Lines at Practice Today
Domi-Reinhart-Duclair
Petan-McDavid-Fabbri
Ritchie-Paul-Point
Crouse-Gauthier-Virtanen
Dal Colle-Dickinson-Chartier
Nurse-Theodore
Morin-Bowey
Morrissey-Fleury
Heatherington-Hicketts
Very interesting, Benoit Groulx looks like he really wants to have a big heavy line. First tried Ritchie-Gauthier-Virtanen, now Crouse is in the LW spot there. Although I think having a more offensive minded center centering Virtanen will be a much better use of him. The top 2 lines look real good though.
Yes, agreed. If Groulx is modelling this line off the Getzlaf-Perry-Benn line from 2014, he's forgetting that Getzlaf is one of the top playmakers in the world that can significantly improve the games of his linemates and Gauthier, well...isn't. This line would be an elite possession line, in theory, but they could probably get more out of Virtanen if they paired him up with a playmaking center. I'd drop Point down with Crouse & Gauthier on a 4th line, which would introduce a good offensive dimension to that line without sacrificing much in defensive play.
I'm hoping they cut Ritchie. Discipline is obviously the issue with him, and we've gotten ourselves in trouble in the past with guys like Jenner who cross the line at this level of competition and with IIHF refereeing. I'm fairly indifferent as to who the other forward cut is, but its shaping up as someone from the Chartier/Dickinson/Paul group. I'd lean towards cutting Chartier, just to maintain Dickinson's versatility in the forward group and Paul's size/defensive play if they do end up cutting Ritchie.