Line Combos: Future Lines

[SakuKoivu11]

Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Demidov
2025 first-Dach-Caufield

*2025 Porter Martone/Malcolm Spence/James Hagens/Michael Misa etc.

Roy-Beck-Hage
Newhook-Kapanen-Mesar
Tuch-Xhekaj

I don’t like the 4th line that much. I think we need playoff guys grinders.


Hutson-Reinbacher
Guhle-*2025 first (Logan Hensler)
Xhekaj-Mailloux
Engstrom

Struble/Harris/Barron

From what I read, 2025 is a top 20 heavy draft. So Calgary or Florida’s pick could be a good one along with our own first round pick.

Click to read more...

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

f*** this high 2025 talk. The rebuild is over. We aren’t tanking anymore, from here on out the goal is playoffs whether we get there or not. You lose too many years in a row you become a loser franchise that accepts losing.

As for future lines, I’d start with

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
Roy-Dach-Demidov
Newhook-Beck-Hage
Heineman-Vet-RHP


Hutson-Reinbacher
Guhle-Mailloux
Xhekaj-Vet

Montembault
Fowler

 

[GrandmaCookie]

f*** this high 2025 talk. The rebuild is over. We aren’t tanking anymore, from here on out the goal is playoffs whether we get there or not. You lose too many years in a row you become a loser franchise that accepts losing.

As for future lines, I’d start with

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
Roy-Dach-Demidov
Newhook-Beck-Hage
Heineman-Vet-RHP


Hutson-Reinbacher
Guhle-Mailloux
Xhekaj-Vet

Montembault
Fowler

It might be our goal for year 3 of the rebuild, but I wouldn't be as confident to say we are done with the dark years as you. Don't want to sound pessimistic, but if the management stays put and we ice pretty much the same roster as last season, we might finish again top 5 whether that is the goal are not.

We need Dach (if healthy) to strives this year, and there has to be considerable progression from Slafkovsky (hopefully no sophomore slump for him), Newhook, Ghule, Barron, Caufield, Roy, etc. and/or we need to acquire important pieces through draft or UFA , otherwise how are we supposed to go from top 5 pick to contending for the playoff ?

We lost Monahan and we began to suck even more after that. This year there won't be 49 games of him.

I remain cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season. We will have a better idea of where we stand come early September of course, but for now, looking at the paper line up, I don't see a team contending for the playoff. Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

[WeThreeKings]

It might be our goal for year 3 of the rebuild, but I wouldn't be as confident to say we are done with the dark years as you. Don't want to sound pessimistic, but if the management stays put and we ice pretty much the same roster as last season, we might finish again top 5 whether that is the goal are not.

We need Dach (if healthy) to strives this year, and there has to be considerable progression from Slafkovsky (hopefully no sophomore slump for him), Newhook, Ghule, Barron, Caufield, Roy, etc. and/or we need to acquire important pieces through draft or UFA , otherwise how are we supposed to go from top 5 pick to contending for the playoff ?

We lost Monahan and we began to suck even more after that. This year there won't be 49 games of him.

I remain cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season. We will have a better idea of where we stand come early September of course, but for now, looking at the paper line up, I don't see a team contending for the playoff. Hopefully I'm wrong.

They'll contend for the playoffs but that doesn't mean they will make it nor would it mean we wouldn't get a premium pick. New Jersey and Buffalo contended for the playoffs, they still picked at or near the top 10. So we will still get another VERY good prospect in this draft, but it won't be a top 5 pick barring a lotto win.

 

[GrandmaCookie]

They'll contend for the playoffs but that doesn't mean they will make it nor would it mean we wouldn't get a premium pick. New Jersey and Buffalo contended for the playoffs, they still picked at or near the top 10. So we will still get another VERY good prospect in this draft, but it won't be a top 5 pick barring a lotto win.

What is your definition of contending for the playoff? Trying to make the playoff? Isn't this what every team does every season until they fall to low in the standing for it to happen. Does it mean player are gonna try harder?

When I use contend I mean as in having a close shot at making the playoff. If we ice the current roster, I don't see us having a chance unless all our youngs player progress nicely. Maybe my definition of contending is wrong.

 

[waitin425]

f*** this high 2025 talk. The rebuild is over. We aren’t tanking anymore, from here on out the goal is playoffs whether we get there or not. You lose too many years in a row you become a loser franchise that accepts losing.

As for future lines, I’d start with

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
Roy-Dach-Demidov
Newhook-Beck-Hage
Heineman-Vet-RHP


Hutson-Reinbacher
Guhle-Mailloux
Xhekaj-Vet

Montembault
Fowler

love this lineup.D vet can be one of Harris or Struble. 4th line vet can still be Evans. I'd look to parlay Roy and/or Kapanen into an even better top 6 winger.

 

[Habricot]

I think we have 4 pairs of player one for each line.. we will see what gets added.

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
X-Dach-Demidov
Roy-Newhook-X
Tuch-X-Xhekaj

To early to say who will be the Xs.
On D it's a bit clearer. Ideally trading Matheson and signing a guy like Pesce would help but I doubt its going to happen.

Ghule-Reinbacher
Hutson-Pesce
Xhekaj-Mailloux

 

[TesseractPrice]

They'll contend for the playoffs but that doesn't mean they will make it nor would it mean we wouldn't get a premium pick. New Jersey and Buffalo contended for the playoffs, they still picked at or near the top 10. So we will still get another VERY good prospect in this draft, but it won't be a top 5 pick barring a lotto win.

That's the goal of course, but a lot of the middling teams have been actively upgrading their rosters recently. Washington got Thompson and Mangiapane (and PLD lol), Ottawa got Ullmark, Buffalo bought off Skinner and might get someone, Utah traded for Sergachev

I'm pretty confident the Habs will be better than the Sharks, Hawks, Flames and Jackets at least and very likely the Ducks. The Utah HC and Kraken should be in the same ballpark

We might see our team outperform the Sabres and Sens, but those teams are also looking up and have performed better in the last seasons. The Habs with their full roster are a team that can push for a playoff spot, but they lack redundancy. An injury to a single core player and the whole thing falls apart; the weaker vets will have to play wayyy above their level and we're back with a one-line offence or a bottom 5 defence

f*** this high 2025 talk. The rebuild is over. We aren’t tanking anymore, from here on out the goal is playoffs whether we get there or not. You lose too many years in a row you become a loser franchise that accepts losing.

As for future lines, I’d start with

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
Roy-Dach-Demidov
Newhook-Beck-Hage
Heineman-Vet-RHP


Hutson-Reinbacher
Guhle-Mailloux
Xhekaj-Vet

Montembault
Fowler

Unless his team loans him like Michkov's did, Demidov can't play in the NHL this year

 

[WeThreeKings]

What is your definition of contending for the playoff? Trying to make the playoff? Isn't this what every team does every season until they fall to low in the standing for it to happen. Does it mean player are gonna try harder?

When I use contend I mean as in having a close shot at making the playoff. If we ice the current roster, I don't see us having a chance unless all our youngs player progress nicely. Maybe my definition of contending is wrong.

Being in the mix of teams trying to win a wildcard spot.. so you'd be within 10ish points of those spots and not down with the obvious teams who will be selling and looking to optimize their draft position.

Washington, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Islanders, Buffalo - they all competed for the playoffs this year.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

What is your definition of contending for the playoff? Trying to make the playoff? Isn't this what every team does every season until they fall to low in the standing for it to happen. Does it mean player are gonna try harder?

When I use contend I mean as in having a close shot at making the playoff. If we ice the current roster, I don't see us having a chance unless all our youngs player progress nicely. Maybe my definition of contending is wrong.

If our young players progress, which they should, the team will be automatically be better. We have no reason to think they’ll stagnate considering most of them took a nice step last year.

Dach is the wild card. If he’s healthy and plays the way he did prior to his injuries, his addition alone could bump us 6-7 slots. He has legitimate 70+pt potential. He’s a physical specimen with the puck in his stick.

 

[NORiculous]

I'm pretty confident the Habs will be better than the Sharks, Hawks

You mean next year or when they are peaking…?

 

[Leto]

Unless his team loans him like Michkov's did, Demidov can't play in the NHL this year

A player on the last year of his deal cannot be loaned in the KHL, so Sochi is not an option, unless he is traded.​

 

[Kent Nilsson]

Caufield-Suzuki-Slaf
Demidov-Dach-Roy/Hage
Newhook-Beck/Kapanen-Roy/Hage

Guhle-Reinbacher
Struble?-??
Hutson-??

Xhekaj/Harris/Engstrom
Mailloux/Barron

Fowler
Monty

I think Slaf and Demidov will be stars. We might end up with two 1B lines on top 6. Thats very good. Dach has to remain healthy but I think Roy or Hage can complete this nicely. The thing to remember is Slaf/Demidov/Hage won’t hit their stride until 2026/2027 probably. One of Beck or Kapanen might become a high end 3C. That’s still far away. If the the team remains relatively the same after this free agency we should end up with a 2025 1st between 5 and 15. I dont expect playoffs in 2025.

Guhle-Reinbacher is a great 1st pair that will hold against the league’s top lines. I think the 2nd pair is more iffy. IMO Hutson will be more of a PP specialist that needs sheltered minutes at 5v5. It’s possible that one of our depth guys emerges as a #4. I’d say Struble is the most likely. Signing a guy like Matt Roy tomorrow would help a lot.

At some point Hughes will probably do a mega trade for a pending free agent and extend him. Something like prospects + multiple 1sts for a Jason Robertson or Matt Boldy. That’s when the team will really be over the top.

Once Gallagher and Anderson will be gone we should be in great great shape.

 

[YukonCornelius 5thOA]

I’ll worry about lines when the prospects and draft picks are actually contributing NHLers.

The fantasy talk has gone extra nuts since the Demidov pick.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

They'll contend for the playoffs but that doesn't mean they will make it nor would it mean we wouldn't get a premium pick. New Jersey and Buffalo contended for the playoffs, they still picked at or near the top 10. So we will still get another VERY good prospect in this draft, but it won't be a top 5 pick barring a lotto win.

No one we will be selecting next year should be getting penciled in here imo

Unless his team loans him like Michkov's did, Demidov can't play in the NHL this year

These are future lines

 

[Number 57]

Demidov-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Caufield-Dach-UFA/TRADE
Newhook-Beck-Roy
Tuch-Kapanen-Xhekaj
*Hage, Mesar

Guhle-Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Hutson
Struble-Mailloux
*Engstrom

Montembeault-Fowler-Dobes

 

[Hope Of Glory]

They'll contend for the playoffs but that doesn't mean they will make it nor would it mean we wouldn't get a premium pick. New Jersey and Buffalo contended for the playoffs, they still picked at or near the top 10. So we will still get another VERY good prospect in this draft, but it won't be a top 5 pick barring a lotto win.

Trying to make the playoffs, getting some much needed experience in high stakes situations for the young guys and ending up with a Dickinson/Buium/Silayev caliber type of prospect would be awesome.

 

[RC51]

Demidov 6,2/210 Suzuki 5.11/215 Slafkofsky 6.5/ 243
Caufield 5.8 /175 Hage 6.2 / 215 Dach 6.3/ 215
Newhook 5.11/ 200 Beck 6.1 /200 Xhekaj 6.4/ 225
Tuch 6.2 / 210 Kapanen 6./190 Roy /

Guhle 6.3/205 Reinbacher 6.4/215
Hutson 5.11/170 Mailloux 6./ 225
Xhekaj 6.4/240 Protz 6.2 /220

Montembeault Fowler /

 

[Scintillating10]

They'll contend for the playoffs but that doesn't mean they will make it nor would it mean we wouldn't get a premium pick. New Jersey and Buffalo contended for the playoffs, they still picked at or near the top 10. So we will still get another VERY good prospect in this draft, but it won't be a top 5 pick barring a lotto win.

Trade our pick next draft for McGroarty? We have an extra first. Maybe 2 if we sell at deadline

 

[Lockin17]

2025 line up

CC-Suzuki-Slaf
Demidov-Dach-Hage
Newhook-Beck-Roy
RHP-Kapanen-Xhekaj/Mesar
Farrell, Davidson, Tuck

Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Mailloux
Engstrom-Barron

Monty-Primeau-Fowler

 

[Scintillating10]

2025 line up

CC-Suzuki-Slaf
Demidov-Dach-Hage
Newhook-Beck-Roy
RHP-Kapanen-Xhekaj/Mesar
Farrell, Davidson, Tuck

Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Mailloux
Engstrom-Barron

Monty-Primeau-Fowler

'25 too early for Hage. Fowler probably too. Looking '26 maybe longer for them.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Demidov - Demidov - Demidov
Demidov - Demidov - Demidov
Demidov - Demidov - Demidov
Demidov - Demidov - Demidov

Demidov.I - Demidov.I
Demidov.I - Demidov.I
Demidov.I - Demidov.I

Ivan. D
Ivan. D

 

[26Mats]

f*** this high 2025 talk. The rebuild is over. We aren’t tanking anymore, from here on out the goal is playoffs whether we get there or not. You lose too many years in a row you become a loser franchise that accepts losing.

As for future lines, I’d start with

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
Roy-Dach-Demidov
Newhook-Beck-Hage
Heineman-Vet-RHP


Hutson-Reinbacher
Guhle-Mailloux
Xhekaj-Vet

Montembault
Fowler

Hopefully Olivier Kapanen and Florian Xhekaj work their way into the mix.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

I throw up in my mouth every time I see a lineup with RHP in it. He was awful last year, got Desharnais-itis and quit working but didnt have Pacioretty to pad his stats. Unless he wakes up and comes ready to compete he can stay Lavallager

 

[VirginiaMtlExpat]

I wonder how they make room for WiFi in the future, if other LDs eventually outplay him. Can he play forward on the fourth line? It's vital that he keep developing and earning his spot.