Line Combos: Your Opening Night Roster

[BruinDust]

Stempniak didn’t make the team?


I think we should check on his #1 fan!

We haven't heard anything regarding a release for him or Winnik yet.

I'm scared.

 

[Spanky185]

Changes have seemed more fluid in the Cassidy era so i am less worried about the lines being set in stone if they're not working

 

[Bruinaura]

Welp.

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

They don’t have to make a deal yet. Wait for the right guy to come along.

Edit: first they needed a top pairing right D ... people said “trade Carlo, 1st (that became Charlie) and Spooner for Trouba!”. Then we needed scoring wingers. Now we have so many young scoring wingers we have too many. Then it was getting a LD because the kids are too far away, now Vaak is ready and Zboril looked good. Next it’s #3C...and of course in a couple months one of JFK and Frederic will be ready. Let’s wait until someone really great hits the market (not from Ottawa).

the problem is that the "wait for the right deal to come along" approach more often than not has had them lose good prospects for nothing (Chiller, Subban, Czarnik, Koko, etc.). If they don't see a long-term fit for any of these prospects who are playing well then they need to strike while the iron is hot and get something for them.

 

[Mainehockey33]

I actually think Kuraly would be a better 3rd line center than Backes. He has speed and is a good forechecker, so maybe his wingers can capitalize. Backes doesn’t have the speed, he didn’t look great at center the little bit I saw. My $.02

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
Debrusk-Krejci-Bjork
Cehlarik-Kuraly-Heinen
Donato-Wagner-Backes

Chara-Mcavoy
Moore-Carlo
Vaakanainen-Miller

It’s tempting to put Vaakanainen with Mcavoy, but this is how I’d start.

 

[wintersej]

the problem is that the "wait for the right deal to come along" approach more often than not has had them lose good prospects for nothing (Chiller, Subban, Czarnik, Koko, etc.). If they don't see a long-term fit for any of these prospects who are playing well then they need to strike while the iron is hot and get something for them.

If the prospects they have are bottom pair and KHL quality guys who cares? Every team has those guys.

 

[DarrenBanks56]

Based off what?

I dont mind Debrusk there, but Id have Pasta on RW instead of Heinen. Id ont think Marchy and Bergy need Pasta on their wing like #46 does.

 

[Bruinaura]

It’s tempting to put Vaakanainen with Mcavoy, but this is how I’d start.

I'd put them together just so I could say VaakaMcAvoy

 

[ON3M4N]

It's such a mix of talent and skill and style of play that I don't see how that line is going to have any success.

I'm really just trying to think about the style of this line.

There's no real "playmaker" on the line. Someone who can be that puck possession type and set guys up. Kuraly and Backes are physical guys and Donato isn't. Donato can shoot, but if he's not coming off the rush, his sweet spot is in front of the net...the same as Backes and Kurlay. I guess the way I'm looking at this line is off the rush Kuraly/Backes are crasher to try and suck the defense in, allowing Donato some chances to rip shots from the tops of the dots.

The other thing I try to keep in mind is Cassidy wont hesitate to move guys around. I won't be shocked if at some point the middle 6 turns into...

DeBrusk - Krejci - Donato
Heinen - Kuraly - Backes

^To me that makes more sense for a middle 6. Heinen's game fits so much better with Kuraly/Backes than Donato does. On the flip side, Heinen brings some extra two-way game to that 2nd line.

 

[LouJersey]

I'm really just trying to think about the style of this line.

There's no real "playmaker" on the line. Someone who can be that puck possession type and set guys up. Kuraly and Backes are physical guys and Donato isn't. Donato can shoot, but if he's not coming off the rush, his sweet spot is in front of the net...the same as Backes and Kurlay. I guess the way I'm looking at this line is off the rush Kuraly/Backes are crasher to try and suck the defense in, allowing Donato some chances to rip shots from the tops of the dots.

The other thing I try to keep in mind is Cassidy wont hesitate to move guys around. I won't be shocked if at some point the middle 6 turns into...

DeBrusk - Krejci - Donato
Heinen - Kuraly - Backes

^To me that makes more sense for a middle 6. Heinen's game fits so much better with Kuraly/Backes than Donato does. On the flip side, Heinen brings some extra two-way game to that 2nd line.

I don't think Heinen and Krejci are the best mix either...but Heinen def deserves top 6 action, I think he would put up 65+ pts annually.

 

[ON3M4N]

I don't think Heinen and Krejci are the best mix either...but Heinen def deserves top 6 action, I think he would put up 65+ pts annually.

I didn't see the first game they played together during the pre-season, but I thought I had heard they looked pretty good together. I guess my question though is this, do try and find someone who compliments Krejci or DeBrusk?

 

[BMC]

No bueno on Kuraly as the 3LC. Like the player, but hate that role for him. Hope he proves me wrong.

Agree. He's an excellent fourth line center but 3rd? Uh no. I wanted Backes there and still do, I think it makes more sense. But what do I know????

 

[BMC]

Welp.

Oh shit.

 

[Dellstrom]

Welp.

Will be re-evaluated in 3 weeks. Awesome way to start.

 

[BMC]

I'm very glad Vaak made it. He's smart, he can skate, just needs to put on some muscle.

Side note: for the first time the kids really do look like kids to me

 

[BMC]

Will be re-evaluated in 3 weeks. Awesome way to start.

An ankle injury? Oh man. Those can be very tricky

 

[Dellstrom]

An ankle injury? Oh man. Those can be very tricky

Krug was out for the playoffs with a broken ankle, too. He was in a boot pretty much all summer long. Not a good sign.

 

[Alicat]

Krug was out for the playoffs with a broken ankle, too. He was in a boot pretty much all summer long. Not a good sign.

Other ankle.

Not good.

It's a big loss for the team

 

[Sheppy]

For f*** sakes. It begins.

 

[Bruinaura]

From sucking in Dev Camp to Opening Night roster..

Choke on that Haggs.

Congrats Vaak!

I think he heard you

 

[Dellstrom]

I'm glad Vaak will likely get a shot but I don't think I'll quickly forget how absolutely anemic this offense can be without Krug. Probably because I'll be reminded very soon. Time for McAvoy to make bullet point #1 on the list of "Why I should be a 64-millionaire"!

 

[Bruinaura]

Will be re-evaluated in 3 weeks. Awesome way to start.

I so want to write a couple Bruins verses for this song

 

[Mainehockey33]

I think he heard you

Wasn’t he shitting on Vaakanainen all summer at dev camp lol

 

[ON3M4N]

Wasn’t he ****ting on Vaakanainen all summer at dev camp lol

There is a reason I call him HACKerty. Guy is an absolute clown and anyone who listens to him needs to get their head checked.

 

[Alicat]

Wasn’t he ****ting on Vaakanainen all summer at dev camp lol

Yup