2024 preseason (camp, media stuff)

[Pinkfloyd]

I mean, it's pretty obviously top-6 or bust for Gushchin right now. The third line is going to be Goodrow-Wennberg-Kunin. Gushchin isn't beating out any of Eklund/Celebrini/Smith/Granlund/Zetterlund/Toffoli for a top-6 job, and he's not playing on the 4th line. So unless one of those top-6 guys isn't healthy (could be Granlund I guess), Gushchin isn't making it.

I don't think it's anywhere near as set in stone as you think but you may be right. I hope Gushchin gives them a good enough reason to avoid a 3rd line like that. I don't see how that 3rd line helps the top six at all.

 

[Juxtaposer]

How about this?

Eklund-Celebrini-Toffoli
Gushchin-Smith-Zetterlund
Goodrow-Granlund-Kunin
Grundstrom-Wennberg-Dellandrea

Gushchin fanboys get their wish, Goodrow and Kunin still get top nine minutes, everybody wins. Except for Granlund but he's not long for this team anyway.

Any lineup with Kunin in the top-9 is yucky to me, sorry.

If you switched Kunin and Wennberg that would be awesome.

I don't think it's anywhere near as set in stone as you think but you may be right. I hope Gushchin gives them a good enough reason to avoid a 3rd line like that. I don't see how that 3rd line helps the top six at all.

Hope to be wrong, obviously. Just don't think I am.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Any lineup with Kunin in the top-9 is yucky to me, sorry.

If you switched Kunin and Wennberg that would be awesome.


Hope to be wrong, obviously. Just don't think I am.

You've been right plenty so I wouldn't doubt it. I just don't like the idea of either Goodrow or Kunin in the top-nine especially when we have the sort of talent to make a competitive 3rd line without them.

 

[coooldude]

Without injury, I don't think Gush is getting his shot in the top 6 to start the season.

Eklund-Celebrini-Toffoli
Granlund-Smith-Zetterlund
(or some combination of that sans injury)
Goodrow-Wennberg-Kunin
Grundstrom-Sturm-Dellandrea

Next up is probably still Kostin, THEN Gushchin, then Cardwell or Graf depending on the injury. Maybe Gush gets a shot before Kostin if Klim is still super inconsistent AND Gush is extremely consistent in practice and the last few preseason games.

If one of Smith or Celebrini is out, Wennberg will come up to 2C, Granlund will likely play 1C, OR, Granlund will swing into C and one of Kostin or Gushchin will slot in. It depends on how much Warso values a true shutdown line, thus whether to prioritize Wennberg for DZ starts / hard matchups.

If one of the wings is out, then likely Kostin or Gushchin get their chance. If it's a bottom 6 injury, then it's probably Kostin first and then Graf or Cardwell.

Unfortunately, there's no way that Goodrow and Kunin, both wearing A's at times, are going to be getting a lot of scratches.

 

[Lebanezer]

Eklund-Celebrini-Toffoli
Granlund-Smith-(Kostin/Dellandrea/Grundstrom)
Gushchin-Wennberg-Zetterlund
Goodrow-Sturm-Kunin

Spread out the talent, vets with youth, defensively responsible-ish players on each line.

 

[weastern bias]

Gushchin-Smith-Zetterlund

This line utterly lacks a defensive conscience and has zero players who are ready to drive play at even strength against NHL competition, it would be a disaster and would be a great way to set both Smith and Gushchin up to fail simultaneously

Pairing Smith with Granlund is the only reasonable move if he's gonna be playing top-6 minutes as a teenager, otherwise he should be playing with Wennberg on the 3rd line