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2014-2015 Roster

Let's not get too caught up on line hierarchy. What Richards does in the regular season isn't that big a concern to me after 3 subpar regular seasons and 3 fairly good playoffs. He doesn't have the jump or the hands he did in Philly, but he's also older, probably sees little challenge since he's won every team trophy a player can contribute to, and suffered at least 2 concussions since he joined the Kings. As long as he's helping the team win, the depth of the team should cover up any regular season lag. He's also ineffective on the wing. On top of that, this is a coach that spreads the minutes out and typically tries to roll 4 lines, plus we should take into account special team roles...he'll see time on the 2nd PP unit and some time on the PK.

Goal is to make the playoffs...and by the time the playoffs arrive, the roster will inevitably be different due to trades, injuries, and performance/chemistry adjustments. Let's not pretend that Sutter put absolute trust in Pearson and Toffoli during the playoffs...Sutter often used the Carter/Richards duo with the lead late.

To me, the big thing is having a "top 9" that is good with several permutations/combinations. Thought Gabby and Carter looked really good together in short bursts, plus Sutter is a line tinkerer, so I'd caution not to get attached to any preseason line combinations.

But, I'll play for fun.

Gaborik - Kopitar - Brown
Pearson - Carter - Toffoli
Clifford - Richards - Williams
King - Stoll - Lewis
Andreoff - Nolan

Muzzin - Doughty
Regehr - Voynov
Martinez - Greene
McNabb

Quick
Jones

1st PP:
Gaborik - Kopitar - Carter - Doughty - Muzzin
2nd PP:
Richards - Brown - Williams - Voynov - Martinez

1st PK:
Stoll - Lewis - Regehr - Greene
2nd PK:
Richards - Carter - Doughty - Muzzin
3rd PK:
Kopitar - Brown - defensive smattering

Keys going into the season: health, hope for bounce-back years from Brown, Richards, and Voynov, adequate rest, spreading minutes throughout the lineup, improved special teams, more contribution from the role players, McNabb and Andreoff getting some playing time, continued growth from Toffoli and Pearson, finding a way to secure a playoff spot in an increasingly stacked conference. Not being complacent and winning games in the regular season with high expectations and a target on their back.
 
Here's a fun/my idea. How about we have a center setup like Kopi/Carts/Rick/Lewis and have Stoll take faceoffs and play RW on the 1st line? Brownie back to LW on 3rd line with Richards and Williams...
 
Stoll as 1st line rw? :shakehead

That would be a waste to everyone involved, Stoll has proven he isn't a top 6 player at his natural position, why would you put him on the wing with our two most skilled players? Stoll isn't known as a finisher or set-up man. Stoll for the first time in his entire tenure as a King looked like he was finally comfortable in a role last season, why mess with it?

Why can't we keep the lines we had for the playoffs, those sure seemed to work out just fine. No idea people want to fix something that isn't broken.
 
Primakov! said:
When he pointed out how Stoll seemed to be aligned on the wing I thought he had just made a simple typo. Instead I find it was an attempt to snipe the unwary and I've clearly taken a head shot...
Click to expand...

Don't mess with a Jedi Bear!!!
 
Herby said:
Stoll as 1st line rw? :shakehead

That would be a waste to everyone involved, Stoll has proven he isn't a top 6 player at his natural position, why would you put him on the wing with our two most skilled players? Stoll isn't known as a finisher or set-up man. Stoll for the first time in his entire tenure as a King looked like he was finally comfortable in a role last season, why mess with it?

Why can't we :shakehead: the lines we had for the playoffs, those sure seemed to work out just fine. No idea people want to fix something that isn't broken.
Click to expand...

Darryl Sutter is the coach. He will change lines all of the time...he even did it during the playoffs. That's why Toffoli was on ice with Clifford. :shakehead :shakehead :shakehead
 
Herby said:
Why can't we keep the lines we had for the playoffs, those sure seemed to work out just fine. No idea people want to fix something that isn't broken.
Click to expand...

It's just not good asset management to keep a 5.75M player as our 4C. Besides, it's a long season, it's not a bad idea to give Richards another chance as our 2C/3C. If it doesn't pan out, we can always go back to our SC lineup. No biggie.
 
2015 Season Line Combinations with Finalized Roster

Now that the roster has been finalized for the most part barring any significant trades, what is your dream line combination and what do you think Sutter is going to do starting this year?

My dream combination:

Gaborik-Kopitar-Williams
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Richards-Brown
Andreoff-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford, Nolan

Muzzin-Doughty
Martinez-Voynov
Regehr-McNabb
Greene


What I think Sutter will play:

Gaborik-Kopitar-Brown
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Stoll-Williams
Clifford-Richards-Lewis
Nolan, Andreoff

Muzzin-Doughty
Regehr-Voynov
Martinez-Greene
McNabb
 
Telos said:
Now that the roster has been finalized for the most part barring any significant trades, what is your dream line combination and what do you think Sutter is going to do starting this year?

My dream combination:

Gaborik-Kopitar-Williams
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Richards-Brown
Andreoff-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford, Nolan

Muzzin-Doughty
Martinez-Voynov
Regehr-McNabb
Greene


What I think Sutter will play:

Gaborik-Kopitar-Brown
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Stoll-Williams
Clifford-Richards-Lewis
Nolan, Andreoff

Muzzin-Doughty
Regehr-Voynov
Martinez-Greene
McNabb
Click to expand...

#andrehoffforcalder
 
Telos said:
Heck yeah :yo:

40 goals, 40 assists from the fourth line. Make it happen Sutter!
Click to expand...

His goal and assist totals will be triple digit. You probably should have added to zero to those goal and assist estimates
 
Telos said:
Now that the roster has been finalized for the most part barring any significant trades, what is your dream line combination and what do you think Sutter is going to do starting this year?

My dream combination:

Gaborik-Kopitar-Williams
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Richards-Brown
Andreoff-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford, Nolan

Muzzin-Doughty
Martinez-Voynov
Regehr-McNabb
Greene


What I think Sutter will play:

Gaborik-Kopitar-Brown
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Stoll-Williams
Clifford-Richards-Lewis
Nolan, Andreoff

Muzzin-Doughty
Regehr-Voynov
Martinez-Greene
McNabb
Click to expand...

I like those lines too, but I think I would swap King and Andreoff. I'm just not sold on King on the 3rd line. I do like him though. That's the one position I would have like to see us upgrade in the off season.
 
I have a feeling Sutter will put Richards with Carter to start the year. I don't agree with it, but it just seems like the natural thing to do.
 
What I hope

Gaborik - Kopitar - Brown
King - Carter - Toffoli
Pearson - Richards - Williams
Clifford - Stoll - Lewis
Nolan - Andreoff

Muzzin - Doughty
Regehr - Voynov
Martinez - Greene
McNabb

Quick
Jones

I like having at least one "hard" player on each line. Guys like that can grind and win board battles in the offensive zone. Which is why I have Brown, King, Richards/Williams, Clifford on different lines. Those are the guys that get things going in the cycle game.
 
I wonder if Pearson gets sent down, It may be easier than possibly losing Andreoff (if DL rates him) and also help keep Pearsons cap hit down next year. We could always bring him back up if things don't click.

Gaborik, Kopitar, Williams
Brown, Carter, Toffoli
King, Richards, Lewis
Clifford, Stoll, Andreoff
Cracknell
 
I'd love to see:

Richards - Kopitar - Gaborik (remember, he prefers RW)
Pearson - Carter - Toffoli
Brown - Stoll - Williams
King - Andreoff - Lewis

X Clifford, Nolan

Muzzin - Doughty
McNabb - Voynov
Martinez - Green

X Regehr

Quick
Jones
 
Nashville Transplant said:
Carter will play with Richards more than you think :)
Click to expand...

I thought so. I actually spent like 20+ minutes trying to think of a combination that allows Richards and Carter to be re-united, but I couldn't find one without placing someone in a strange position or a really off-wing. Though I have no doubt that Sutter may re-unite them for a few games, I don't see any way for him to sustain it, I think his hand is forced, but this is Sutter after all so who knows when it comes to line combos... :P

Luc Gretzky said:
I'd love to see:

Richards - Kopitar - Gaborik (remember, he prefers RW)
Pearson - Carter - Toffoli
Brown - Stoll - Williams
King - Andreoff - Lewis

X Clifford, Nolan

Muzzin - Doughty
McNabb - Voynov
Martinez - Green

X Regehr

Quick
Jones
Click to expand...

I love the forward lines, I think they'll work well. I would prefer your defensive pairings if McNabb was able to handle it, though I think it is a little much to hope he would be good for the season as a 3-4. That and I doubt Sutter would ever bench Regehr, and I am not against that either, I am one of his supporters :P But still, really good lineup. One can always hope.
 
I still don't like the Doughty-Muzzin pairing, but we really don't have any other options for Drew's partner right now.
 
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