Barry Amsterdam
Fillin Nets Since 18
- Apr 2, 2013
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Assuming nothing changes and the first line is Ovechkin- Backstrom- ?
Which player do you want started there
Which player do you want started there
I don't think Burt and Kuzy are a lock for the same line. I think over the first 40 or 50 games we are going to see a lot of packages
Williams is pretty much the perfect fit. What the top line has been missing since Knuble is someone who can be dangerous without the puck. Someone who knows how to put themselves in the high scoring parts of the ice and make themselves available for a pass. Someone who can pot rebounds and deflect pucks. Williams does all of that in spades. He can allow Ovie and Backstrom to be the puck carriers, and get in position to prolong or finish plays.
Knuble and Clark are the sign posts to recall on. Not Semin. Semin was never a primary partner on the first line. Of the two Williams is more of the gritty finisher than Oshie.
Oshie is a pass first player who will only be perceived as demurring to Ov like so many other 3rds on that line have been perceived as.
My view is that if Oshie is to play with Ov, that Kuzy is the better center fit because he is far more of a finisher than is Backstrom.
Look for some early games with Backy not yet in the lineup and Kuz and Burt as the two top centers. Burt gets veterans Jojo and Williams on his wings. Kuz gets Oshie to pass him the puck some instead of it always going to Ov.
Semin on the first line was always used as a late game catchup maneuver. it was used on occasion when the first line went flat. but that is it. the rw on that line is the puck retriever. Is that Oshie?
The line needs guys who can drive play and draw defenders. If you have a couple of pass-first swedes, plugs, or timid rookies up there then everyone knows you just double or triple team Ovechkin and take away the passing lanes for everyone else. That's why they go cold at ES
sort of my point. Oshie is much more of a pass first player. in the end we will see Oshie, Williams, Wilson, Burt, Beagle in that spot. I still think the best center for a line with Ov and Oshie would be Kuzy.
I watched Oshie's goal video from last year and he was shooting from all over the place, going to the net, etc. I haven't watched him on a daily basis but when I think "pass first" I don't think of players who can and will shoot and score like Oshie.
In a goal video you will see goals. If you saw Johansson's goal video, you would see him shooting.