Line Combos: 2021 Boston Bruins Lines

[member 96824]

please sit ritchie

If DeBrusk(or Hall) don't work on their offside, I don't mind the idea of moving Ritchie to the 4th and using him as almost a PP specialist role.

But I don't think they can find 12 forwards more useful than Nick Ritchie has been this season, I'm not quite sure why he would sit. He's a positive in the lineup.

One thing I've been very happy about, even moreso than the goals, is Ritchie has cut back on the dumb penalties. In Anaheim and in his time here last year, for everything good there was also bad. That bad was a dumb slash behind the play, tripping to overcompensate the lack of speed, moronic hit, etc. etc. That seems to have disappeared from his game.

 

[rocketdan9]

His skating is fine. His decision making and execution with the puck is fine. He was impactful in previous playoff series in Anaheim. I don't see any issue here with Ritchie, nor do I see 9 forwards who should be ahead of him in the line-up. To me, he's a fixture of the Top 9 F group as he should be.

That was what 3 years ago?

The league is quicker overall. Except for a few teams

Capitals is a good matchup for Ritchie. Blues, Stars also...

We will see what happens. But with Hall coming into play NR gets dropped from the top 6 (looks like it)

 

[BruinDust]

That was what 3 years ago?

The league is quicker overall. Except for a few teams

Capitals is a good matchup for Ritchie. Blues, Stars also...

We will see what happens. But with Hall coming into play NR gets dropped from the top 6 (looks like it)

I don't understand why you are down on this player. I'd argue he's the only Boston forward who has exceeded expectations this year (albeit the bar wasn't exactly high after his RTP performance).

 

[CombatOnContact]

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
Hall-Krejci-Smith
Ritchie-Coyle-Debrusk
Frederic-Kuraly-Lazar

Swap Pasta, Smith, Debrusk as needed. Blidh/McCegg/Wags are subs for 4th line energy.

Gryz-McAvoy
Reilly-Carlo
Kampfer-Miller

Go with the vets on D. Lauzon/Zboril sub in a needed.

 

[Blowfish]

The issue could also comedown to Ritchie playing alongside Krejci

Its just too slow....compounded

The pace is also picking up every week... inching closer to the playoffs. We will see if Ritchie can keep up

He knows what he wants to do/when he has the puck on his stick. The question is, how quickly can he execute without getting puck stripped/hounded

This Krejci is slow is a misnomer. He isn't fast but he's not slow. Krejci more than often slows the game down...all dependent on the play.

 

[Blowfish]

Am I the only one who has been impressed with Kuhlman lately?

No you're not alone...., going to be interesting where he slots in.

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

No you're not alone...., going to be interesting where he slots in.

He’s out tonight according to Cassidy.

 

[Blowfish]

He’s out tonight according to Cassidy.

Darn...oh well. First of the forwards who falter he's back in.

 

[kjpm]

This is sacrilegious but I'd like to see them try:

Hall - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Marchand - Krejci - Smith
DeBrusk - Coyle - Ritchie
Some combination of Kuraly, Lazar, Frederic, Wagner and Kuhlman

Mainly I want to see Hall and Pastrnak on a line together. If you have one of the top players at creating high danger chances and quite possibly the best finisher in the world, how could you not put them together? Give them Bergeron to do the dirty work, drive possession and cover for them defensively and let them take off.

Marchand can play with anybody and drive a line pretty much single handedly. He and Krejci have looked great together in the past when Bergeron's been out and he's had a big hand in bringing Smith to life the past few weeks. Let him create some matchup problems.

Hall just opens up a ton of options for the top six. I know this will never happen but why not get a little creative now that there's some serious skill on the left side? It will be very interesting to see how it all plays out.

 

[DarrenBanks56]

If DeBrusk(or Hall) don't work on their offside, I don't mind the idea of moving Ritchie to the 4th and using him as almost a PP specialist role.

But I don't think they can find 12 forwards more useful than Nick Ritchie has been this season, I'm not quite sure why he would sit. He's a positive in the lineup.

One thing I've been very happy about, even moreso than the goals, is Ritchie has cut back on the dumb penalties. In Anaheim and in his time here last year, for everything good there was also bad. That bad was a dumb slash behind the play, tripping to overcompensate the lack of speed, moronic hit, etc. etc. That seems to have disappeared from his game.

he has 0 hockey iq. i cant imagine how bad he will be if they put him on his offwing.
he doesnt know what to do with the puck.
id like him offthe top pp unit now that hall is here too. the guy just rims the puck around the offensive zone.

 

[rocketdan9]

This is sacrilegious but I'd like to see them try:

Hall - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Marchand - Krejci - Smith
DeBrusk - Coyle - Ritchie
Some combination of Kuraly, Lazar, Frederic, Wagner and Kuhlman

Mainly I want to see Hall and Pastrnak on a line together. If you have one of the top players at creating high danger chances and quite possibly the best finisher in the world, how could you not put them together? Give them Bergeron to do the dirty work, drive possession and cover for them defensively and let them take off.

Marchand can play with anybody and drive a line pretty much single handedly. He and Krejci have looked great together in the past when Bergeron's been out and he's had a big hand in bringing Smith to life the past few weeks. Let him create some matchup problems.

Hall just opens up a ton of options for the top six. I know this will never happen but why not get a little creative now that there's some serious skill on the left side? It will be very interesting to see how it all plays out.

I like this idea. But Cassidy won't do it

Brad and Bergeron are joined at the hips .... 10 years on the same line?

They probably finish each other sentences


Lets just hope Hall and Krejci or Hall and Coyle "click"

 

[member 96824]

he has 0 hockey iq. i cant imagine how bad he will be if they put him on his offwing.
he doesnt know what to do with the puck.
id like him offthe top pp unit now that hall is here too. the guy just rims the puck around the offensive zone.

I'd be surprised if Hall even plays the same role on the PP that Ritchie does.

But Ritchie has 1 less PP goal than Pastrnak...top 50 in the league, tied with guys like Tavares, Tkachuk, Panarin, Aho, Kaprizov, Guentzel..above Barkov, Point, Crosby, Laine, Huberdeau, Kessel, Backstrom...so I think he's doing at least a little more than just rimming the puck around.

 

[kjpm]

I like this idea. But Cassidy won't do it

Brad and Bergeron are joined at the hips .... 10 years on the same line?

They probably finish each other sentences


Lets just hope Hall and Krejci or Hall and Coyle "click"

Haha yep it's never ever going to happen. Nice to dream though!

 

[Gordon Lightfoot]

This is sacrilegious but I'd like to see them try:

Hall - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Marchand - Krejci - Smith
DeBrusk - Coyle - Ritchie
Some combination of Kuraly, Lazar, Frederic, Wagner and Kuhlman

Mainly I want to see Hall and Pastrnak on a line together. If you have one of the top players at creating high danger chances and quite possibly the best finisher in the world, how could you not put them together? Give them Bergeron to do the dirty work, drive possession and cover for them defensively and let them take off.

Marchand can play with anybody and drive a line pretty much single handedly. He and Krejci have looked great together in the past when Bergeron's been out and he's had a big hand in bringing Smith to life the past few weeks. Let him create some matchup problems.

Hall just opens up a ton of options for the top six. I know this will never happen but why not get a little creative now that there's some serious skill on the left side? It will be very interesting to see how it all plays out.

Not bad at all!

 

[Gordon Lightfoot]

Anti-Ritchie posts at this point feel personal. Like a holdover from his previous years of underperformance. Or like he reminds you of a mean guy from high school. I can’t find any legit reason to sit him.

 

[DaStinger]

Anti-Ritchie posts at this point feel personal. Like a holdover from his previous years of underperformance. Or like he reminds you of a mean guy from high school. I can’t find any legit reason to sit him.

Should almost be an automatic for the seventh player award this year.

 

[MattFromFranklin]

Who would we rather have on the right side: Ritchie or DeBrusk?

 

[BruinDust]

Who would we rather have on the right side: Ritchie or DeBrusk?

Debrusk. I'd rather the more skilled/better skater of the two to be the one to play their off-wing.

 

[Kazcram]

why not put hall in the top pp get his confidence going if he gets some points

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Should almost be an automatic for the seventh player award this year.

are we positive that contest actually will be awarded this year.... NESN has said absolutely nothing about that and they are the ones who present said award.

 

[bp13]

Anti-Ritchie posts at this point feel personal. Like a holdover from his previous years of underperformance. Or like he reminds you of a mean guy from high school. I can’t find any legit reason to sit him.

I agree.

I thought he was mediocre AHL level last season - completely terrible. But without a doubt he's been much better this season. No way would I scratch him over guys like Kuhlman, Wagner, Blidh. Even Kuraly and DeBrusk. He does more than all of them.

 

[ODAAT]

I agree.

I thought he was mediocre AHL level last season - completely terrible. But without a doubt he's been much better this season. No way would I scratch him over guys like Kuhlman, Wagner, Blidh. Even Kuraly and DeBrusk. He does more than all of them.

I would rather see no more Kuhlman/Blidh/Wags or Kuraly sightings again, unless they somehow magically get back to playing lunchbox hockey with the addition of Lazar. Hoping his presence pushes them, really think they looked around, saw who was on the taxi squad who could replace them and laughed knowing there was nobody. Their focus and attention to creating any energy this year has been putrid

 

[sportsvg]

This is sacrilegious but I'd like to see them try:

Hall - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Marchand - Krejci - Smith
DeBrusk - Coyle - Ritchie
Some combination of Kuraly, Lazar, Frederic, Wagner and Kuhlman

Mainly I want to see Hall and Pastrnak on a line together. If you have one of the top players at creating high danger chances and quite possibly the best finisher in the world, how could you not put them together? Give them Bergeron to do the dirty work, drive possession and cover for them defensively and let them take off.

Marchand can play with anybody and drive a line pretty much single handedly. He and Krejci have looked great together in the past when Bergeron's been out and he's had a big hand in bringing Smith to life the past few weeks. Let him create some matchup problems.

Hall just opens up a ton of options for the top six. I know this will never happen but why not get a little creative now that there's some serious skill on the left side? It will be very interesting to see how it all plays out.

Don't hate it but seems like it's splitting up Bergeron and Marchand just for the sake of breaking them up, why not just go;

Hall - Krejci - Pastrnak
Marchand - Bergeron - Smith
Ritchie - Coyle - DeBrusk

Hall had his success in Jersey with Hischier as his center, I think you could find similarities to him in both Krejci and Bergeron. Like the idea of Hall with Pasta but if you put Smith with him and Hall puts one on his tape he ain't gonna be afraid to shoot it, he's thinking shot first all the time, Pasta is just better at finding the soft spots. Like you said lots of options, it's been a while since they have had that, hopefully Cassidy gives things time to gel. Third line I put DeBrusk on his off wing, thought he did well there before.

 

[kjpm]

Don't hate it but seems like it's splitting up Bergeron and Marchand just for the sake of breaking them up, why not just go;

Hall - Krejci - Pastrnak
Marchand - Bergeron - Smith
Ritchie - Coyle - DeBrusk

Hall had his success in Jersey with Hischier as his center, I think you could find similarities to him in both Krejci and Bergeron. Like the idea of Hall with Pasta but if you put Smith with him and Hall puts one on his tape he ain't gonna be afraid to shoot it, he's thinking shot first all the time, Pasta is just better at finding the soft spots. Like you said lots of options, it's been a while since they have had that, hopefully Cassidy gives things time to gel. Third line I put DeBrusk on his off wing, thought he did well there before.

I'd be quite alright with this too. My thinking with Bergeron over Krejci is that all three of Hall, Krejci and Pasta like to have the puck on their stick which could throw things off. Bergeron's simple two way game and quick distribution would be a better compliment to those two I think. I'd still love to give it a shot though, especially with how productive Bergeron and Marchand have been with Smith.

Might all be moot if Hall - Krejci - Smith clicks haha

 

[Alicat]

Haven't seen the Krejci line over the Bergy line in a long time. I love it