Line Combos: CBJ Roster Discussion/Line Combos/Injury Report (No surgery for KJ, but out long term, Voronkov practicing)

[stevo61]

Does Kevin Labanc have a chance to stay with this club when all injured players come back ?

I see that he has 5 pts in 7 games with 11 minutes of ice time only ...

Injured players won't be back for awhile but he's actually earned a legitimate spot in the lineup. Don't think he lasts beyond this year but he's working like a guy who wants to stay in the NHL, he's been a pleasant surprise

 

[Doggy]

Does Kevin Labanc have a chance to stay with this club when all injured players come back ?

I see that he has 5 pts in 7 games with 11 minutes of ice time only ...

I don’t think Labanc has been bad but I don’t see any other player in the current lineup coming out before him (maybe Reeser but doubt it). He’s 12 out of 12 IMO, if everyone is still healthy when Vronk is ready to go then Labanc should be the one to sit.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851980642575118531

 

[stevo61]

I don’t think Labanc has been bad but I don’t see any other player in the current lineup coming out before him (maybe Reeser but doubt it). He’s 12 out of 12 IMO, if everyone is still healthy when Vronk is ready to go then Labanc should be the one to sit.

JVR won't keep his play up for 82 games, having him in a rotation wouldn't be the worst idea

 

[cbjthrowaway]

Does Kevin Labanc have a chance to stay with this club when all injured players come back ?

I see that he has 5 pts in 7 games with 11 minutes of ice time only ...

i thought he looked atrocious in the first few games. he's been a lot better since, but most of that production (3 of his 5 points) are secondary assists. still no goals, etc.

i could see him staying with the club in the sense of being a 13th or 14th forward who can slide in if a winger gets hurt, but i don't think he actually sticks in the lineup after they get some of their guys back. he's probably the 12th forward right now and voronkov should be back soon.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

JVR won't keep his play up for 82 games, having him in a rotation wouldn't be the worst idea

JVR's ideal role here is probably to basically do what they had scott hartnell doing back in 16-17. playing on a sheltered, offensively-focused fourth line (hartnell-sedlak-gagner) and getting power play time. problem is, the actual ideal fourth line here is probably the ZAR-danforth-olivier line that's been out there the last few games and he couldn't really keep up.

i do wonder what the lines will look like when voronkov comes back. someone has to come out of the lineup, and they have two lines (59-23-86 and 27-17-24) that should stay together. pyyhtia has shown that he belongs in the lineup, too.

swapping voronkov for jvr seems pretty straightforward, but i wonder if it makes more sense to swap him in for kuraly instead, or move kuraly down to ZAR's spot.

 

[stevo61]

JVR's ideal role here is probably to basically do what they had scott hartnell doing back in 16-17. playing on a sheltered, offensively-focused fourth line (hartnell-sedlak-gagner) and getting power play time. problem is, the actual ideal fourth line here is probably the ZAR-danforth-olivier line that's been out there the last few games and he couldn't really keep up.

i do wonder what the lines will look like when voronkov comes back. someone has to come out of the lineup, and they have two lines (59-23-86 and 27-17-24) that should stay together. pyyhtia has shown that he belongs in the lineup, too.

swapping voronkov for jvr seems pretty straightforward, but i wonder if it makes more sense to swap him in for kuraly instead, or move kuraly down to ZAR's spot.

I more looking at Pyyhtia's spot for Voronkov than a depth spot. Deserving to be in the lineup is 1 thing but deserving to be in the top 6 when actual top 6 caliber players come back is another. I appreciate what Pyyhtia is doing but the offense isn't there to warrant that spot longterm in my opinion. Could be an option until Voronkov gets his legs back but when he does there is no reason for him to be low in this current lineup

 

[Jovavic]

In all likelihood, it won't matter, another forward is bound to get injured by the time Voronkov comes back

 

[Doggy]

In all likelihood, it won't matter, another forward is bound to get injured by the time Voronkov comes back

Yup

 

[CannonFire1]

We can only rank what we're seeing in the last few weeks, because so much has changed. It would be incredible if we get this level of play from Monahan, Marchenko, and Chinakhov, and if KJ picks up where he left off when he comes back. We'll have to wait and see.

Monahan is perhaps the most important forward because he's our only real top center option. He's been very very good. But you could also evaluate them relative to average players in their position - and all of Marchenko, Chinakhov, and KJ have looked like star players. KJ was electrifying our PP and it hasn't looked as good without him. And Chinakhov and Marchenko are driving play at an elite level.

So Monahan looks to me like an average top liner and the other three look above average (in this brief window of time), but Monahan is the most important to us, if that makes sense.

I agree with this assessment. We all think (hope) Fantilli will join that group in time...he's just not there yet.

 

[S1N4TR4]

Does Kevin Labanc have a chance to stay with this club when all injured players come back ?

I see that he has 5 pts in 7 games with 11 minutes of ice time only ...

might be one of the most misleading stat lines of all time. the only game he gets somewhat praise from me is last nights game. he was noticeable in a good way.

I would confidently bet when others get healthy, he gets healthy…. scratched.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

I don’t think Labanc has been bad but I don’t see any other player in the current lineup coming out before him (maybe Reeser but doubt it). He’s 12 out of 12 IMO, if everyone is still healthy when Vronk is ready to go then Labanc should be the one to sit.

Totally disagree, I think ZAR will be the 1st to the bench

 

[CBJx614]

How do we end up over the cap floor for next season?

That's the real question. Combination of trades and FA. I think this team is primed for a picks/prospects for quality top liner type trade. The pieces in question however I couldn't begin to tell you.