Speculation: 2024-25 Roster thread

[Hey234]

Mainly because they were awful defensively and after the first couple months stopped producing too. Seems like it will be Z-McT-Terry to start camp.

It seems odd to split McTavish and Vatrano after his season last year. I'm too Getzlaf to look it up but I remember seeing Vatrano's stats without McTavish and it wasn't pretty. Vatrano-McTavish-Terry seems to make the most sense to me. Zegras should be the third line center.

 

[MMC]

I kinda like the idea of

Killorn-McTavish-Vatrano
Gauthier-Carlsson-Zegras
Fabbri-Strome-Terry

 

[Hey234]

I kinda like the idea of

Killorn-McTavish-Vatrano
Gauthier-Carlsson-Zegras
Fabbri-Strome-Terry

I'm personally not a fan of Strome at center of unless it's the 4th line. Gauthier-Carlsson-Killorn seems like a lock to me and makes a lot of sense. Vatrano had a 37 goal season with McTavish as a major factor and there was chemistry developing between McTavish-Terry at the end of the season before injuries got in the way again. Vatrano-McTavish-Terry seems logical to me. The rest shakes out to:

Gauthier-Carlsson-Killorn
Vatrano-McTavish-Terry
Fabbri-Zegras-Strome
Harkins-Lundestrom-Leason

 

[All Mighty]

I'm personally not a fan of Strome at center of unless it's the 4th line. Gauthier-Carlsson-Killorn seems like a lock to me and makes a lot of sense. Vatrano had a 37 goal season with McTavish as a major factor and there was chemistry developing between McTavish-Terry at the end of the season before injuries got in the way again. Vatrano-McTavish-Terry seems logical to me. The rest shakes out to:

Gauthier-Carlsson-Killorn
Vatrano-McTavish-Terry
Fabbri-Zegras-Strome
Harkins-Lundestrom-Leason

I just feel like that 3rd line is setting Zegras up to fail. He should be playing with better players than that.

 

[DavidBL]

I just feel like that 3rd line is setting Zegras up to fail. He should be playing with better players than that.

This is why I liked the idea of Terry with Z and leaving Strome and Vatrano with McTavish

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I just feel like that 3rd line is setting Zegras up to fail. He should be playing with better players than that.

But isn't Fabbri-Zegras-Strome a facsimile of Vatrano-Mac-Strome? Mac was a ppg player in his first 20 games with Vatrano & Strome until Mac got injured.

 

[FiveHoleTickler]

I kinda like the idea of

Killorn-McTavish-Vatrano
Gauthier-Carlsson-Zegras
Fabbri-Strome-Terry

That third line certainly plays to Terry's hero puck tendencies. People around here would be less mad that he won't pass

 

[MMC]

I just feel like that 3rd line is setting Zegras up to fail. He should be playing with better players than that.

This is why I'm not a fan of going Carlsson-McTavish-Zegras down the middle. Sure in a perfect world the team is deep enough to do that but on this team you're basically condemning one of those guys to play with wingers you wouldn't want to pair them with.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I would be okay with Zegras on the 3rd line as long as he had one of Frank or Cutter with him. It might actually be a pretty effective strategy to take advantage of better match-ups. Something like:

Killorn-Carlsson-Terry
Strome-McTavish-Vatrano
Gauthier-Zegras-Fabbri (?)

 

[robbieboy3686]

I would be okay with Zegras on the 3rd line as long as he had one of Frank or Cutter with him. It might actually be a pretty effective strategy to take advantage of better match-ups. Something like:

Killorn-Carlsson-Terry
Strome-McTavish-Vatrano
Gauthier-Zegras-Fabbri (?)

No ty with strome in a top 6 roll . And I’m ok with Frankie not being top 6 either. Let them both get softer 3rd line matchups

 

[All Mighty]

I would be okay with Zegras on the 3rd line as long as he had one of Frank or Cutter with him. It might actually be a pretty effective strategy to take advantage of better match-ups. Something like:

Killorn-Carlsson-Terry
Strome-McTavish-Vatrano
Gauthier-Zegras-Fabbri (?)

If you’re giving the easy matchups to the Zegras line, then that McTavish line will be put in the same matchups they were outplayed in last season.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

If you’re giving the easy matchups to the Zegras line, then that McTavish line will be put in the same matchups they were outplayed in last season.

IMO McTavish's health was a driving factor in them getting outplayed

 

[DavidBL]

If you’re giving the easy matchups to the Zegras line, then that McTavish line will be put in the same matchups they were outplayed in last season.

I think we're too attached to lines 1-3 given the current team make up all 3 lines are arguable "2nd" lines. Give the hard matcheups to the group playing the best.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

I still prefer to see Gauthier with Zegras in some form. Zegras can do the puck handling and play making and Cutter can finish plays off I think it is imperative to put Zegras in a position to succeed and get his confidence going early so he can put last season behind him

 

[anezthes]

I still prefer to see Gauthier with Zegras in some form.

Agreed. Also, my Neanderthal brain says Z would benefit from having at least one big body on his line, whether it's Leo or Cutter. Z, McT, and TT just sounds... small.

 

[JAHV]

Agreed. Also, my Neanderthal brain says Z would benefit from having at least one big body on his line, whether it's Leo or Cutter. Z, McT, and TT just sounds... small.

McTavish is 220 pounds.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

If you’re giving the easy matchups to the Zegras line, then that McTavish line will be put in the same matchups they were outplayed in last season.

Remember, we’re terrible, so unless/until one of these lines emerges as actually good, no line is going to soak up all the hard matchups. Hard to say at this point.

McTavish is 220 pounds.

But he rarely plays a power game.

 

[All Mighty]

Sounds like it will be Zellweger/LaCombe/Vaak playing the right side at times.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Sounds like it will be Zellweger/LaCombe/Vaak playing the right side at times.

Vaak isn't good on his off-side. I'd rather sign RD Lindstrom as insurance.

 

[MMC]

Sounds like it will be Zellweger/LaCombe/Vaak playing the right side at times.

Zellweger I'm sure will primarily play there since he's there now, and if he's going to be Dumoulin's partner like he is right now then it would make sense as to why PV would say that about him. Which of Lacombe or Vaakanainen goes there will probably get determined once Mintyukov is back in the mix. I'm sure if they really decide they need another RHD they will just sign Lindstrom.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Zellweger I'm sure will primarily play there since he's there now, and if he's going to be Dumoulin's partner like he is right now then it would make sense as to why PV would say that about him. Which of Lacombe or Vaakanainen goes there will probably get determined once Mintyukov is back in the mix. I'm sure if they really decide they need another RHD they will just sign Lindstrom.

I think that could actually end up being ok for Zellweger in terms of offense.
Beauchemin had his best seasons offensively on his offside, for scoring goals his one timer will be more dangerous with the better shooting angle. That one year with Beauch had 11 goals playing RD to the side of Lindholm.

Side note, when I used to play EA NHL series I'd always put my Top4 Dmen on their offside just for the shooting angles lol.