Maybe for the last 20 games...Matheson-Reinbacher
Hutson-Guhle
Wifi-Mailloux
Struble-Barron-Savard
That's the line up on D i wanna see
They have a legit top 5. The sixth not so much.Imagine, I already like the top 6 on paper and Demidov isn't there wait.
I think you gotta keep CC and Laine separated to maximize their effectiveness.I can't wait to see what MSL lands on for opening day...
I like the idea of:
Slaf Suzuki Newhook
Speed, skill, size & competitiveness to go toe to toe with any top line in the league. A line you can put out in the Ozone with :30 to go and needing a goal or in the dzone protecting a late lead
Laine Dach CC
Bookend a creative playmaker with two lethal snipers... Forcing opposition to pick their poison every attack.
Anderson Dvorak Gally
Very much "the expendables" vibe... Hopefully with enough pride left to play the 13-14min/game they get with reckless abandon and energy reminiscent of their prime years.
Armia Evans Roy
Roy's IQ and creativity unleashed against opposing depth players could be a treat, Armia is a good enough finisher to benefit from the opportunities created and swiss army knife Evans is poised for a big contract year.
I would only switch Dvorak and Evans on your lineup. Both Dvorak and Armia are playing for a new contract this season. And just like magic, most NHL players have career highs under these circumstances.With the way he played to end last year, I think the 3rd line C spot is Evans right now. Hopefully with a lot of competition in our bottom six, it pushes guys like Armia, Dvorak, Anderson, Gallagher to up their game as we have lacked secondary scoring in our bottom six.
Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Newhook - Dach - Laine
Roy - Evans - Armia
Gallagher - Dvorak - Anderson
Matheson - Guhle
Hutson - Savard
Xhekaj - Barron
We’ll only know this around January. For the start of the season, Monty is #1 even if Primeau plays better in the preseason.All the talk is about our forwards, and of course the D.......................what about the two goalies?
Can Primeau play well enough to take the net from Monty? Will Monty play better and stay at #1?
That bottom 5 pick is gone with acquisition of Laine.Two interesting scenarios:
1) everyone stays healthy and we make the playoffs
2) we have massive injuries and pick bottom 5 again
Both scenarios are exciting to me. I just hate the middle of the road scenario where we win a bit more but end up out of the playoff race.
I like this forward lineup. I do however that one of Evans or Dvorak will be traded and make room for some sand paper in either Tuch, Xhekaj or Pezzetta. on the fourth line.Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Laine-Dach-Armia
Roy-Newhook-Anderson
Dvorak-Evans-Gallagher
-
RHP/Pezzetta
Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Struble/Barron
-
Mailloux/Reinbacher
Montembault
Primeau
Lets hope Slaf-Suzi-CC keep it rolling, no reason they shouldn't. I want to see 60+ points from all 3 this season. Suzuki closer to PPG.
At first I had Newhook on line 2, but I feel like Laine would benefit from having Armia on his line, and those are 3 big bodies. Armia also had a pretty good back half of 23/24 and might be inspired playing 2nd line with a fellow Finn in a contract year.
Roy and Newhook could provide sneaky offence from the 3rd line, and Anderson has the speed to keep up with Newhook and size to make room for both of them.
Line 4 is...line 4. I feel like a lot of us are forgetting RHP even exists.
Our defence could see a lot of different makeups, but I like what I've put together, the top pair is quite solid and Hutson would benefit from secondary matchups and the steady hand of Savard. Mailloux and even Reinbacher should see some time with injuries/potential deadline moves.
Our goalie situation is the least exciting, but Fowler is coming...
Strange the middle of the road scenario is the one i prefer the most for next year.Two interesting scenarios:
1) everyone stays healthy and we make the playoffs
2) we have massive injuries and pick bottom 5 again
Both scenarios are exciting to me. I just hate the middle of the road scenario where we win a bit more but end up out of the playoff race.
I dunno know it which extent Mailloux is NHL ready, but I would not keep him in the stands in MTL while he could get huge minutes in Laval. With the departure of Harris and Kovacevic, Habs will have to rely on players with lesser experience on their bottom pairing. I would say Struble could stay ahead of Mailloux. I hope Xhekaj will become a good, steady, physical d-man and cut on the fights (and injuries). Barron has still tons to prove. And Huston is still a mystery. He will hit a wall by mid-season like Struble and other College kids who never palyed such a hard schedule + travels.Slaf - Suzuki - Caufield
Newhook - Dach - Laine
Roy - Dvorak - Armia
Anderson - Evans - Gally
Pezz
Matheson - Guhle
Hutson - Savard
Xhekaj - Barron
Mailloux
Monty
Primeau
I think you’re right. That’s what I think the lines will look like to start the year.I think these will be our lines to start the season:
Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Newhook - Dach - Laine
Roy - Dvorak - Anderson
Armia - Evans - Gallagher
Guhle - Matheson
Hutson - Savard
Xhekaj - Barron
Struble
Montembeault
Primeau
If the team stays healthy, Laine goes back to his ppg form, Hutson shows why he's an elite prospect, and the kids continue progressing (Slaf, Dach, Caufield, Guhle, etc.), this team could make the playoffs.
I think these will be our lines to start the season:
Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Newhook - Dach - Laine
Roy - Dvorak - Anderson
Armia - Evans - Gallagher
Guhle - Matheson
Hutson - Savard
Xhekaj - Barron
Struble
Montembeault
Primeau
If the team stays healthy, Laine goes back to his ppg form, Hutson shows why he's an elite prospect, and the kids continue progressing (Slaf, Dach, Caufield, Guhle, etc.), this team could make the playoffs.
Matheson-Reinbacher
Hutson-Guhle
Wifi-Mailloux
Struble-Barron-Savard
That's the line up on D i wanna see
No.Speaking from experience in Columbus, it might not be a bad idea to pair Laine with Anderson. The #92 played great with Boone Jenner, with whom he had excellent chemistry. So maybe Josh Anderson's style of play might just suit him. Conversely, Patrik could help Josh, he made players better for us.
I'd also put him on the left side, since Kirby Dach is RH
Laine - Dach - Anderson
Judging by Anderson's play with us, of course.