Line Combos: Your 2019-20 Opening Night Lineup

LightningStrikes

Champa Bay Lightning
Nov 24, 2009
26,063
9,772
What I want:

Johnson-Point-Kucherov
Stamkos-Cirelli-Joseph
Palat-Gourde-Killorn
Maroon-Paquette-Stephens

Notes:
Kuch and Point continue their puck distributor / trigger man dynamic, add Johnson as decoy / alternate trigger man.
Prefer having Stamkos on wing, Cirelli assumes defensive responsibility, both him and Joseph add speed/hustle to the top-6.
Palat on 3rd line until he proves us wrong, should mesh well with puck hounds Gourde and Killer.
Stephens gets the nod, 4th line should bring both sandpaper and some scoring.


Hedman-Cernak
McDonagh-Shattenkirk
Coburn-Sergachev

Notes:
Each pairing has an offensive D-man and a defensive D-man.
Let Hedman do his thing instead of babysitting.


Vasilevskiy


What we'll get:

Palat-Stamkos-Johnson
Gourde-Point-Kucherov
Killorn-Cirelli-Joseph
Maroon-Paquette-Witkowski

Hedman-Shattenkirk
McDonagh-Cernak
Sergachev-Rutta

Vasilevskiy
 
Last edited:

BoltzManConstant

Registered User
Mar 8, 2017
1,150
872
Upper West Side
I like your lines, except I think Verhaeghe needs to get the opportunity over Stephens. To accomplish that, is bump Palat down to the 4th line, and put Verhaeghe with Gourde and Killer.

I think I'd also swap Cirelli and Gourde, but it's a minor difference.

I like the idea of Joseph up on Stammer's line.
 

HoseEmDown

Registered User
Mar 25, 2012
17,452
3,681
Gourde - Point - Kucherov
Killorn - Cirelli - Stamkos
Palat - Johnson - Joseph
Paquette - Verheaghe

Hedman - Cernak
McDonagh - Sergachev
Coburn - Shattenkirk/Schenn
 
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Five Alarm Fire

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Jun 17, 2009
10,122
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Johnson - Point - Kucherov
Palat - Stamkos - Gourde
Killorn - Cirelli - Joseph
Maroon - Paquette - Witkowski

I expect pretty similar forward lines as last year. I fully believe that Cooper has eaten up the lack of meaningful games excuse, and will utilize what worked last year.
  • I liked how Cirelli and Stamkos looked together last year in the playoffs but I doubt either relinquish their roles as center. Preferably Stamkos would move to the wing and Cirelli would continue developing as a two-way C but that's just not happening.
  • I don't think Palat is going to be completely useless this year, but he has to stay healthy, period. Unfortunately, the style of play where he's most effective tends to result in higher injury rates. That's why I believe he played so timid when he got back. It remains to be seen if he ever gets over that hump, but if he doesn't, Joseph is the perfect guy to take his spot in the lineup.
  • The 4th line as constructed is HEAVY. However, both of Maroon/Witkowski's roles are up for grabs by any of our Syracuse guys.
 

DFC

Registered User
Sep 26, 2013
46,844
22,692
NB
We rarely stick to line combinations from year to year. I think we'll see Stamkos/Kucherov back together to start the year. If they play selfish, it'll last; if they get too cute, I hope Coop pulls the trigger on them sooner rather than later. Breaking them up was the catalyst to both of their incredible seasons last year.

So, the prediction:

Palat - Stamkos - Kucherov
Johnson - Point - Gourde
Killorn - Cirelli - Joseph
Maroon - Paquette - Stephens
Martel

Hedman - Shattenkirk
McDonagh - Cernak
Coburn - Sergachev
Schenn
Rutta

What I would like to see:

Cirelli - Stamkos - Kucherov
Johnson - Point - Joseph
Palat - Verhaeghe - Gourde
Killorn - Paquette - Stephens/Volkov
 

DistantThunderRep

Registered User
Mar 8, 2018
19,303
16,378
What I expect:

Palat - Stamkos - Kucherov
Johnson - Point - Gourde
Killorn - Cirelli - Joseph
Maroon - Paquette - Martel/Stephens

Hedman - Shattenkirk
McDonagh - Cernak
Coburn - Sergachev

Vasy
McBackup

What I would I would like

Joseph - Point - Kucherov
Stamkos - Cirelli - Gourde
Killorn - Johnson - Volkov
Palat - Paquette - Maroon
Martel

Hedman - Cernak
McDonagh - Sergachev
Coburn - Shattenkirk

Vasy
McBackup

My likes are see how it works for the first 10 or so games. The line that is iffy for me is the Stamkos line, just because it relies on him to drive that line.
 

Steazy Doo

Registered User
Jan 31, 2013
6,471
3,046
Cirelli-Kucherov-Pint
Johnson-Pallet-Gourde
Kilhorn-Jospeh-Stamkos
Maroon-Paquete-Martell
Verhage
 

Rschmitz

Finding new ways to cheat
Feb 27, 2002
15,750
8,070
Tampa Bay
Gourde-Stamkos-Kucherov
Palat-Point-TJ
Killorn-Cirelli-Joseph
Maroon-Paquete-Volkov

Hedman-Cernak
McDonagh-Shattenkirk
Coburn-Sergachev
 
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DaBolts

Stanley Cup Boat Parades ROCK
Feb 3, 2015
14,992
10,667
Johnson - Point - Kucherov
Stamkos - Cirelli (Swapping with Stammer at times) - Gourde
Killorn/Palat - Gourde - Joseph
Maroon - Paquette - Volkov

I think Volkov makes the leap. Maroon and Dump Truck become "The Convoy" and leaves Volkov free to shoot all day long.

On defense it's trickier:

Hedman -Serge (familiarity)
McDonagh - Cernak (why break up a good thing)
Coburn - Shattenkirk/Schenn/Witkowksi

The 3rd pairing will be a camp war. I don't know if Luke has what it takes to come home and make the lineup. Schenn will be our shocker along with Shatty as they play above their contracts or perceived level.

Vazy
backup dude.

Dom is gone, he's trade bait by camp, so there will be some competition there. I would love for Verhage or Martel to make it as a role/bench player but I fear one of them will be traded before the season starts if they show up with a mediocre camp. I think Volkov is our second coming of Kuch, just not quite the skill level yet.
 

Five Alarm Fire

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Jun 17, 2009
10,122
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Yes, but we aren't sure which Stamkos we get. It's always that beast with him. I think my lines could work, if Stammer really meshes with Cirelli and Gourde.

Stamkos really only had two bad years though, and it was after he broke his leg. This is his third straight healthy off-season, I'm not worried about him the way we all used to.
 

DistantThunderRep

Registered User
Mar 8, 2018
19,303
16,378
Am I the only person who thinks Killorn is our forward baby sitter/ teacher? Seems like he has been the best person in that roll.
 

Outl4w

Registered User
Dec 16, 2011
3,110
1,523
FL
Cirelli-Stamkos-Kucherov 2 studs and a kid line
Johnson-Point-Gourde 2 midgets and a stud line
Kilhorn-Jospeh-Maroon/Palat Joseph will need someone to protect him against teams like the Bruins
Maroon/Palat-Paquete-Martell/Volkov hopefully

I really wish we could add another big body forward for the 12/13/14th
 

God King Fudge

Championship Swag
Oct 13, 2017
6,308
6,793
What I want:

Johnson-Point-Kucherov
Stamkos-Cirelli-Gourde
Killorn-ABB/Verhaeghe-Joseph
Maroon-Paquette-Palat

Hedman-Cernak
McDonagh-Sergachev
Coburn-Shattenkirk

Vasy
McBackup
 

LightningStrikes

Champa Bay Lightning
Nov 24, 2009
26,063
9,772
Update after camp and first preseason impressions:

Johnson-Point-Kucherov
Stamkos-Cirelli-Gourde
Palat-Verhaeghe-Killorn
Maroon-Paquette-Joseph

With Point out for the season opener though, maybe something like this:

Palat-Johnson-Kucherov
Stamkos-Cirelli-Gourde
Killorn-Verhaeghe-Volkov
Maroon-Paquette-Joseph

...or Martel on the 4th for Joseph and Joseph on the 3rd for Volkov (doesn't fit the 4th IMO).
 

damaaster

Registered User
Dec 29, 2009
88
65
WINNIPEG
Jets fan coming in peace.

Just curious how the # 1 PP is expected to line up? Specifically do you expect Hedman to be on PP 1?
 

JoVel

HFBoards Sponsor
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Jan 23, 2017
19,181
26,366
Jets fan coming in peace.

Just curious how the # 1 PP is expected to line up? Specifically do you expect Hedman to be on PP 1?
Yeah he'll be there with Stamkos, Point, Kucherov and someone we decide to throw in there to collect easy points.
 

Vasilevskiy

The cat will be back
Dec 30, 2008
17,820
4,608
Barcelona
Let's do this:
Johnson - Point - Kuch
Stamkos - Cirelli - Gourde
Killorn - Joseph - Palat
Maroon - Paquette - Volkov
Verhaegue

Hedman - Cernak
McDonagh - Sergachev
Coburb - Shattenkirk
Rutta
 

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