C for decades... why on earth would you want to move him to wing???

 

[Tyson]

Here is what I would do based on the current climate- I would play him at 3rd line center and have Kotkaniemi start in Laval. I know it sounds unpopular but I think Kotkaniemi needs big minutes playing on the top line in Laval. He needs to be groomed for becoming a top line center.

 

[sharks9]

No, send him to Laval

 

[Hins77]

When im looking his game, he could be efficient on wing. He is always chasing the puck. I mean. Why not try him on wing? He could be a big winger what we doesnt have.

 

[dralaf]

What I see is a great "high IQ" 2-way center with a combination of strength and speed. I'd do what's best for the team long term instead of a useless "win-now" kind of move and groom him as a center. Be it in Laval, on the 4th or top 9 in Mtl, I don't care... but ffs leave him at center!

 

[SnapVirus]

Poehling - Domi - Suzuki
Tatar - Danault - Gallagher
Byron - Kotkaniemi - Lehkonen
Cousins - Weal - Armia

I’d try that. Lehkonen would benefit to not play on the top6. While Poehling is bigger and could be a nice net presence with the other two.

 

[vokiel]

I'd try him on the 4th line on the wing without any issues, so yes.

 

[sandysan]

you could merge both "no" options into one IMHO...

by the way, we've been in desperate need of a big, speedy C for decades... why on earth would you want to move him to wing???

To give drouin another kick at the cat?

 

[Lebowski]

I'd have him play center in Laval.

 

[BaseballCoach]

What I see is a great "high IQ" 2-way center with a combination of strength and speed. I'd do what's best for the team long term instead of a useless "win-now" kind of move and groom him as a center. Be it in Laval, on the 4th or top 9 in Mtl, I don't care... but ffs leave him at center!

We need Poehling's power forward qualities more than another center when we have three good ones already.

 

[CaptCrunch]

I think the kids are defensively aware enough to play together.

I'd like to see Poehling - Kotkaniemi - Suzuki. 3 high IQ players together, they bring something different, they get along well..

Keep the Danault line together, put Drouin with Domi and Lekhonen and you can have a utility 4th line.

 

[LyricalLyricist]

We need Poehling's power forward qualities more than another center when we have three good ones already.

Who says you can't be a 'power forward' from the C position?

 

[ArtPeur]

Poehling - Domi - Suzuki
Tatar - Danault - Gallagher
Byron - Kotkaniemi - Lehkonen
Cousins - Weal - Armia

I’d try that. Lehkonen would benefit to not play on the top6. While Poehling is bigger and could be a nice net presence with the other two.

No Drouin, eh?

 

[Paddyjack]

No Drouin, eh?

Who?

 

[Habs Icing]

Here is what I would do based on the current climate- I would play him at 3rd line center and have Kotkaniemi start in Laval. I know it sounds unpopular but I think Kotkaniemi needs big minutes playing on the top line in Laval. He needs to be groomed for becoming a top line center.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[muzion]

Some people seem to believe that if you're moved to the wing for a couple of years, you're going to banish from your thoughts everything that made you a center.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Step 1: Fail to acquire a #1 center for 25 years

Step 2: Finally realize you need to draft them

Step 3: Draft a bunch of strong center prospects

Step 4: When it looks like they'll exceed all expectations, right off the bat in their career start playing them at wing.

 

[LaP]

Some people seem to believe that if you're moved to the wing for a couple of years, you're going to banish from your thoughts everything that made you a center.

Some people seem to believe (including our GM) that you can learn to play center at the NHL level by playing on the wing ...

Step 1: Fail to acquire a #1 center for 25 years

Step 2: Finally realize you need to draft them

Step 3: Draft a bunch of strong center prospects

Step 4: When it looks like they'll exceed all expectations, right off the bat in their career start playing them at wing.

Are you surprised though? When Danault was made our first line center at the end of the 2016-2017 season it was clear as day he would keep his spot for a long while. I called it day one. He's not going anywhere unless MB is fired. So there's just a 2nd line center spot available.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

The thing that habs should do for this season if Kotka starts his gear would be

1C/Danault
2C/Kotkaniemi
3C/Poehling

and Domi on wings. and if Kotkaniemi explodes send him on 1st line or w/e just call it the first line.

As long Domi is a center in this team , we will have to put a real center on the wings. Nothing against Domi but i think he would be better on the wings.

 

[CapSpace]

No, send him to Laval

Send KK to Laval.

 

[26Mats]

Here is what I would do based on the current climate- I would play him at 3rd line center and have Kotkaniemi start in Laval. I know it sounds unpopular but I think Kotkaniemi needs big minutes playing on the top line in Laval. He needs to be groomed for becoming a top line center.

That may happen.

CJ will go with who will help him win. But if KK isn't giving that much, like at the end of last year, we now have Suzuki and Poehling who can play 3c. KK would only benefit from time in Laval.

But if KK's playing like he did in the first 2/3 of the season last year, CJ will keep him up here.

If Domi somehow flounders at center, we could have 3 of our 4 centers being 20 and under (Suzuki, KK, Poehling).

 

[Toene]

Some people seem to believe that if you're moved to the wing for a couple of years, you're going to banish from your thoughts everything that made you a center.

Exactly. Poehling isnt like Galchenyuk or KK. The latter two have never been clear cut centers in their pre-draft careers. It's just that they have tools that can be converted very well to center (vision, hands, reach, etc.). But Poehling is a natural. So it wouldnt be the same negative impact of yoyoing around someone who needs to learn. As we could see when he was in college, Poehling's got the overall game figured out already. It's the high-end part that's still a question mark.
That's why I wouldnt be opposed to see him take shifts at wing in the top-6, on scoring lines, to see if he can thrive offensively. In a few years, trade a center or move Domi to wing and put him back where he belongs. Im sure he will not forget how to play center by playing offensive hockey for a couple seasons.

Julien will love him Im pretty sure, so I think he will get playing time sooner than later.

 

[muzion]

Some people seem to believe (including our GM) that you can learn to play center at the NHL level by playing on the wing ...



Are you surprised though? When Danault was made our first line center at the end of the 2016-2017 season it was clear as day he would keep his sport for a long while. I called it day one. He's not going anywhere unless MB is fired. So there's just a 2nd line center spot available.

some people seem to believe that since Galchenyuk/Drouin didn't cut it as a center, the risk is the same for KK/Poehling/Suzuki...