Line Combos: Your Opening Night Roster II

[LSCII]

He hits hard.

I would like to see the Bruins be remotely physical instead of scraping themselves off the end boards. Wagner helps with this.

If you're worried about his production and how it will come into play, I suggest you pin some of the blame on others in the top 9. Wagner isn't here to put up points (which seems to be the only thing that matters to most people) - He's here to provide some energy, lay the body, possibly kill some penalties. He's a decent skater, too.

Who would you suggest play in front of him for 8-10 minutes a night?

Chris Wagner isn't going to make or break this team. Good god.

I'm not worried about the 4th line contributing towards the scoring. My concern with it is similar to my concerns with the 3rd line. It's like they're straddling the line between two very distinct identities. On the third you have Donato, Backes, and Kuraly. Donato is a skill player, Backes is a physical player, and Kuraly is neither. On the 4th line you have Acciari, who is nothing more than a grinder, Wagner as a hitter, and either Bjork or Nordstrom and Nord doesn't shoot, doesn't score, and doesn't hit. If it's Bjork, now you have a hitter a grinder and a skill guy. So to me, the bottom 6 are oddly and blatantly mismatched.

 

[Johnnyduke]

and Nord doesn't shoot, doesn't score, and doesn't hit.

Wow I can't WAIT to watch this guy play!

 

[Estlin]

I'm not worried about the 4th line contributing towards the scoring. My concern with it is similar to my concerns with the 3rd line. It's like they're straddling the line between two very distinct identities. On the third you have Donato, Backes, and Kuraly. Donato is a skill player, Backes is a physical player, and Kuraly is neither. On the 4th line you have Acciari, who is nothing more than a grinder, Wagner as a hitter, and either Bjork or Nordstrom and Nord doesn't shoot, doesn't score, and doesn't hit. If it's Bjork, now you have a hitter a grinder and a skill guy. So to me, the bottom 6 are oddly and blatantly mismatched.

Indeed, and the bottom six will be another offensive black hole. Boston will need Debrusk-Krejci-Heinen to really come through so that the Bruins are not a one-line team again.

 

[BruinDust]

Indeed, and the bottom six will be another offensive black hole. Boston will need Debrusk-Krejci-Heinen to really come through so that the Bruins are not a one-line team again.

I'm not convinced Debrusk-Krejci-Heinen will be a line for long. Cassidy made the switch pretty quick in the last pre-season game.

I think we see Donato or more likely Bjork there sooner rather than later.

 

[LSCII]

Indeed, and the bottom six will be another offensive black hole. Boston will need Debrusk-Krejci-Heinen to really come through so that the Bruins are not a one-line team again.

The thing is that it's self created pressure. They could easily rejigger the third line to be a more scoring, offensive threat type of line, but they didn't. Instead they've tried to walk a line of being both physical and skilled, which rarely works.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

I'm not worried about the 4th line contributing towards the scoring. My concern with it is similar to my concerns with the 3rd line. It's like they're straddling the line between two very distinct identities. On the third you have Donato, Backes, and Kuraly. Donato is a skill player, Backes is a physical player, and Kuraly is neither. On the 4th line you have Acciari, who is nothing more than a grinder, Wagner as a hitter, and either Bjork or Nordstrom and Nord doesn't shoot, doesn't score, and doesn't hit. If it's Bjork, now you have a hitter a grinder and a skill guy. So to me, the bottom 6 are oddly and blatantly mismatched.

You just won’t stop with this “I need this line to fit into my very finite set of parameters” agenda, will you?

I seem to recall the B’s putting Marchand (who has a similar skill set as Bjork) on the 4th line to start a season, and it worked out pretty damn well.

I’m not saying Wagner or Nordstrom is McDavid or Laine, but they are professional hockey players. Given that, they have some offensive skills that they don’t get asked to display very often (because of their roles). That doesn’t mean they are incapable of making plays. Wagner had a nice goal on a sick move in one of the last couple of preseason games and I was surprised at how good Nordstrom looked in the China games.

Bjork is another Swiss Army Knife like Heinen (only a better skater). Came up through the US Dev Program as a 3rd line defensive guy and didn’t get asked to score until he got to college. He’s a sound D guy and should create some chances on that 4th line.

I don’t have any issues with a

Nordstrom-Wagner-Bjork 4th line, or a Bjork-Wagner-Acciari line either (although I prefer the first option).

 

[LSCII]

You just won’t stop with this “I need this line to fit into my very finite set of parameters” agenda, will you?

I seem to recall the B’s putting Marchand (who has a similar skill set as Bjork) on the 4th line to start a season, and it worked out pretty damn well.

I’m not saying Wagner or Nordstrom is McDavid or Laine, but they are professional hockey players. Given that, they have some offensive skills that they don’t get asked to display very often (because of their roles). That doesn’t mean they are incapable of making plays. Wagner had a nice goal on a sick move in one of the last couple of preseason games and I was surprised at how good Nordstrom looked in the China games.

Bjork is another Swiss Army Knife like Heinen (only a better skater). Came up through the US Dev Program as a 3rd line defensive guy and didn’t get asked to score until he got to college. He’s a sound D guy and should create some chances on that 4th line.

I don’t have any issues with a

Nordstrom-Wagner-Bjork 4th line, or a Bjork-Wagner-Acciari line either (although I prefer the first option).

HAHAHAHAHA. You're response to my concern over them trying to be everything to everyone in the bottom 6 is that they're all professional players? Jesus Joe. That's on par with Derek's famous keys to the game: Score more than your opponent.

No shit they're professional hockey players and all of them have skill. That literally goes without saying. On the flip side, despite everyone having skill, some are clearly more skillful than bottom of the roster guys, no? And really, Wagner, Nord, Acciari, Kuraly, etc, are all bottom of the roster guys with very little upside. In other words, they are what we all see. Limited players who fill a very specific role. The problem teams get into with guys like that is when they ask a limited player to do and be more than he really is capable of. That speaks to a fundamental lack of organizational depth if for example, you're asking a 4th line grinding PK specialist to suddenly center your third line and become a more offensive player.

 

[bp13]

I'm not convinced Debrusk-Krejci-Heinen will be a line for long. Cassidy made the switch pretty quick in the last pre-season game.

I think we see Donato or more likely Bjork there sooner rather than later.

Do you think thats more because the 3rd line will need Heinen or because one of those other two will be too tempting offensively to not have in the top 6?

 

[BruinDust]

You just won’t stop with this “I need this line to fit into my very finite set of parameters” agenda, will you?

I seem to recall the B’s putting Marchand (who has a similar skill set as Bjork) on the 4th line to start a season, and it worked out pretty damn well.

I’m not saying Wagner or Nordstrom is McDavid or Laine, but they are professional hockey players. Given that, they have some offensive skills that they don’t get asked to display very often (because of their roles). That doesn’t mean they are incapable of making plays. Wagner had a nice goal on a sick move in one of the last couple of preseason games and I was surprised at how good Nordstrom looked in the China games.

Bjork is another Swiss Army Knife like Heinen (only a better skater). Came up through the US Dev Program as a 3rd line defensive guy and didn’t get asked to score until he got to college. He’s a sound D guy and should create some chances on that 4th line.

I don’t have any issues with a

Nordstrom-Wagner-Bjork 4th line, or a Bjork-Wagner-Acciari line either (although I prefer the first option).

I'm pretty sure Noel Acciari is incapable of making plays at the NHL level. As evidence by his ONE freakin' assist in 60 games last year.

But I'm with you in that I don't see how every line needs to be defined, or have a set role or "identity". Just go out there and play hockey. The days of having a line that continually just dumps the puck in on every rush/possession and then tries to apply physical play and fore-checking pressure are over. Dump-ins have never been less effective than they are today with the quickness that NHL D-men skate and move the puck now. I'm not saying NEVER dump the puck in, but gaining the offensive zone AND maintaining possession are the name of the game now.

How about a Nordstrom - Wagner - Heinen 4th line?

 

[BruinDust]

Do you think thats more because the 3rd line will need Heinen or because one of those other two will be too tempting offensively to not have in the top 6?

Nothing against Heinen, but I think if that line isn't producing with him there, Cassidy will pull the plug pretty quick, as he did in the last preseason game. And it's Heinen who will be shifted down, not Debrusk whose clearly attached to the hip of Krejci in the coaching staffs eyes.

If Heinen helps that line produce, he'll probably stay there. They HAVE to get production out of that Krejci line one way or another. I don't envision the 3rd and 4th lines producing as much as last year given the players involved down there.

 

[bp13]

The thing is that it's self created pressure. They could easily rejigger the third line to be a more scoring, offensive threat type of line, but they didn't. Instead they've tried to walk a line of being both physical and skilled, which rarely works.

Well I’m on board with what you’re hoping for and I share the opinion that these lines seemingly lack natural fits, on paper, but haven’t we run out of centers to make your plan happen?

Personally, I see Backes as a 4th liner now. But if you think he can play on a scoring 3rd line, which may be true, is he the center? If not, who is? If it’s still Kuraly, are you just looking to sub in Bjork for Backes? How would it all work that the 3rd line is more of an offensive threat?

 

[GloryDaze4877]

HAHAHAHAHA. You're response to my concern over them trying to be everything to everyone in the bottom 6 is that they're all professional players? Jesus Joe. That's on par with Derek's famous keys to the game: Score more than your opponent.

No **** they're professional hockey players and all of them have skill. That literally goes without saying. On the flip side, despite everyone having skill, some are clearly more skillful than bottom of the roster guys, no? And really, Wagner, Nord, Acciari, Kuraly, etc, are all bottom of the roster guys with very little upside. In other words, they are what we all see. Limited players who fill a very specific role. The problem teams get into with guys like that is when they ask a limited player to do and be more than he really is capable of. That speaks to a fundamental lack of organizational depth if for example, you're asking a 4th line grinding PK specialist to suddenly center your third line and become a more offensive player.

If this is such a hilarious concept to you, please explain the 4th line (pre-Merlot) being super effective with Marchand on it. Kind of flies in the face of your theories.

And who said they are asking Kuraly to be a different player? Perhaps they want him to do the same stuff on the 3rd line he did on the 4th and are confident that he will create turnovers that Donato can capitalize on.

I actually expect the Bottom 6 to be PRIMARILY defensive units, but what is wrong with having one player on each line that actually has some offensive ability and is a threat to score? I won’t be surprised if Heinen ends up in that 3rd line LW spot. Not because he will be bad offensively in the Top 6, but because I’m not convinced that Donato will be good enough defensively.

Heinen can provide you some offense, but also plays much better D than Donato. It’s kind of like when one of your coworkers is limited in what they can do at the office, and because of that lack of flexibility, they get promoted.

 

[Scruffy]

I'm not convinced Debrusk-Krejci-Heinen will be a line for long. Cassidy made the switch pretty quick in the last pre-season game.

I think we see Donato or more likely Bjork there sooner rather than later.

Agreed. DeBrusk and Donato seemed to have some good chemistry in the pre-season, I'm surprised BC split them up.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Agreed. DeBrusk and Donato seemed to have some good chemistry in the pre-season, I'm surprised BC split them up.

Probably had something to do with Heinen being the 4th highest scoring F on the team last year, despite almost no Top 6 time?

 

[LSCII]

If this is such a hilarious concept to you, please explain the 4th line (pre-Merlot) being super effective with Marchand on it. Kind of flies in the face of your theories.

And who said they are asking Kuraly to be a different player? Perhaps they want him to do the same stuff on the 3rd line he did on the 4th and are confident that he will create turnovers that Donato can capitalize on.

I actually expect the Bottom 6 to be PRIMARILY defensive units, but what is wrong with having one player on each line that actually has some offensive ability and is a threat to score? I won’t be surprised if Heinen ends up in that 3rd line LW spot. Not because he will be bad offensively in the Top 6, but because I’m not convinced that Donato will be good enough defensively.

Heinen can provide you some offense, but also plays much better D than Donato. It’s kind of like when one of your coworkers is limited in what they can do at the office, and because of that lack of flexibility, they get promoted.

So wait a second. Let me ask you question. So Marchand started on the 4th line, right? Okay. Good. Did he stay there all season long? Is he still on that line today? Or maybe he started there, earned more time, and moved up quickly. No?

But yeah, Marchand getting a cup of coffee to start on the 4th and having to earn Clown Julien's trust before being allowed a more offensive role is akin to what I'm talking about here. Or not. Yeah, it's not. Definitely isn't the same. At all.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

So wait a second. Let me ask you question. So Marchand started on the 4th line, right? Okay. Good. Did he stay there all season long? Is he still on that line today? Or maybe he started there, earned more time, and moved up quickly. No?

But yeah, Marchand getting a cup of coffee to start on the 4th and having to earn Clown Julien's trust before being allowed a more offensive role is akin to what I'm talking about here. Or not. Yeah, it's not. Definitely isn't the same. At all.

Cup of coffee? He spent a good chunk of the season there before moving up.

Which means that (gasp!) the lines you start the season with don’t necessarily stay the same all season long.

What a novel concept.

 

[Tim Vezina Thomas]

I'm not convinced Debrusk-Krejci-Heinen will be a line for long. Cassidy made the switch pretty quick in the last pre-season game.

I think we see Donato or more likely Bjork there sooner rather than later.

Yeah. I want a shooter with Krejci. Heinen is great but hes a playmaker first and i dont get the "gel" feeling with him and Krejci.

 

[LSCII]

Cup of coffee? He spent a good chunk of the season there before moving up.

Which means that (gasp!) the lines you start the season with don’t necessarily stay the same all season long.

What a novel concept.

Joe, again, despite you wanting these scenarios to be the same they're not. Marchand was well known to have a lot of skill, despite being on the 4th line to start that season. And in his first full year of play in the NHL, he scored 21 goals and put up 41 points. The most skilled guy that may possibly be on the 4th line now is Bjork, and while he may have some offensive skill, he was not the same kind of player as Marchand was coming up. And even giving him credit for being the same, it's not a known thing that he's even going to be on the 4th line.

And before I forget, Marchand had two really good camps in a row before he even earned that 4th line spot. Bjork played 1 game in camp this year because of injury.

In other words, ***GASP*** you took oranges and compared them to apples...

 

[ON3M4N]

I'm not convinced Debrusk-Krejci-Heinen will be a line for long. Cassidy made the switch pretty quick in the last pre-season game.

I think we see Donato or more likely Bjork there sooner rather than later.

I think that was honestly by design and here is why...

In China - DeBrusk/Donato played well together
In Boston - Krejci/Heinen played well together

The only two locks for the 2nd line were DeBrusk and Krejci and I think Cassidy wanted to get a look at both Donato/Heinen on that line to see which would mesh the best with the other guy they didn't play with during pre-season previously.

I won't be surprised if we see him actually flip/flop those two mid game depending on the situation. If Boston is playing from behind I expect Donato on the #2RW. If Boston is playing with a lead or in a tie game, I'd expect Heinen gets the nod as he's a more responsible 200ft player.

 

[Blowfish]

Yeah. I want a shooter with Krejci. Heinen is great but hes a playmaker first and i dont get the "gel" feeling with him and Krejci.

He has a deceptive release. He can score. He does need to shoot more.

 

[Tim Vezina Thomas]

He has a deceptive release. He can score. He does need to shoot more.

Donato is a scorer. Heinen can score and is a great playmaker (and great player in general) but I think pairing a scorer with someone (Krejci) who likes to slow the game down and handle the puck is the best move here.

We'll see, I'd love for Heinen to have chemistry there. Means Donato gets to tee off on bottom pairing D men more often than not.

 

[elMatador]

I’m not convinced that Donato will be good enough defensively.

Just to refresh some memories.
He was a defensive liability during the playoffs, has not seen much of an improvement during the pre-season.

 

[elMatador]

I'm not worried about the 4th line contributing towards the scoring. My concern with it is similar to my concerns with the 3rd line. It's like they're straddling the line between two very distinct identities. On the third you have Donato, Backes, and Kuraly. Donato is a skill player, Backes is a physical player, and Kuraly is neither. On the 4th line you have Acciari, who is nothing more than a grinder, Wagner as a hitter, and either Bjork or Nordstrom and Nord doesn't shoot, doesn't score, and doesn't hit. If it's Bjork, now you have a hitter a grinder and a skill guy. So to me, the bottom 6 are oddly and blatantly mismatched.

Yes, the whole line is a suspect at best.
Donato is a scorer. In order to succeed he needs a playmaker on that line. Doesn't pass, doesn't back check, is not very physical. Better version of Vatrano I would say.
Backes is a shadow of himself. To stay in the game he had to shed down the weight. So now he will struggle to battle along the boards and still will be slow.
Kuraly is a forechecker not a playmaker. Promoting him to a third line doesn't make him overnight Nash who was capable also on the first line for a short stint.

 

[DrJustice]

Donato has gone from #1 prospect to Vatrano 2.0 in one offseason.

Good to know.

 

[LSCII]

Donato has gone from #1 prospect to Vatrano 2.0 in one offseason.

Good to know.

People were bent out of shape he wasn't being dressed in the playoffs last year, and now they're ready to drive him back to Providence because Peter Cehlarik deserves a spot, dammit...lol