Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXXIV

[Chaels Arms]

As I step back from the ledge, I wonder if part of thishas to do with the fact laf has played better and they want to see if he can start to drive a line with some lesser players rather than being a complimentary piece to another line. I will reserve judgement until we see how this works AND how turk responses if it doesn't work. Will he be stubborn or will be move laf back to a position that he was fitting in well at.

If laf can help drive a 3rd line than that deepens this team tremendously bc the 3rd line has been an offensive blackhole this year.

He can't drive a line with lesser players. He looked better with Mika and Kreider but he wasn't a world beater by any means. He hasn't done anything to make any reasonable person believe another stint in the bottom six will result in anything different than his last stint in the bottom six.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Unless his usage on the third line is somehow drastically different than what it was earlier in the season Laf will perform exactly how he did earlier in the season meaning he will be largely unnoticeable game to game.

 

[smoneil]

As I step back from the ledge, I wonder if part of thishas to do with the fact laf has played better and they want to see if he can start to drive a line with some lesser players rather than being a complimentary piece to another line. I will reserve judgement until we see how this works AND how turk responses if it doesn't work. Will he be stubborn or will be move laf back to a position that he was fitting in well at.

If laf can help drive a 3rd line than that deepens this team tremendously bc the 3rd line has been an offensive blackhole this year.

If that's the line of thought, then it's foolish, IMO. First of all, the 3rd line has been playing great the last few games. Second, and more importantly--while I may be one of the biggest Chytil boosters on this forum, Laf's success is magnitudes more important to this franchise than Chytil's. Over the last 15-20 games, and especially since the break, Laf has looked like he turned the corner. You don't screw with that to get guys like Chytil, Vitrano, etc going. Laf is absolutely crucial to this team's sustained success, and the coach/GM really need to start acting like that's the case.

 

[n8]

If the 3rd line is Laf-Copp-Goodrow, they could find success. I think the most important thing is even strength TOI, get him PP time. Laf needs 18 min a night if he's going to develop into the player we need him to be.

 

[duhmetreE]

So is Panarin at practice or not?

 

[Rangers in 7]

If the 3rd line is Laf-Copp-Goodrow, they could find success. I think the most important thing is even strength TOI, get him PP time. Laf needs 18 min a night if he's going to develop into the player we need him to be.

This is the part that’s most important

My guess is he gets 13 tonight

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I get the feeling Gallant doesnt like Laf playing on his off wing on that line. There's an easy solution. Move Kreider to the right side and use Panarin up there, its not like that line is killing it 5 on 5 and we are gonna mess it up with Kreider on the off side. New line of Laf Strome Copp, either strome or copp can play wing

 

[Ruggs225]

I would be fine with Laff on third line if Gallant also put laff on PP1 in stromes spot.

Kid needs meaningful minutes

 

[tlk]

I would be fine with Laff on third line if Gallant also

had in mind the all three lines as producing/playing lines

 

[HonestGabe]

I get the feeling Gallant doesnt like Laf playing on his off wing on that line. There's an easy solution. Move Kreider to the right side and use Panarin up there, its not like that line is killing it 5 on 5 and we are gonna mess it up with Kreider on the off side. New line of Laf Strome Copp, either strome or copp can play wing

Leaves for a third line of Vatrano/Chytil - Goodrow - Kakko when Kakko is healthy, which could be a good matchup and energy line

 

[Vitto79]

Chytil is the key. If he still is meh W good Linemates he’s gotta get benched and maybe even traded next year

 

[Chaels Arms]

With the addition of Copp, Vatrano and the return of Kakko there are ways to have Laf on left wing and have it make sense. I will wait to see what happens when Kakko returns but putting Copp on a line with Panarin and Strome is a waste of Copp.

Gallant should be prioritizing LW/C pairings since we all know the top two pairings are never going to change. Panarin/Strome and Kreider/Zibanejad are locked long term.

The third line should be Laf/Copp or in the unlikely event Gallant breaks up Panarin/Strome than make it Laf/Strome.

Now you slot in Kakko/Vatrano/Hunt/Goodrow in the top 3 RW spots however you want.

Let the Kreider and Zibanejad line keep their 5v5 icetime but give some of Panarin/Strome's 5v5 time to Laf/Copp.

This is how you create three good lines.

This is how you bring balance to the force.

 

[tomobson]

Chytil is the key. If he still is meh W good Linemates he’s gotta get benched and maybe even traded next year

I think that second line is more of an issue than the third. If Copp can't get it going then it is quite possible that Fast is the only RW that can play with Panarin and Strome. Well, Chytil had a good stint on that line but the bottom six without Chytil is atrocious so I can see why he leaves him on the third line.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

If you think about it, all 4 of the RW are interchangeable and can play on any line.

Copp
Kakko
Vatrano
Goodrow

Goodrow and Copp (and I think Vatrano too) could switch wings, but with Kreider, Panarin, Laf & Motte sealing the Left side theyll all likely be on the right unless Laf goes back up with Mika again. That does make it a little easier if he wants to change it up mid-game or after a loss.

Kreider-Mika-Kakko
Panarin-Strome-Copp
Laf-Chytil-Goodrow
Motte-Rooney-Vatrano

Or

Kreider-Mika-Copp
Panarin-Strome-Vatrano
Laf-Chytil-Kakko
Motte-Rooney-Goodrow

etc

 

[IDvsEGO]

He can't drive a line with lesser players. He looked better with Mika and Kreider but he wasn't a world beater by any means. He hasn't done anything to make any reasonable person believe another stint in the bottom six will result in anything different than his last stint in the bottom six.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Unless his usage on the third line is somehow drastically different than what it was earlier in the season Laf will perform exactly how he did earlier in the season meaning he will be largely unnoticeable game to game.

So this isnt the exact same scenario. I think theres some solid logic to gallant doing this, but the conditions for success will be tough, and will absolutely require gallant to give the third more ice time than he has all season.
When laf played with chytil early in the year he still hadn't truly figured out how to score, how to play in the nhl.
He absolutely looks like he's gotten that down in his last few games.

The next step is to dominate a line, to demand the puck and then distribute as necessary.

Elite players take mediocre players and get production out of them. Crosby,mcdavid,matthews,mackinnon.
If laf ever wants to get mentioned in that category (with the full awareness that he's done nothing to deserve that aside from his draft position yet) he has to do that. And this would be how you start doing it.

IF and its a big IF, laf does that, he takes that giant step he needs to. We are an insanely dangerous team in the playoffs. And that is likely what gallant wants.

No coach wants a player to fail. Especially one with the pedigree and potential laf has. This is about winning now and in the playoffs.
Laf on the third line and driving play is the best way to get our team a very very deep run.

But if this f***s with laf's confidence, then no he needs to be back on the first, because long term development is far more important than this single run.

 

[MrAlmost]

Kreider-Z-Vatrano
Panarin-Strome-Kakko
Laf-Copp-Chytil
Motte-Rooney-Goodrow

That's a pretty deep team.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Add the most clutch playoff performer in KHL history and we can make a run in the playoffs

 

[Daves a mess]

Hmm. NHL Netwok Radio Show segment "Yes. No, Maybe so" host predicts Kakko as a present/future NHL Bust.

 

[rangers1314]

Friedman mentions today that NYR were very in on Clay Stevenson, the Dartmouth goalie who signed with Washington.

Clay Stevenson at eliteprospects.com

 

[Cmox]

We need to add “BS” emoji or this

 

[bbny]

Add the most clutch playoff performer in KHL history and we can make a run in the playoffs

Look at that snipe. Jesus. And this is exactly what I’m talking about when I say he gets to the middle of the ice for shots. 95% of our lineup takes that puck to the perimeter and looks for a cross ice pass through two defenders

 

[MrAlmost]

Hmm. NHL Netwok Radio Show segment "Yes. No, Maybe so" host predicts Kakko as a present/future NHL Bust.

That's interesting since his points and overall play has trended up since entering the league. I doubt he will be the force people thought, but I wouldn't say bust.

 

[Daves a mess]

That's interesting since his points and overall play has trended up since entering the league. I doubt he will be the force people thought, but I wouldn't say bust.

Yeah was surprised that a radio host who do this for a living was that quick to call him a "bust". Confidently too. Think the guys name is Peter Berse or something like that. Gonna look this dude up.

 

[Gluten Free Breadman]

With the addition of Copp, Vatrano and the return of Kakko there are ways to have Laf on left wing and have it make sense. I will wait to see what happens when Kakko returns but putting Copp on a line with Panarin and Strome is a waste of Copp.

Gallant should be prioritizing LW/C pairings since we all know the top two pairings are never going to change. Panarin/Strome and Kreider/Zibanejad are locked long term.

The third line should be Laf/Copp or in the unlikely event Gallant breaks up Panarin/Strome than make it Laf/Strome.

Now you slot in Kakko/Vatrano/Hunt/Goodrow in the top 3 RW spots however you want.

Let the Kreider and Zibanejad line keep their 5v5 icetime but give some of Panarin/Strome's 5v5 time to Laf/Copp.

This is how you create three good lines.

This is how you bring balance to the force.

If this is how things wind up going, you're forgetting Chytil. Gallant likes Chytil so far at C. Chytils play has improved as of late. Laf with Chytil. I would like to see Copp on that 3rd line to round it out. Goodrow is second choice.

 

[effen]

We need to add “BS” emoji or this

Schneider needed a couple games off. It's fine.

 

[Lion Hound]

Hmm. NHL Netwok Radio Show segment "Yes. No, Maybe so" host predicts Kakko as a present/future NHL Bust.

Very shallow assessment from them.