Line Combos: CBJ Roster Discussion/Line Combos/Injury Report

[alphafox]

I'm honestly not sure if Fantilli is any better at center lately. It's wild to see how much less offensive zone time the top line gets with him at center. Roughly half as much!

That line took a hit more due to to the fact that 1. the Chemistry between those three is unreal and starts with Monahan 2. Fantilli takes up a similar role to both Marchenko and Vronk meaning they are doing less of what they do best and 3. Most of those games have been on the road which means worse match-up and worse performance than what we were seeing during the red hot home run.

To me Fantilli is best on the Rush and in front of the net. He isn't and never will be a possession darling, but if you build a line to support him he can be special a special force carrying the puck through traffic and muscling his way to prime scoring real estate at speed. I will say the longer I watch him the more I want to see him go to Wing and KJ step into Center as I think that could be truly unreal.

 

[EXTRAS]

Is chinakhov likely gone for a few more weeks?

 

[GoJackets1]

Is chinakhov likely gone for a few more weeks?

Nobody seems to know or say

 

[majormajor]

That line took a hit more due to to the fact that 1. the Chemistry between those three is unreal and starts with Monahan 2. Fantilli takes up a similar role to both Marchenko and Vronk meaning they are doing less of what they do best and 3. Most of those games have been on the road which means worse match-up and worse performance than what we were seeing during the red hot home run.

They actually had their lowest zone time vs the Kraken at home, and were fine vs St. Louis. It's a very short sample so I will try and back off and give them more time. I'm just more pushing back on folks who think they "haven't missed a beat", because that is a whole narrative that's out there now.

I think Fantilli takes up a similar role to his wingers largely because he plays like a winger. I can see him trying to be more patient with the puck and be more connective and maybe that will improve.

I will say the longer I watch him the more I want to see him go to Wing and KJ step into Center as I think that could be truly unreal.

I did an armchair gm the other day, I think through puckpedia, and I tried that out. I didn't want to break up the top line with Monahan, it's just too good. I don't know if KJ will be ideal at center, but he might, and there's also a chance in a couple years LDBB or Lindstrom will pop enough to take that role, with Fantilli and KJ on the wings.

 

[majormajor]

Is chinakhov likely gone for a few more weeks?

From recent comments, I think from Waddell, it was 2+ weeks.

But we're thinking it's a concussion so it's a very fuzzy timeline. Might be a while longer.

 

[stevo61]

They actually had their lowest zone time vs the Kraken at home, and were fine vs St. Louis. It's a very short sample so I will try and back off and give them more time. I'm just more pushing back on folks who think they "haven't missed a beat", because that is a whole narrative that's out there now.

I think Fantilli takes up a similar role to his wingers largely because he plays like a winger. I can see him trying to be more patient with the puck and be more connective and maybe that will improve.



I did an armchair gm the other day, I think through puckpedia, and I tried that out. I didn't want to break up the top line with Monahan, it's just too good. I don't know if KJ will be ideal at center, but he might, and there's also a chance in a couple years LDBB or Lindstrom will pop enough to take that role, with Fantilli and KJ on the wings.

Who says they haven't missed a beat? They don't keep teams in and are more quick strike with Fantilli but overall I think people understand there is a drop-off. They do keep scoring atleast.

The question that I asked in the GDT is do we think the drop-off from Monahan to Fantilli on line 1 is bigger than the boost Monahan could possibly provide to line 2 with Johnson.

I also think playing with these 2 is pretty beneficial to Fantilli's game overall. No he's not Monahan but he's also not the same Fantilli to start the year so I think it's a question that atleast merits some level of thought

 

[majormajor]

Who says they haven't missed a beat? They don't keep teams in and are more quick strike with Fantilli but overall I think people understand there is a drop-off. They do keep scoring atleast.

I was actually quoting someone who used that exact phrase, but I don't want to drag them into this.

The question that I asked in the GDT is do we think the drop-off from Monahan to Fantilli on line 1 is bigger than the boost Monahan could possibly provide to line 2 with Johnson.

I also think playing with these 2 is pretty beneficial to Fantilli's game overall. No he's not Monahan but he's also not the same Fantilli to start the year so I think it's a question that atleast merits some level of thought

All worth taking into consideration, yes.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Anything on Gudbranson? Will he back near the deadline or are they still talking months?

 

[LJ7]

I'm honestly not sure if Fantilli is any better at center lately. It's wild to see how much less offensive zone time the top line gets with him at center. Roughly half as much!

Edit: I'm going to put a note on this that the sample size is too low to draw any conclusions about Fantilli's zone time with Marchenko and Voronkov. Let's wait more than 2 games.

I have not looked at any stats beyond box scores in the time since Monahan was hurt, and I'm entirely open to my more optimistic outlook on his play at center just being a result of him scoring more. That being said - I do think he has looked better than when he started the season.

On a related note I think it's fairly likely that Fantilli is a wing long term and that KJ will be a center. I could see either outcome for both but Johnson has more of a center's mind. Would not say that's what I expect per se but I would not be surprised.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

Anything on Gudbranson? Will he back near the deadline or are they still talking months?

I think Portzline mentioned he is most likely out for the season.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

If ZAR is out for any length of time, who do we bring up from Cleveland to fill his spot? Owen Sillinger again? Brindley? Or do we just run with 7 D.

 

[DankoCBJ]

If ZAR is out for any length of time, who do we bring up from Cleveland to fill his spot? Owen Sillinger again? Brindley? Or do we just run with 7 D.

They havent said anything about ZAR yet. I was hoping that Danforth might be able to step up. Waddell told about a week ago that Danforth is about a week away so...

Not that the injury timelines have been accurate so far but who knows, maybe Danny is ready vs Philly?

If not, I would give another game or two to O Silly.

 

[VT]

I don't know why we're still trying to hold on to Severson. From what I read in the morning (and hope I will watch soon) Mateychuk and Provorov are playing very well together. Which wouldn't surprise me since Ivan played well with Werenski on the right side. The third pair could be Christiansen, Gudbranson.

All things considered, the team doesn't look bad. But if Chinachov is going to be injured like this, I suggest a trade. It can't go on like this.