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

[cbjthrowaway]

Fantilli has scored a lot more net front goals than we've ever seen from him before

I think this has very little to do with JVR being around and a lot to do with 1) having only played 47 NHL games before this year, all of which were as a teenager and 2) now playing with two linemates who love to cycle down low and feed the puck from below the goal line.

Personally - and I know the coaches are not going to do this - but this would be the time I would go full Siberian:

Chinakhov - Voronkov - Marchenko
Fantilli - Jenner - KJ

We know that Siberian line works and I'd be very curious if Fantilli can keep his confidence going with Jenner and KJ. They are good players to play with and Fantilli should be able to play with them.

10-19-86 has outscored opponents 15-3 at 5v5 since fantilli got elevated to that line, there's no reason to mess with what's working.

portzline did a piece early in the season asking scouts about the blue jackets young players and the quote about voronkov was basically "this guy is awesome but his game has zero detail to it" – hence why evason's put him on the wing this year.

if the goal is simply to get chinakhov going, the answer is probably to just let him play through it for now. their top two lines really worked tonight. I don't mind playing him with danforth for a bit and letting him get his legs back.

Fabbro looks better next to Werenski than ANY of Hedman's partners did next to him.

really hoping they're able to hold onto fabbro long-term. I'm hoping they take a swing at getting someone like parayko this summer to pair with mateychuk.

that said, with kovacevic signing an extension in new jersey (and them needing a 3C badly) I wonder if something around sillinger + a pick for nemec could work. but he'd feel more like a fabbro replacement than a provorov one.

 

[majormajor]

I think this has very little to do with JVR being around and a lot to do with 1) having only played 47 NHL games before this year, all of which were as a teenager and 2) now playing with two linemates who love to cycle down low and feed the puck from below the goal line.

That's the point I came to (the part you cut out), that Fantilli is beginning to develop that aspect of down low play.

By the way my point wasn't about JVR there, it was more Voronkov who makes a mess in front and a lot of clean-up opportunities for others. I think Fantilli has figured that out.

10-19-86 has outscored opponents 15-3 at 5v5 since fantilli got elevated to that line, there's no reason to mess with what's working.

"no reason" and you again neglect to mention the even better numbers with Monahan, which is a good reason.

I'm not sure what the source is for the 15-3 claim - the NST number is 19-7, while with Monahan the trio is 22-5

portzline did a piece early in the season asking scouts about the blue jackets young players and the quote about voronkov was basically "this guy is awesome but his game has zero detail to it" – hence why evason's put him on the wing this year.

Yeah I remember the same one where they said he might be a Brian Boyle someday. Like "Dave Andreychuk without the goals". It's safe to say those scouts didn't have a clue.

that said, with kovacevic signing an extension in new jersey (and them needing a 3C badly) I wonder if something around sillinger + a pick for nemec could work. but he'd feel more like a fabbro replacement than a provorov one.

This team needs Simon Nemec like it needs a kick in the teeth. He's about where David Jiricek is, a liability that you don't want to be stuck developing in the NHL lineup when we're trying to win.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Love this by the staff and something they need to continue to do if we’re up or down big

 

[Youngguns1380]

Sorry if this isn’t the right place for this, but I just have to say it.

After the death of Johnny Gaudreau, I thought this team was sunk. But his loss—and the love this group had for him-seemed to galvanize them.

Despite long-term injuries to Boone, Gudbranson, Monahan, and Chinakhov, they refused to fall apart. They also battled through Marchenko’s freak injury and Voronkov missing 10 games earlier in the season. What started as shaky goaltending from Merzlikins and Tarasov has become a true strength, keeping them in games when they needed it most-whether it was the outdoor game, New Jersey, or Tarasov’s shutout. Instead of selling, they doubled down, keeping their core—including pending UFA Ivan Provorov-and only adding a depth piece.

I love their perseverance on a big stage. I never expected them to be in this position, and I couldn’t be prouder. This team sends a powerful message to anyone looking for inspiration-both in hockey and in life.