Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2024-25: Re-Tool, Re-Group, Re-Mix, Re-Build

[WangMustGo]

For everyone who thinks Lou can't get it done, I took a look back at his 3 Cup winning teams and found something very interesting.

Only one PPG player TOTAL in the 3 winning teams, Elias 72 in 72 in the middle win. Those teams were built on well-distributed scoring and great goaltending.

In one of the years, Elias led the team with 57 points in 81 games.

This team is trending that way too. A classic Lou team design. Now let's see if they can gain consistency with how they are currently playing. 11 players with a goal or assist, including Varly.

We dominated a team on the road that was 8-3-3 before we played them.

It was also a lower scoring era and those teams featured 3 hall of fame players.

 

[leeroggy]

When healthy, I would have #13 center Duclair and Mclean. Roll three scoring lines and play the line that is going that night. LGI. What do I know...

Maclean is likely the odd man out when Mat and Anthony are back

We go back to rolling 4 lines and I see a rotation on that line depending on the matchup. Martin, Wally and Maclean all vying. You'll see some interesting PK combos too. Notice Maclean has not been PK'ing lately and his ice time hasn't broken 10 minutes for the last 6 games. And while he was red hot at faceoffs early, he fell below 50% in 3 of the last 5.

Kyle MacLean 2024-25 Game Log | Hockey-Reference.com

Gamelogs for Kyle MacLean for 2024-25

www.hockey-reference.com

This is going to get very interesting the next few weeks.

 

[leeroggy]

It was also a lower scoring era and those teams featured 3 hall of fame players.

They were 14th, 2nd and 13th in Goals For those 3 years, the total scoring of the era is not a complete answer.

 

[mm11]

I

Maclean is likely the odd man out when Mat and Anthony are back

We go back to rolling 4 lines and I see a rotation on that line depending on the matchup. Martin, Wally and Maclean all vying. You'll see some interesting PK combos too. Notice Maclean has not been PK'ing lately and his ice time hasn't broken 10 minutes for the last 6 games. And while he was red hot at faceoffs early, he fell below 50% in 3 of the last 5.

Kyle MacLean 2024-25 Game Log | Hockey-Reference.com

Gamelogs for Kyle MacLean for 2024-25

www.hockey-reference.com

This is going to get very interesting the next few weeks.

If anything, guys like Mclean will scratch and claw to stay in the lineup. Healthy competition. LGI

 

[attilatheislander]

Or you can keep our top 2 lines currently intact then put Barzal and Duclair with somebody else(Holmstrom? Cizikas?) when both come back from injury to give us 3 lines of scoring threats

I like that idea too.

 

[Throttle]

I view it more as 3 equal lines where our "first line" would be considered below average and our 3rd line would be considered above average

The basic goal is you hope you face teams that can't properly check all 3 lines so one of them will get the weak coverage

I understand and agree on the line distribution. If Barzal stays in check - and the coach’s force the game play that way - just like under Trotz years 1-3, it all worked out and the team was better off.

If the team goes back to tilting the offenses to cater to Barzal, there’s a ton of evidence it doesn’t work with this team.

Horvat and Barzal shouldn’t be on same line bc it’s very easy to defend against bc everyone knows what’s going to happen and it reduces Horvats overall effectiveness.

 

[impaaaaaact]

It's funny because we paid this premium for Pageau at the deadline because he was scoring goals in a top 6 role at the time. Then we immediately put him into a defensive role and his scoring went down... now he's back in the top 6 and producing again. Funny how life works

 

[Throttle]

It's funny because we paid this premium for Pageau at the deadline because he was scoring goals in a top 6 role at the time. Then we immediately put him into a defensive role and his scoring went down... now he's back in the top 6 and producing again. Funny how life works

He was playing over his head on a bad team in a contract year. He played his role perfectly when acquired, it’s his injury that derailed him.

He’s been hammered by that wrist injury, that’s for sure.

 

[impaaaaaact]

Thinking about next year's roster with the possibility of Nelson and Palmieri gone. Forwards probably looking something like this?If we re-sign everyone else and make no trades, we're probably looking at about 3.5M -4M to fill that 3C spot. Some names that could be available around that number: Dvorak, Faksa, Kuraly, Frederic,

Lee - Horvat - Pageau
Duclair - Barzal - Tsyplakov
Jefferies/Eiserman -xxxx - Holmstrom
Maclean - Cizikas - Engvall

 

[leeroggy]

Thinking about next year's roster with the possibility of Nelson and Palmieri gone. Forwards probably looking something like this?If we re-sign everyone else and make no trades, we're probably looking at about 3.5M -4M to fill that 3C spot. Some names that could be available around that number: Dvorak, Faksa, Kuraly, Frederic,

Lee - Horvat - Pageau
Duclair - Barzal - Tsyplakov
Jefferies/Eiserman -xxxx - Holmstrom
Maclean - Cizikas - Engvall

Why do so many assume Maclean has a job?

2A so far, the FO% is falling off and he isn't PK'ing.

He's going to get passed on the depth chart pretty quickly

 

[Potvottier]

What if...

Nelson, Lee and Palmieri sign 1 yr @ 2 mil, each, next year. They get another shot at the cup, and we can afford another top-line player.

 

[ekill08x]

Why do so many assume Maclean has a job?

2A so far, the FO% is falling off and he isn't PK'ing.

He's going to get passed on the depth chart pretty quickly

agreed he’s just a place holder until better prospects are ready or until we add better players

 

[leeroggy]

What if...

Nelson, Lee and Palmieri sign 1 yr @ 2 mil, each, next year. They get another shot at the cup, and we can afford another top-line player.

I love you Pot . . . but Sophie Marceau will be mine before that happens

 

[Chardo]

This no-talent team of underperformers, that can't score or hold a lead, is somehow in a playoff spot today.

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

This no-talent team of underperformers, that can't score or hold a lead, is somehow in a playoff spot today.

They will grind and squeeze out what they can, this has been shown of this core going back to Trotz. It hasn’t been good enough to win anything but they will not quit.

 

[Chockey22]

When healthy, I would have #13 center Duclair and Mclean. Roll three scoring lines and play the line that is going that night. LGI. What do I know...

why Mclean - just out of curiosity. I've seen much more from Holmstrom, Cizikas, even Engvall that would warrant play on the third line

What if...

Nelson, Lee and Palmieri sign 1 yr @ 2 mil, each, next year. They get another shot at the cup, and we can afford another top-line player.

Lee still has another year at 7 mil

 

[mm11]

Mclean can keep it simple and forecheck like crazy, dig pucks out. Short leash but would give it a look

kinda digging the Holstrom, #53 and Engvall line

 

[impaaaaaact]

Mclean can keep it simple and forecheck like crazy, dig pucks out. Short leash but would give it a look

kinda digging the Holstrom, #53 and Engvall line

Holmstrom has found a different gear the last few games. It feels like he’s driving the play for the first time in his career

 

[Throttle]

Here’s Lou’s thinking: what’s the replacement cost for Palms who is making 5M now and nets ~20+ in a full season?

- Henrique got 2/6 (3M) for a 34yr old
- Marcessault got 5/27.5 (5.5M) for a 34 yr old

Lou gave Duke 4/14 (3.5M) for a 29 yr old.

Eberle reupped in SEA for 2/9.5 (4.75M) for a 34 yr old.

Essentially, a Palms replacement is going to cost ~4M as a UFA.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Idk how it will work cap wise when guys come back but

Duclair-Barzal-Maclean
Horvat-Pageau-lee
Tsyplakov-Nelson-palms
Engvall-Cizikas-Holmstrom

Solid lineup 1-12

 

[LeapOnOver]

Holmstrom has found a different gear the last few games. It feels like he’s driving the play for the first time in his career

He's shown flashes of that. Let's just see if it becomes a consistent habit, or becomes Anthony Beauvillier.

 

[Chockey22]

Idk how it will work cap wise when guys come back but

Duclair-Barzal-Maclean
Horvat-Pageau-lee
Tsyplakov-Nelson-palms
Engvall-Cizikas-Holmstrom

Solid lineup 1-12

Just curious, what on earth has Maclean done to deserve first line minutes? He’s closer to healthy scratch than barzal’s wing. The fourth line should see 8 minutes of ice, and Maclean probably shouldn’t even see that much

 

[impaaaaaact]

Idk how it will work cap wise when guys come back but

Duclair-Barzal-Maclean
Horvat-Pageau-lee
Tsyplakov-Nelson-palms
Engvall-Cizikas-Holmstrom

Solid lineup 1-12

We would basically need to trade Pelech or Pulock to run that next year if we’re planning on signing Dobson and Romanov

Just curious, what on earth has Maclean done to deserve first line minutes? He’s closer to healthy scratch than barzal’s wing. The fourth line should see 8 minutes of ice, and Maclean probably shouldn’t even see that much

I think the thought process is that he was really good last year when he wasn’t playing center and Barzal is bad at draws. Plus his dad played on the top line

 

[Potvottier]

Lee still has another year at 7 mil

Ooops. That will teach me to trust my memory.

 

[Chockey22]

We would basically need to trade Pelech or Pulock to run that next year if we’re planning on signing Dobson and Romanov


I think the thought process is that he was really good last year when he wasn’t playing center and Barzal is bad at draws. Plus his dad played on the top line

I don’t get any fan base’s attachment to below replacement level fourth line grinders. Mclean was ok last year shooting an unsustainable 15% and put in a serviceable 30 games or so. He was another version of Fasching, looked ok as a grinder for a brief period of time, but probably doesn’t crack a legit contenders lineup. The fact that his dad is on the coaching staff is probably why he still in the lineup - time to expect more and move on, and absolutely keep him away from anything above the fourth line.