Projecting the Habs starting line-up

[MtlSars]

Newhook Suzuki Caufield
Monahan Dach Anderson
Slaf Dvorak Gallagher
Hoffman Evans Armia

Matheson Barron
Guhle Savard
Xhekaj Harris

Now ideally with a bit of cojones, Id rather RHP Pezzeta Ylonen on the 4th but thats out of MY control.

I like that 2nd line, I feel like you can switch both Dach/Monahan just for faceoff purposes, if you need to win it you give it to the OG but groom Dach at center otherwise, big heavy line who could work wonders.

You can move Dach to the first line move up Slaf and drop Newhook but I feel like we didn't bring in Newhook to languish on that horrible offensive darkhole of a third line with Dvo and Gally.

As far as the D is concerned im about 95% sure they put a vet with a rookie on those pairings and share more or less equal ice times.

So yeah, I suppose were drafting around 8th to 14th?

 

[Maitz]

Caufield-Suzuki-Anderson
Newhook-Dach-Hoffman
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Gallagher
RHP-Dvorak-Armia

Guhle-Savard
Matheson-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris

Monty
Allen

 

[BaseballCoach]

Caufield-Suzuki-Anderson
Newhook-Dach-Hoffman
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Gallagher
RHP-Dvorak-Armia

Guhle-Savard
Matheson-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris

Monty
Allen

Is Matheson on the second pair and Savard on the first?

 

[Maitz]

Is Matheson on the second pair and Savard on the first?

Well it's not a matter of putting a number on the pairs, you just can't put Matheson with Savard or Guhle, it's just for balancing duo, he will still ends up playing 21-22 min a night

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

I think Caufield and Suzuki are a lock to play together on the top line. I think Newhook is a lock to start on the 2nd line with Dach to get them both in a prime position, and I would try the line of Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson again because they were great until injuries hit, although you would hope Anderson is playing higher in the lineup with his salary. Filling in the blanks we get...

XXX-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-XXX
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson
Evans-Dvorak-XXX

With Gallagher, Hoffman, RHP, Pezzetta, and Armia leftover. Leaving us with

RHP-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-Gallagher
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson
Evans-Dvorak-Armia
Hoffman/Pez

Matheson-Savard
Guhle-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris/Kovacevic

Motembeault
Allen

On defense, until we see differently at camp, you probably have to put the 2 vets on the top pair. I think Harris works as a bottom pair RD but they can always use Kovacevic if he looks better there

 

[BaseballCoach]

Well it's not a matter of putting a number on the pairs, you just can't put Matheson with Savard or Guhle, it's just for balancing duo, he will still ends up playing 21-22 min a night

LOL, I think quite a bit more minutes.

I would prefer:

Matheson-Barron
Guhle-Savard
Xhekaj/Harris/Kovacevic

 

[Zilo44]

Seeing so many lineups with Dvorak on the 4th. That’s bad asset management. Monahan or Dvorak is playing on the wing

 

[BaseballCoach]

I think Caufield and Suzuki are a lock to play together on the top line. I think Newhook is a lock to start on the 2nd line with Dach to get them both in a prime position, and I would try the line of Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson again because they were great until injuries hit, although you would hope Anderson is playing higher in the lineup with his salary. Filling in the blanks we get...

XXX-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-XXX
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson
Evans-Dvorak-XXX

With Gallagher, Hoffman, RHP, Pezzetta, and Armia leftover. Leaving us with

RHP-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-Gallagher
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson
Evans-Dvorak-Armia
Hoffman/Pez

Matheson-Savard
Guhle-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris/Kovacevic

Motembeault
Allen

On defense, until we see differently at camp, you probably have to put the 2 vets on the top pair. I think Harris works as a bottom pair RD but they can always use Kovacevic if he looks better there

I like the lines. Just switch sides between Evans and Armia. And then substitute Hoffman or Pezz for Armia if he sucks.

On D, I like the pairings but would use Guhle-Savard as the shutdown pair, and play Barron-Matheson or Harris-Matheson as often as possible otherwise to take advantage of the other team and SCORE.

Of course last minute of a game protecting a lead, it's Matheson-Savard. And for last 5 minutes, cutting to 4D, it's Savard-Guhle and Matheson-(best of the night).

 

[Scriptor]

I like the lines. Just switch sides between Evans and Armia. And then substitute Hoffman or Pezz for Armia if he sucks.

On D, I like the pairings but would use Guhle-Savard as the shutdown pair, and play Barron-Matheson or Harris-Matheson as often as possible otherwise to take advantage of the other team and SCORE.

Of course last minute of a game protecting a lead, it's Matheson-Savard. And for last 5 minutes, cutting to 4D, it's Savard-Guhle and Matheson-(best of the night).

How to slow down the progression of our best players; RHP with Caufield and Suzuki, removing size from that line, Gallagher with Dach and Newhook.

Hate those lines.

We should use the chemistry RHP and Anderson had to finish out last season and add a youngster to the mix in the top 9 to round things out.

Monahan - Suzuki - Caufield
Slafkovsky - Dach - Roy/Heineman
RHP - Newhook - Anderson
Armia - Dvorak - Gallagher

Evans, Hoffman

Pezzetta in the minors, or Hoffman, if you really think or care that Pezzetta might get picked up on waivers.

 

[BaseballCoach]

How to slow down the progression of our best players; RHP with Caufield and Suzuki, removing size from that line, Gallagher with Dach and Newhook.

Hate those lines.

We should use the chemistry RHP and Anderson had to finish out last season and add a youngster to the mix in the top 9 to round things out.

Monahan - Suzuki - Caufield
Slafkovsky - Dach - Roy/Heineman
RHP - Newhook - Anderson
Armia - Dvorak - Gallagher

Evans, Hoffman

Pezzetta in the minors, or Hoffman, if you really think or care that Pezzetta might get picked up on waivers.

I'm not against the first line. That is the second best role I would want Monahan to have. Either LEFT wing with 14 & 22 or better yet centering Slaf and Anderson. I think bringing out the potential of Slaf is more important than padding the stats of our top line players. This should also create a balanced attack with three scoring lines and even the fourth can chip in.

Evans should be in the lineup over Armia.

I lime having one rookie in the top 9.

Dach and Newhook should complement each other well.

Harvey-Pinard does not play small. He is also the same height as and 5 pounds heavier than Brad Marchand. You know, he can be tried with Suzuki and then make changes if it does not lead to balanced productive offence, right?

RHP-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach- best of Heineman or Roy or Farrell
Slafkovsky-Monahan-Anderson
Dvorak-Evans-Gallagher

 

[Maitz]

LOL, I think quite a bit more minutes.

I would prefer:

Matheson-Barron
Guhle-Savard
Xhekaj/Harris/Kovacevic

It's the same lineup lol we don't have a true #1 pair so it doesn't matter 1 or 2, both pair shouldb't play more than 22 minutes, you also have a good 3rd pair that can play 16-17 min

 

[SwiftyHab]

So fan engagement for the Habs has been up dramatically these last two years. I can attest to that personally given the number of hours I’ve been on here during that time.

I’m going to take a little break now over the doldrums of summer Figure out where my wife and kids are and go live a life outside of my own fandom.

See you @Adam Michaels, @Runner77 @NotProkofievian @dinodebino @MarkovsKnee and all the other boys at training camp!
Have a great summer

 

[JohnnyPipes]

It's not about your plan or not. It's not my point. You thread title says "Projecting Habs starting lineup", so that means that it should be a realistic prediction of what the Habs will do when we get to opening night, not what you would like to do. If it was so easy to get rid of them, management would've done so already.

It doesn't mean that what you say is impossible. It's just that predictions have to be from a Habs' management POV, not our wishful POV.

I don't see us starting with 16 forwards... I strongly believe the guys I have excluded are the same ones Hughes will try to move - no one said it would be easy... I'm eating half Hoffman's salary just to unload him, I'm buying out or burying Armia - to me both are realistic at this stage.
Doesn't really bother me if you don't see it as realistic - that's your opinion not mine...

 

[CHfan1]

II'm buying out or burying Armia - to me both are realistic at this stage.

The Habs don’t have a buyout window left, they can’t buy Armia out till next season.

 

[JohnnyPipes]

Only change I'd make is to switch Dach and Monahan, because Dach needs to progress Asa center. Otherwise I'm onboard.

I think we will continue to try Dach at center throughout the year - but my day 1 has Monahan at C and Dach on wing for a few reasons - 1 being RW was needed more than LW for my 2nd line with Newhook already on the left... but if Dvo doesn't start the season or gets dealt - I see Monahan sliding into 3C and Dach as the 2C... I imagine we will try a few things this year with line combos and players that can play multiple positions...

 

[JohnnyPipes]

The Habs don’t have a buyout window left, they can’t buy Armia out till next season.

ah shit, we did miss the buyout window... I honestly thought we would buyout Armia - guess I'm burying him in the minors than

 

[Sterling Archer]

Caufield Suzuki Anderson
Slaf Dach Gally
Newhook Monahan Hoffman
RHP Evans Armia

Matheson Barron
Guhle Savard
Harris\Xhekaj Kovy

 

[Steve Shutt]

Will be interesting how HuGo manage all the extra bodies.
Guys in blue are on my opening night 23 man roster.
(W) = Waiver Exempt

Forward Locks (8):
Suzuki, Caufield, Newhook, Monahan, Dvorak, Anderson, Dach, Gallagher

Need to Win a Spot (5):
Harvey-Pinard (W), Ylonen, Slafkovsky (W), Pezetta, Armia, Hoffman, Evans, Farell (W), Pitlick, Heineman (W), L.Andersson

Defense Locks (3):
Matheson, Savard, Guhle (W)

Need to Win a Spot (5):
Wideman, Xhehaj (w), Harris (w), Barron (W), Kovacevic, Struble (W), Beaudin, Mailloux (W)

Goalie Locks (1):
Montembeault

Need to Win a Spot (1):
Allen, Primeau

Feel bad for Armia, Hoffman, and Pitlick but I prefer all 13 forwards highlighted in blue. Also I don't think anyone would take Armia or Hoffman off of waivers. Just not sure HuGo would have the heart to send seasoned vets to the minors
Surprise opening roster pick = Lias Andersson. I'm thinking the former 7th OA pick on a cheap contract and put up almost a point per game in the AHL might win a spot in camp.
My other controversial selection (based off of other people's posts) is keeping Wideman on our opening night roster. I'd rather keep an extra dman than an extra forward. 762k for a veteran dman is very affordable and he seems to be ok with that #7/8 role. Plus whoever we pencil in there is likely to sit out quite a few games so I prefer it be an older/cheap guy than to have one of our kids not playing

 

[Ezpz]

ah shit, we did miss the buyout window... I honestly thought we would buyout Armia - guess I'm burying him in the minors than

He has 14 points three seasons in a row. The obvious plan is tell him you're only going to play him in ten games and get the 14 points and then we trade him as a 1.4 ppg player.

 

[Archijerej]

Newhook - Suzuki - Caulfield
Slafkovsky - Dach - Monahan
RHP - Dvorak - Anderson
Ylonen - Evans - Gallagher
Pezzetta

Guhle - Savard
Matheson - Barron
Xekaj - Harris
Kovacevic

 

[Bouboumaster]

Caufield - Suzuki - Dach
Slafkovsky - Newhook - Anderson
RHP - Monahan - Gallagher
Evans - Dvorak - Ylonen/Armia
Pezzetta

Guhle - Savard
Matheson - Barron
Xhekaj - Harris
Kovacevic

Monty
Allen

 

[BaseballCoach]

It's the same lineup lol we don't have a true #1 pair so it doesn't matter 1 or 2, both pair shouldb't play more than 22 minutes, you also have a good 3rd pair that can play 16-17 min

We have one D-man way better than everyone else, who can play 25-26 minutes per night easily with his stamina. Of course he will occasionslly have a different partner than Barron.

 

[Habs13]

I think we will continue to try Dach at center throughout the year - but my day 1 has Monahan at C and Dach on wing for a few reasons - 1 being RW was needed more than LW for my 2nd line with Newhook already on the left... but if Dvo doesn't start the season or gets dealt - I see Monahan sliding into 3C and Dach as the 2C... I imagine we will try a few things this year with line combos and players that can play multiple positions...

Can't deny how good Dach was playing with Suzuki and Caufield!

 

[Maitz]

We have one D-man way better than everyone else, who can play 25-26 minutes per night easily with his stamina. Of course he will occasionslly have a different partner than Barron.

IMO Matheson shouldn't play 25-26 min but that's just my opinion

 

[WeThreeKings]

Projecting? So not what you would do personally?

Anderson-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-Gallagher
Slafkovsky-Dvorak-Monahan
Hoffman-Evans-Armia
Ylonen

Matheson-Barron
Guhle-Savard
Xhekaj-Harris
Kovacevic

Allen
Montembeault