GDT: Running Preseason GDT | Game 7 | PIT @ CBJ | 7 PM EST

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stevo61

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Jul 5, 2011
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Of course this is preseason and things aren't ramped up yet but I do like some of the on ice things I'm seeing already. Some guys look a lot better on the ice physically and the guys are working hard, looks like we may have a forecheck this year. I know the overall standings probably won't be great this year but I still think it can and will be an overall positive season in many regards for the future
 

AnonCommentary

Registered User
Jun 4, 2024
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Anyone have a report on how Jiricek looked?
I thought good actually but imo I can still see his skating is going to cause some issues for him. He’s using his reach though. Had a play tonight behind the net where broke it up well. Not the first time he’s done it this preseason either which is good to see. Still taking some risky pinches but I haven’t seen any awful rushes the other way when he’s doing it. Had a nicely timed pinch in the 2nd where he got the puck and turned it into a 2 on 1 for us. Gotten a few shots to the net from the point. He and Matey had a nice passing play to Kuraly who just shot an absolute muffin. The nice thing about Mateychuk being with him is I think they have a lot of familiarity together so they were able to really build off one another. The stats Jeff Svoboda posted earlier are reflective of that. It’s not the final product of Jiricek but it was a good thing to see. Hopefully it serves as a starting block for him to improve consistently.
 

majormajor

Registered User
Jun 23, 2018
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Of course this is preseason and things aren't ramped up yet but I do like some of the on ice things I'm seeing already. Some guys look a lot better on the ice physically and the guys are working hard, looks like we may have a forecheck this year. I know the overall standings probably won't be great this year but I still think it can and will be an overall positive season in many regards for the future

A two-man forecheck is infinitely more fun to watch than a one-man. A one-man is just playing pretend.
 
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HighNote

Just one more Cup
Jul 1, 2014
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Hi, Blues fan coming in peace. I didn't know where else to put this, but I was just wondering what you guys think your starting lineup will look like come game 1 of the regular season. Assume everyone's healthy.
 

Doggy

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Oct 11, 2011
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Hi, Blues fan coming in peace. I didn't know where else to put this, but I was just wondering what you guys think your starting lineup will look like come game 1 of the regular season. Assume everyone's healthy.
If you want a roster, look at the post right above yours (add Gudbranson and probably Jordan Harris). If you want lines, I am still not confident they are set.

I don't love the Jenner-Monahan-Marchenko top line that has been pushed during the pre-season. That line needs more playmaking so I prefer...

1) Kent Johnson - Monahan - Marchenko (KJ is the only guy with the skillset to complement Money and Marchy)
2) Fantilli centering two guys (I prefer JvR - Mo - Chinny)
3) Sillinger centering two guys (I prefer Boone - Silly - Vronk) Really I prefer Vronk in the middle...but whatever.
4) Pyyhtia - Kuraly - Olivier

My guess is Boone and JvR could swap so there are two guys who can take face-offs on the two middle lines.
 
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CannonFire1

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Jun 22, 2023
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If you want a roster, look at the post right above yours (add Gudbranson and probably Jordan Harris). If you want lines, I am still not confident they are set.

I don't love the Jenner-Monahan-Marchenko top line that has been pushed during the pre-season. That line needs more playmaking so I prefer...

1) Kent Johnson - Monahan - Marchenko (KJ is the only guy with the skillset to complement Money and Marchy)
2) Fantilli centering two guys (I prefer JvR - Mo - Chinny)
3) Sillinger centering two guys (I prefer Boone - Silly - Vronk) Really I prefer Vronk in the middle...but whatever.
4) Pyyhtia - Kuraly - Olivier

My guess is Boone and JvR could swap so there are two guys who can take face-offs on the two middle lines.
I would swap Jenner and JVR in this alignment. Otherwise, I think the only question mark is 4th line LW. Could be Pythia, or O. Sillinger or Gambrell. D could also include Harris and/or Mateychuk.
 

Doggy

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Oct 11, 2011
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I would swap Jenner and JVR in this alignment. Otherwise, I think the only question mark is 4th line LW. Could be Pythia, or O. Sillinger or Gambrell. D could also include Harris and/or Mateychuk.
I agree JvR and Boone could easily swap.

I assume Harris cannot be sent down without passing through waivers and doubt GMDW will risk it so either he finds a trading partner or Harris makes the roster as a 6-8.

I could see any of those three being on the fourth line until Danforth is ready. I have not really noticed Gambrell but Pyythia and O Sillinger have looked capable of playing fourth line minutes. My assumption is that Pyythia has the inside track since he’s in this particular lineup tonight of all NHLers and O-Silly and Gambrell are not.
 
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thebus88

19/20 Columbus Blue Jackets: "It Is What It Is"
Sep 27, 2017
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-IMO extremely relevant to Malatesta-

Who I now think should 100% be on the CBJ roster.

What are people’s opinions on Kuraly? I think he’s extremely overrated defensively/on the PK, and I don’t think he’s that great at faceoffs. To add, I think there’s players in the past that have been attacked for a similar amount and style of “dumb” or “lazy” penalties he seems to take. He has no intimidation aspect to him that guys like Olivier/Gudbranson brings, nor do I get the true “veteran leadership” aura from him from everything I’ve seen.

He doesn’t bring that pest energy that Olivier and Malatesta bring, nor does he have the offensive ability of either. IMO Kuraly (and a guy like Provorov) are a disaster on the PK, and I hate they keep getting trotted out there for them. Malatesta can take faceoffs just as good as Kuraly.

Even guys like Sillinger and McKown are better players and guys you can put at center, while putting guys like Malatesta and Pyyhtia (another superior player to Kuraly) on the wing, or drop JVR down in the lineup where he possibly deserves, when fully healthy.

Gambrell is there also, and quite frankly Gaudet actually brings SIZE and an “edge” that would work well in that 4C/PK role also.
 

thebus88

19/20 Columbus Blue Jackets: "It Is What It Is"
Sep 27, 2017
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Michigan
Don’t like the top line. Monahan-Jenner together, or Marchenko with them. Don’t think it’s looked very good either. Changing lines too quickly is bad, but, so is keeping them together too long.

JVR continues to play too high on the lineup, IMO. If the “top 9” or “middle 6” play the same amounts I guess it’s fine, it just seems he’s kinda being “forced” into the lineup higher than he should be.

I can see that 3rd line being the best line in the game, and hopefully getting the icetime to match. While I still think there’s better options at C, or on the roster in general, Sillinger could “thrive” between those 2.

Fully expect Provorov to be “exposed”, as usual, and the JJ-Jiricek pairing to fail, after Jiricek had a pretty good game last game.

Also, elephant in the room. Greaves IS probably our best goalie, and that’s NOT a god thing.
 

majormajor

Registered User
Jun 23, 2018
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They're trying new things with the D pairs but not really at all at F.

On D, it's interesting that Provorov is getting a chance with Werenski, I say why not. Christiansen getting a chance with Severson is great, though Severson hasn't really shown up late, I'm not sure if he'll be much help. We'll see how much possession Jiricek and JJ have together.

The only change I can see up front is that KJ and Chinakhov have switched spots. I personally like that a lot, I want to see our best playmaker with Fantilli.

Same topline since the start of camp despite them not looking good to most of us here. They objectively have not done much. I'm curious if this is Evason's pet idea.
 

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