We had one of these the past two years, and it's getting to the point where lines have already been/are forming, so any advice sought/shared is welcome.
ATD 2013 Lineup Advice Thread
- Thread starter BillyShoe1721
- Start date
tony d
Registered User
Good idea to start this thread. I've drafted my top 6 forwards, am thinking of rolling with these lines. Any suggestions are welcome:
Denneny-Clarke-Gilbert
Prentice-Oates-Bondra
Denneny-Clarke-Gilbert
Prentice-Oates-Bondra
TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
Given the players you can have, that's probably the best set up. Bondra is as one-dimensional a goal scorer as you can get in this thing, so Oates is good for him. And Prentice can battle for pucks and help out defensively, while chipping in offensively from time to time.
First line is well-balanced too, with Clarke's elite D and Denneny able to finish the fights that Clarke starts. The only thing is that if you want to use the Clarke line as a checking line, you might want to put Prentice there, since I don't think either Denneny nor Gilbert was anything special defensively. But then you lose Denneny's toughness (not to mention his offense), so you're probably better off with how you have them all set up.
Dwight
The French Tickler
After some internal debate over what to do with my top 6, I picked Brad Richards and went with this.
Malone - Federko - Recchi
Gillies - Richards - Cournoyer
As much as Federko isn't a jaw-dropping 1st line C, I wasn't comfortable with Recchi being the primary playmaker on that line. I figure this gives Joe a distributor, while Recchi can focus on being a more versatile guy, and the primary defensive conscience.
Then, on line 2, I have somewhat of the same set-up with Richards being Cournoyer's set-up man, and Gillies being the corner guy/defensive specialist (though Richards is not too bad in his own end).
I was apprehensive to move Malone to the LW as he wasn't there for long, but I think that with a good set-up man like Federko, he can still play a very similar game and be just as effective.
Malone - Federko - Recchi
Gillies - Richards - Cournoyer
As much as Federko isn't a jaw-dropping 1st line C, I wasn't comfortable with Recchi being the primary playmaker on that line. I figure this gives Joe a distributor, while Recchi can focus on being a more versatile guy, and the primary defensive conscience.
Then, on line 2, I have somewhat of the same set-up with Richards being Cournoyer's set-up man, and Gillies being the corner guy/defensive specialist (though Richards is not too bad in his own end).
I was apprehensive to move Malone to the LW as he wasn't there for long, but I think that with a good set-up man like Federko, he can still play a very similar game and be just as effective.
Nalyd Psycho
Registered User
Dwight
The French Tickler
Unfortunately, 3 of my first 4 selections were D/G, so I think any combination of guys I put on my top line would be reliant on Malone somewhat.
I agree that my top line isn't the most physical, and Malone and Federko won't go out looking for trouble, but they both have very high compete levels. I'm hoping they can overcome physical adversity and continue to produce.
I agree that my top line isn't the most physical, and Malone and Federko won't go out looking for trouble, but they both have very high compete levels. I'm hoping they can overcome physical adversity and continue to produce.
Looking for some more feedback on my forwards, as it stands right now they are:
Ovechkin-C. Taylor-Gare
_____-Thornton-Mullen
_____-Ratelle-_____
Do people buy Danny Gare working alongside Ovechkin and Taylor? Do people think it's wasting a bit of Taylor's goal-scoring ability by flanking him with 2 goal scorers, relegating him to the strict role of playmaker?(Even though he was the best playmaker in the first 40 or so years of organized hockey) I thought there might be some criticism, so I made sure that Gare had another good spot in my lineup if it didn't work on the top line, so he can slide in at 3rd line RW next to Ratelle.
Ovechkin-C. Taylor-Gare
_____-Thornton-Mullen
_____-Ratelle-_____
Do people buy Danny Gare working alongside Ovechkin and Taylor? Do people think it's wasting a bit of Taylor's goal-scoring ability by flanking him with 2 goal scorers, relegating him to the strict role of playmaker?(Even though he was the best playmaker in the first 40 or so years of organized hockey) I thought there might be some criticism, so I made sure that Gare had another good spot in my lineup if it didn't work on the top line, so he can slide in at 3rd line RW next to Ratelle.
Hawkey Town 18
Registered User
Phil Housley...
How much of a liability is he on a 2nd pairing with a strong defensive partner (Jack Crawford) and an elite goalie (Jacques Plante) who is also known for helping out his D through communication and puck handling? Can he play against offensive minded 2nd lines in that situation?
How much of a liability is he on a 2nd pairing with a strong defensive partner (Jack Crawford) and an elite goalie (Jacques Plante) who is also known for helping out his D through communication and puck handling? Can he play against offensive minded 2nd lines in that situation?
EagleBelfour
Registered User
I wrote it down in the draft thread and I will write it down again in here: I would love my line of Alf Smith-Eric Lindros-Didier Pitre going against Phil Housley. Yes he do have Jack Crawford and Jacques to help him out, but I feel that in a All-Time draft context Phil Housley would get light out against those type of physical, offensive line. There's still some great #4 defenceman still available. #6 defenceman, double shift the PP. That's what I would do, but I'm curious what's the other think about this situation.
Dreakmur
Registered User
You don't draft Housley to go up against opposing lines. You draft him to create offense. Just because he could get in trouble in his own end doesn't mean you nail him to the bench. A guy of his skill is going to create more goals for than he'll cause against.
TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
Is Danny Gare believeable as the guy who will do the dirty work and puck winning of the line?
BenchBrawl
Registered User
- Jul 26, 2010
- 31,190
- 14,860
That isn't a sure thing.
It depends who he is passing to , which line he is facing etc...
TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
This is kind of my thought process. I know that in real life, no coach would have dared put Housley against someone like Martin St. Louis or Ilya Kovalchuk either - he would have been eaten alive by that calibre of forward - and that's really the calibre of forward that's going to be found on many second lines around this league.
I think #6 is a bit harsh - I would give him a regular shift on the bottom pairing and give him extra minutes for offensive zone starts with other pairings. So he'd be more of a #5 at even strength and a #4 overall when you consider PP time.
Against the quality of players who will be found on second lines throughout this league?
I think so. He eclipsed 100 PIM six times in his career, and had more than 90 four other times. He's not a big guy, but appears to have been pretty feisty and a good competitor. He also wouldn't be completely alone in that regard, Ovechkin has his value as a first forechecker into the zone, as he's been known to fly in like a kamikaze, make a hit to jar the puck loose, and then cycle into the slot to get open for a shot. I haven't gotten around to Gare's bio yet, but it should be done in the next couple days, and hopefully I can verify he is capable of filling that role with some help from Ovechkin.
Dr Pepper
Registered User
Dickie Moore - Henri Richard - Punch Broadbent
Wendel Clark - Joe Nieuwendyk - Hap Day
How's that for a top six? Also got Kirk Muller centering the 3rd line but if he's better served on the wing, he could bump Clark down in the depth chart.
Wendel Clark - Joe Nieuwendyk - Hap Day
How's that for a top six? Also got Kirk Muller centering the 3rd line but if he's better served on the wing, he could bump Clark down in the depth chart.
EagleBelfour
Registered User
I would say Kirk Muller is a better well round players than Wendel Clark. Clark is an elite 4th liner in this draft. Hap Day as a 2nd line RW? What's up with that?
TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
I'll hold off on judgments until reading more about Gare then. I think maybe you could have used a more balanced offensive player on the RW of Ovechkin and Taylor but RWs with glue guy attributes who are good passers aren't exactly in high supply.
Dreakmur
Registered User
Absolutely. Yes, the guy sucks defensivley, but if he gets the puck on his stick, your team is going from defense to offense immediately.
Just like a forward line that can cycle well can will stick the puck in the other teams end, which is a kind of good defense, Housley moving the puck up effectively has the same result.
seventieslord
Student Of The Game
You have lots of time to do the following:
- Grab a one-dimensional winger to go on the 1st line in Broadbent's place. plenty of guys with better offense are out there. You don't need what he brings, when you started with Moore and Richard. Just get an offensive ringer, no matter how weak defensively or soft. This line can be dynamite.
- Get Clark off the 2nd line with another one-dimensional LW to go in his place, and make him an elite bang-and-crash 4th liner. Draft based on offense and nothing else. Your center and new RW (Broadbent) already do a pretty good job of providing everything this mystery man doesnt.
- Make Day a 1st pairing defenseman.
TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
Someone like Babe Dye perhaps?
Bascially agree, though I think you want to get a LW with decent playmaking next to Nieuwy and Broadbent. Doesn't have to be great, but I wouldn't want a pure shooter next to Nieuwy
Hawkey Town 18
Registered User
Modo drafted Babe Dye...I think he just got Day and Dye mixed up, understandable.
EDIT: Agree with what others have said...put Dye on the 1st line and Broadbent on the 2nd.
tony d
Registered User
I have my top 4 defensemen now, was wondering if these are the pairings I should go with, any suggestions are welcome:
Horton-Suchy
Horner-Hartsburg
Horton-Suchy
Horner-Hartsburg
EagleBelfour
Registered User
