so obviously I still want Lysell to go and claim that 2RW spot, and lots of camp left to do it. But last night was a bad start to that so it got me thinking.
If Lysell doesn't make the team I think it's pretty much has to be Freddy in at 2RW, Marchand-Coyle-Johnson/Geekie just can't be the 2nd line of a team trying to compete. With Fred you know he can produce at 5v5, he has good chemistry with Coyle, and he gives you plus defense. Give him consistent time in the top 6 and PP time and he probably pots you around 20-25 goals.
Then for the third line, you have x-Poitras-Geekie. Not sure who the third guy would be, maybe Johnson if he looks like he still has something left in the tank. His 2-way metrics have been in the gutter for a while now, and he's undersized, so he's not exactly a natural fit next to Poitras IMO. But I think that line ends up getting pretty sheltered deployment anyway, so maybe that doesn't matter a huge amount and he could be a good vet presence on that line. I'd prefer someone with more size and defensive awareness to help protect Poitras a bit, just not sure who that guy would be.
I'm reasonably certain the 4th line is gonna be Jones-Beecher-Kastelic. Big, fast checking line that will win faceoffs and cause mayhem. Gotta keep Beecher down the middle though, his skating and defensive presence makes that line much more effective then it would be with Kastelic at center.
So a full lineup of:
Zacha-Lindholm-Pasta
Marchand-Coyle-Frederic
Johnson(?)-Poitras-Geekie
Jones-Beecher-Kastelic
Nothing earth shattering, but both top 6 lines would be defensively responsible and could hopefully produce reasonably well. If Poitras picks up where he left off pre-injury and the chemistry with Geekie is still there then the third line could be effective offensively, and then the 4th line could be impactful and create some anxiety for opposing defenses when they have to retrieve pucks. Will probably need to try and pick up a scorer at the deadline, but that's business as usual for the bruins.
