When was the last time there was practically unanimous opinion on what the top line should be? That's pretty cool at least.
When was the last time there was practically unanimous opinion on what the top line should be? That's pretty cool at least.
This is what I’d go with as well. Maybe swap Danforth and JvR but I’m 50/50 on that.
Double-Shift Lasse
Just post better
Doggy
Registered User
- Oct 11, 2011
- 3,392
- 2,459
Doggy
Registered User
- Oct 11, 2011
- 3,392
- 2,459
Smile for the day: Marchy being Marchy 
"Hockey is Life!!!" Marchy is Dani Rojas on skates.
"Hockey is Life!!!" Marchy is Dani Rojas on skates.
I've actually really like Sillinger with Danforth and Olivier - as a winger he's simplifying and winning races and getting pucks to his teammates. Perhaps the coaches will like Silinger more as a winger and keep him there.
While I'm dreaming....
Voronkov - Monahan - Marchenko
Fantilli - Jenner - Chinakhov
JVR - LDBB - KJ
Sillinger - Danforth - Olivier
This is of course the fantasy that Evason would want four good lines that can score. And perhaps there is a fantasy element as well that Del Bel will be able to keep up in late season games.
You can list Jenner or Fantilli as center, to me it doesn't matter too much where you list them, Jenner will maybe take the bulk of the centering responsibility anyways. I don't think that line was the best use for KJ so I want to put him back with JVR and LDBB.
While I'm dreaming....
Voronkov - Monahan - Marchenko
Fantilli - Jenner - Chinakhov
JVR - LDBB - KJ
Sillinger - Danforth - Olivier
This is of course the fantasy that Evason would want four good lines that can score. And perhaps there is a fantasy element as well that Del Bel will be able to keep up in late season games.
You can list Jenner or Fantilli as center, to me it doesn't matter too much where you list them, Jenner will maybe take the bulk of the centering responsibility anyways. I don't think that line was the best use for KJ so I want to put him back with JVR and LDBB.
MoeBartoli
Checkers-to-Jackets
- Jan 12, 2011
- 13,964
- 10,163
It’s concerning at this point. The lack of information isn’t really helping anything, IMO.
I don’t think he’s “injury prone” and don’t think we should be even thinking about trading him, however. He has elite skills and “potential”.
I just want him, and the team NEEDS him, playing. The team lacks all the things he brings. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like he will be able to continue using his body offensively and on the forecheck the way he and/or we would like, and how he was playing at the beginning of the year.
Jenner needs to be on a “grinding”, heavy, defensive minded line. He holds back guys like Fantilli/KJ offensively, and they hold him back defensively. I would look to try him with a combo of Voronkov, Olivier, ZAR.
Overall, I think our lines have to be more structured as “role” lines. I’m not against the “line blender” mindset either, when things aren’t going well. Also not against breaking up the “top line”.
KJ needs to continue improving his overall fitness/conditioning. His overall skating needs to be improved. Top speed mainly.
Need a change to the defense. While scapegoated regularly, Severson and Gudbranson fill out the right side fine, IMO. As good as Mateychuk is, and as good as Werenski is, there’s a certain style of defensive partner that Werenski (and subsequently the team) needs to be impactful/successful as he can be. Fabbro may be that TYPE of player, but, he’s not THE player.
How they didn’t trade Provorov is beyond me. Mateychuk is the same, and IMO, the better player. The team really isn’t worse off playing Christiansen over Provorov. Starting the PK in overtime with Jack Johnson and Ivan Provorov on D, isn’t what I want to see from Evason or Waddell, and isn’t a recipe for success. Wasted a decent asset.
Overall, I think our lines have to be more structured as “role” lines. I’m not against the “line blender” mindset either, when things aren’t going well. Also not against breaking up the “top line”.
KJ needs to continue improving his overall fitness/conditioning. His overall skating needs to be improved. Top speed mainly.
Need a change to the defense. While scapegoated regularly, Severson and Gudbranson fill out the right side fine, IMO. As good as Mateychuk is, and as good as Werenski is, there’s a certain style of defensive partner that Werenski (and subsequently the team) needs to be impactful/successful as he can be. Fabbro may be that TYPE of player, but, he’s not THE player.
How they didn’t trade Provorov is beyond me. Mateychuk is the same, and IMO, the better player. The team really isn’t worse off playing Christiansen over Provorov. Starting the PK in overtime with Jack Johnson and Ivan Provorov on D, isn’t what I want to see from Evason or Waddell, and isn’t a recipe for success. Wasted a decent asset.
SteelCityCannon
Registered User
- Mar 25, 2017
- 519
- 943
Agree totally with Jenner. Would love to see him on the 3rd line.
It seems like DW has a good feeling he can re-sign Provorov.
Jenner's meat and potatoes is the one thing that's working on his line. I don't agree with the idea that Fantilli and KJ are going to be able to play a better skilled game if you put another skilled rush type player out there with them. They couldn't do that earlier this year. It was Fantilli working down low with the Russian topliners that woke him up, and it was slow JVR that KJ clicked with). hey have not clicked with each other in any iteration and I don't see it getting any easier in the tight checking this time of year. There's a much better argument for splitting up Fantilli and KJ than there is that they'll be better without Jenner.
Have we seen KJ-Monahan-Marchenko line all season? I think those three would mesh really well together.
