Line Combos: CBJ Roster Discussion/Line Combos/Injury Report (Jiricek, Pyyhtia sent to Cleveland, KJ activated from IR)

[VT]

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Makar

Cale Makar - Teammates - On Ice - Natural Stat Trick

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerreport.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&playerid=8480069&sit=5v5&stype=2&stdoi=oi&rate=&v=s

Werenski

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerreport.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&playerid=8478460&sit=5v5&stype=2&stdoi=oi&rate=&v=t

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerreport.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&playerid=8478460&sit=5v5&stype=2&stdoi=oi&rate=&v=s

 

[NotCommitted]

This morning I went back for a look at the summer moves Waddell made soon upon his arrival. He moved on from many guys who’d not locked down spots or been in and out of the line-up. The list included Bean, Boqvist, Texier, Nylander, Meyer and Blankenburg among others.

I had questions about a couple of these moves. However, looking at how the season has gone for each player conforms to me Waddell knew what he was doing. Everyone mentioned has been either in and out of their team’s line-up or buried in the AHL. Maybe with a couple of these guys we lost some depth that could have aided Cleveland, but no one who would change this team’s trajectory. What it did was trim the glut in some positions. So hats off to Waddell on his early work.

Nylander I would've liked to see given a chance, he did well last year, is a former high pick and has had struggles with injuries in the past - so why not? Ofc losing JG was unforseen, but having a couple forward injuries not so much and having him in the lineup could've been a help in absence of KJ/Jenner/Voronkov. I don't feel strongly about this at all, it's just guy gets a chance and does great with it... sure, maybe a flash in the pan or whatever but in those situations I'd always like to believe they can keep it up until proven otherwise - I just wouldn't hand out a lot of money for that belief I'm actually surprised he didn't get an NHL spot anywhere, could've been cheap depth with some upside.

Blankenburg I always liked and he seemed like an NHL player when he was healthy and able but he was rarely that so... Rest are meh to me, Texier I was initially high on but he he's never really been as good as I think he could be, for whatever reason. Could be I just overrated him and saw more than is there, or he's struggling with being in NA / far away from home or whatever, who knows.

 

[thebus88]

This Sillinger stuff is ridiculous. He’s been the worst player on his line the entire year and arguably held back whatever line he’s been on, no matter who he’s played with.

The comparison to prime Dubinsky is too far. He’s not playing “matchup minutes” any more than essentially any other player, he’s simply being used in a role at center, where he shouldn’t be playing, higher in the lineup that he should be, but, is getting the BENEFIT from playing with good players.

They start all different lines during different games for all different types of reasons. Olivier and Chinakhov have been 2 of our most impactful/best players all year. That’s who was ACTUALLY “matching up against” Kucherov, not Sillinger.

ZAR would be a better option and better for the team centering these lines that Sillinger has been higher in the lineup.

imo