Canucks 2024-2025 Line Combinations and Roster Discussion

[Shareefruck]

Considering his suspect defensive resume... unless he completely re-invents himself, he's Top 6 or press box. Can't see him as a 4th liner.

What do you mean? He's played almost exclusively on 4th lines most of his career, and if anything has become a weird 4th line specialist.

I don’t know. I think the top 3 lines are all capable of playing tough minutes so defensive weakness would be more exposed there. It was one of the reasons Hoglander wasn’t getting moved up much the first half of the year. He’s generally played 4th line type minutes in his career and if Suter and Sherwood are with him it actually means decent skill to take advantage of other teams’ lower lines. Coaches love to play it safe though so we’ll see

I do kind of think it's going to be this weird scenario where Hoglander and Sprong will only both be in the lineup at the same time if one of them makes the top 6. If not, one of them will aways be in the press box while the other's on the 4th line. A Sprong - X - Hoglander line does feel like a stretch that I don't think they'll gamble with.

 

[TruGr1t]

Sat was floating the idea of Raty playing centre and Suter switching to wing. Personally, can't see that based on bottom-six centre assignments under Tocchet. Not sure how good Raty is on the draw, but can't be great given he played a lot of wing last year. Plus he's competing with two guys who are quite defensively established. I see him more as a Suter replacement end-of-contract.

Other thing they discussed, looks like Hoglander is pencilled into Joshua's spot to start opposite Garland, while Lekkerimäki has a very real chance at the spot on Pettersson's wing with his main competition in pre-season being Sprong.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Sat was floating the idea of Raty playing centre and Suter switching to wing. Personally, can't see that based on bottom-six centre assignments under Tocchet. Not sure how good Raty is on the draw, but can't be great given he played a lot of wing last year. Plus he's competing with two guys who are quite defensively established. I see him more as a Suter replacement end-of-contract.

Other thing they discussed, looks like Hoglander is pencilled into Joshua's spot to start opposite Garland, while Lekkerimäki has a very real chance at the spot on Pettersson's wing with his main competition in pre-season being Sprong.

I think he is fine in the draw. His skating is the reason he gets deployed on the wing.

 

[TruGr1t]

I think he is fine in the draw. His skating is the reason he gets deployed on the wing.

Yeah he was actually good last night, so guess he's been working on that along with his skating. I still think it will be the defensive side that makes Tocchet hesitant to go away from Suter/Blueger, both of whom he likes as responsible, two-way players.

 

[TruGr1t]

Based on the below, we probably have, unless Blueger/Joshua are ready:

Heinen-Miller-Boeser
DeBrusk-Pettersson-Sherwood
Hoglander-Raty-Garland
Bains-Suter-Sprong
Aman

Hughes-Hronek
Soucy-Desharnais
Forbort-Myers
Friedman/Juulsen

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Based on the below, we probably have, unless Blueger/Joshua are ready:

Heinen-Miller-Boeser
DeBrusk-Pettersson-Sherwood
Hoglander-Raty-Garland
Bains-Suter-Sprong
Aman

Hughes-Hronek
Soucy-Desharnais
Forbort-Myers
Friedman/Juulsen

View attachment 911364

I think you've nailed the plan. Bains and one of Raty/Aman going back to Abbotsford once Blueger and Joshua are ready, as well.