Maurice will bounce the wingers around as necessary. When it becomes apparent Laine is much better from the LW I'd expect him to primarily line up there. Especially considering Wheeler has 1 top 6 RW spot locked in stone.
I hope he gets to start Lw, much more comfortable so it should make his transition to NHL a bit easier.
Ehlers also started on his off side so I don't think you have much to worry about.
I don't think Maurice will start Connor or Laine against the other team's top checking line so I think he will start with Ehlers Scheif and Wheeler...I'd rather see...
Ehlers-Little-Wheeler
Connor-Scheif-Laine
Copp-MP-Armia
Lemieux-Lowry-Staf
Enstrom Trouba
Chiarot Buff
Stuart (face it) Myers
Helle Hutch
I don't think Maurice will start Connor or Laine against the other team's top checking line so I think he will start with Ehlers Scheif and Wheeler...I'd rather see...
Ehlers-Little-Wheeler
Connor-Scheif-Laine
Copp-MP-Armia
Lemieux-Lowry-Staf
Enstrom Trouba
Chiarot Buff
Stuart (face it) Myers
Helle Hutch
How much more enjoyable is this exercise this off season, than it would have been when we inherited the team back in 2011?
Albert/Cormier/Klingberg/Telguin were the our top choices then for available prospects to pencil in,
Today
Connor/Laine/Petan/Lemieux just to name a few, are available. Crazy how far we have come in a very short time.
One line I would like to see iced somewhere down the line is:
Connor/Petan/Laine - Petan's vision and passing to 2 pure snipers
I don't think Maurice will start Connor or Laine against the other team's top checking line so I think he will start with Ehlers Scheif and Wheeler...I'd rather see...
Ehlers-Little-Wheeler
Connor-Scheif-Laine
Copp-MP-Armia
Lemieux-Lowry-Staf
Enstrom Trouba
Chiarot Buff
Stuart (face it) Myers
Helle Hutch
I will be quite disappointed in Maurice if Stuart is on the opening night roster. There really should be no excuse to playing him now, but sadly I wont be that surprised if that's how it plays out.
I am hoping that we bring in an Associate coach with pedigree that will be able to call out Maurice for some of his dumber decisions.
Might get to see that in a pre-season game. I think a lot of different combos will be looked at.
I will be disappointed every time Stuart steps on the ice this year. I will also be very surprised except that I am gradually preparing myself for the incredible.
The other thing in 10-10's lineup that I hope we don't see this year though is our top 4 not being used as the top 4 again. That might almost be as bad as playing Stuart except that it is only the presence of Stuart that makes that necessary and likely. Enstrom, Buff, Trouba and Myers are quite clearly our top 4 D men and they should get as much of the TOI as possible.
I agree they should be running this imo:
Trouba - Buff
Toby - Myers
(Bulk of minutes 5 on 5 and special teams)
Morrissey - Postma
I would switch Morrissey and Enstrom for 4 on 4 shifts in an effort to lighten Toby's minutes a bit as well as I feel Josh will be more dangerous in those situations. I also think Morrissey can get more minutes on the 2nd pp untit.
Laine - Morrissey on the point
Little, Perrault and Conner upfront.
1st unit:
Ehlers and Buff on the point
Scheifele - Wheeler - Petan upfront
PK1:
Burmie/Copp - Armia
Enstrom - Trouba
PK2:
Little - Lowry
Myers - Buff
Rotate Morrissey and Postam in as needed.
Forwards:
Perrault - Scheifele - Wheeler
Laine - Little - Ehlers
Conner - Petan - Dano
Lowry - Copp/Burmie - Armia