Starting lineup regular season

[JackieDaytona]

Jenik has looked good. Seems like everyone has forgotten Ostapchuk, who I thought was favored for that 4c role in the offseason. They’ve both looked good imo.

 

[Micklebot]

Jenik has looked good. Seems like everyone has forgotten Ostapchuk, who I thought was favored for that 4c role in the offseason. They’ve both looked good imo.

I think Jenik gets that last spot over Ostapchuk, who I had pencilled in prior to training camp.

Even if they had equivalent camps, Ostapchuk is waiver exempt so that gives Jenik the upper hand

 

[Tuna99]

We need to get word to Nick Jensen that his duty to Sens nation is to do the Chris Phillips goal celebration - the greatest goal celebration in Sens history - because he’s that guy and we love that celebration. Do it Nick, for us fans. Instant love guaranteed

 

[Icelevel]

Guess crooker has to keep working at it. Most probably had him making it somehow. I was hoping he would but didn’t see enough from him unfortunately.

 

[ottawah]

I'd really want Ostapchuk to get at least one more year in the AHL. I believe he would develop a lot more getting prime minutes with top linemates every night as opposed to 4th line scraps. He can be another Nick Paul type of player IMO and for that he needs more seasoning. Paul took 4 years of seasoning, Ostapchuk could use at least one more. Its not like he'd be a difference maker in making the playoffs based on potential replacements.

 

[DackellDuck]

I'm guessing we'll see:

Tkachuk - Stützle - Giroux
Norris - Pinto - Batherson
Perron - Greig - Amadio
Gregor - Jenik - Cousins
MacEwen

Chabot - Jensen
Sanderson - Hamonic
Kleven - Zub
Bernard-Docker

*I know Green has said he wants Norris to be at C, but with how cautious they're being with him, I wouldn't be surprised if he starts at LW.

Ostapchuk the first call up and ends up with 30-40 games in the NHL this year.

I also don't think the D pairings will start how people here will want them. I'd guess that Green keeps Sanderson with Hamonic and insulates Kleven with Zub or Jensen (the other goes with Chabot).

 

[Micklebot]

I'm thinking something like this might work,

Tkachuk - Stützle - Batherson
Greig - Norris - Perron
Amadio - Pinto - Giroux
Gregor - Jenik - Cousins

Sanderson - Zub
Chabot - Jensen
Kleven - Hamonic/JBD

There is no distinction between 2nd and 3rd lines, so don't get hung up on the order. I'd also like to get Yakemchuk a game or two before sending him back

 

[Answer]

I'm thinking something like this might work,

Tkachuk - Stützle - Batherson
Greig - Norris - Perron
Amadio - Pinto - Giroux
Gregor - Jenik - Cousins

Sanderson - Zub
Chabot - Jensen
Kleven - Hamonic/JBD

There is no distinction between 2nd and 3rd lines, so don't get hung up on the order. I'd also like to get Yakemchuk a game or two before sending him back

That 2nd line will not score any ES goals and Green will be forced to break all 3 lines. Pinto and Giroux won't be lighting it up either playing with Amadio

 

[DackellDuck]

That 2nd line will not score any ES goals and Green will have be forced to break all 3 lines. Pinto and Giroux won't be lighting it up either playing with Amadio

I think a lot of people will be surprised with Greig this year. He's an underrated playmaker.

 

[LuckyPierre]

Tkachuk - Stutzle - Norris
Perron - Pinto - Batherson
Cousins - Greig - Giroux
Gregor - Jenik - Amadio

Sanderson - Jensen
Chabot - Zub
Kleven - Hamonic

I've shifted my summer alignment in light of a few factors:
- Norris should not be taking faceoffs
- Jenik camp performance to date
- Cousins signing

I've got Norris playing his off side on the first line, as he would be the only right wing skater capable of keeping pace with Stutzle, while his left shot one timer would be maximized and he'd be the third faceoff option. He'd be breaking out blind which means potential for shoulder contact, but let's face it, Stutzle is a one man breakout machine much of the time.

Perron on the left is not ideal, but he's skilled on the boards on his backhand for the breakout, he'd have quality linemates, and his right shot one timer is open in the offensive zone.

I slotted Giroux down on the third line simply because he loses his legs after the first half of his shifts and would be in a position to fail with top 6 minutes. He can produce just fine against middle/bottom six even strength opposition given the skill gap.

Fourth line centre is clearly up for debate, with Jenik ahead at the moment. Haven't seen enough from Highmore; Gaudette is a skill guy and minus player who won't play heavy enough. Ostapchuk can still make it with a strong week, and this roster could use his frame and grit. But Jenik is battling well.

 

[Micklebot]

That 2nd line will not score any ES goals and Green will be forced to break all 3 lines. Pinto and Giroux won't be lighting it up either playing with Amadio

VGK had no issues producing with Amadio on their 2nd line during their cup run two years ago, and Greig had solid 5v5 production as a rookie last year, i don't think it will be an issue, particularly since the opposition will have to worry about us rolling three lines wave after wave.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

VGK had no issues producing with Amadio on their 2nd line during their cup run two years ago, and Greig had solid 5v5 production as a rookie last year, i don't think it will be an issue, particularly since the opposition will have to worry about us rolling three lines wave after wave.

Joseph being on the 1st line had support, yet putting a guy on the 2nd line that scores goals at a higher rate the last 3 years is somehow not reasonable. I think people are underrating Amadio. Such a smart player out there imo even though his foot speed is much less than Joseph's.

 

[Micklebot]

MacEwen is pretty useless, and Gregor seems like an ideal 13th forward.

What if we keep up both Jenik and Ostapchuk, with Gregor coming in whenever someone is struggling?

(not lines just rattling off the top 9)
Tkachuk-Stu-Batherson
Greig-Pinto-Perron
Amadio-Norris-Giroux
---------
Jenik-Ostapchuk-Cousins
ex. Gregor

I think this could give us two identity lines,
Greig and Perron on the third (which whoever their center ends up being, I guess Greig could center) along with that 4th line would really have the potential of driving teams nuts.


I like that both Ostapchuk and Jenik will drop gloves if needed, that takes away the need for MacEwen to be in the lineup. Jenik has been hard on the forcheck, I think Ostapchuk might take his cues from Jenik and Cousins in terms of intensity, might be helpful for his game.

I haven't been happy with Ostapchuk (expected more) but I do think he's been one of our best 13 forwards.

 

[Senovision]

We don't have anyone on our team to make sure other teams pay when they do something to our players....Chabot, Sanderson, Jensen, Zub, Kleven, JBD, Hamonic are not intimidating.
We need to have at least one defenceman that is extremely tough and intimidating and keeps other teams honest. We have 7 figure skaters back there. The NHL is a contact league and the temperature in any game can change quickly.

 

[Micklebot]

We don't have anyone on our team to make sure other teams pay when they do something to our players....Chabot, Sanderson, Jensen, Zub, Kleven, JBD, Hamonic are not intimidating.
We need to have at least one defenceman that is extremely tough and intimidating and keeps other teams honest. We have 7 figure skaters back there. The NHL is a contact league and the temperature in any game can change quickly.

Do you need to be intimidating to try and chicken wing someone in the head? Because that's the only "intimidating" Xhekaj did. Doesn't matter who we had on the team, it's not going to stop an idiot from being an idiot,

Dmen being your police is also problematic, losing a D for 5 and a game messes everything up, losing a 4th liner is nothing. That's why guys like Macdermid and Rempe works, nobody missed their 6 mins.

 

[Senovision]

Do you need to be intimidating to try and chicken wing someone in the head? Because that's the only "intimidating" Xhekaj did. Doesn't matter who we had on the team, it's not going to stop an idiot from being an idiot,

Dmen being your police is also problematic, losing a D for 5 and a game messes everything up, losing a 4th liner is nothing. That's why guys like Macdermid and Rempe works, nobody missed their 6 mins.

What? You misunderstood my post. No where did I post about condoning that kind of intimidation.
Think more Chris Neil.. He was intimidating but did not do dirty bs.
But we need physical defensemen. And just by being a physical presence you can curtail a lot of dirty crap from other teams players.

 

[Micklebot]

What? I did not post that kind of intimidation did I? I dont condone it.
Think more Chris Neil.. He was intimidating but did not do dirty bs.

I asked the question because nobody is intimidated by the threat of a fight, if they were Xhekaj wouldn't have been kicked out of two games in a row.

The game has changed since Neil was a regular, if we had a Rempe in the lineup, it wouldn't change anything, the only thing it would accomplish is us not caring about the guy being gone for 5 mins after the fight that didn't prevent anything happens.

 

[Senovision]

I asked the question because nobody is intimidated by the threat of a fight, if they were Xhekaj wouldn't have been kicked out of two games in a row.

The game has changed since Neil was a regular, if we had a Rempe in the lineup, it wouldn't change anything, the only thing it would accomplish is us not caring about the guy being gone for 5 mins after the fight that didn't prevent anything happens.

Hockey is a physical game. And you need that dimension in your forwards and defensemen.
Staois is trying to make the team more physical and likes size.

 

[Micklebot]

Hockey is a physical game. And you need that dimension in your forwards and defensemen.
Staois is trying to make the team more physical and likes size.

Ok.

He shipped out Kastelic and Kelly and brought in two smaller guys in Cousins and Gregor who don't fight.

He moved out Chychrun for Jensen who is far from physical.

I think he's focused more on compete level than fighting, Perron, Amadio, and Cousins don't intimidate anyone but they all compete hard.

Fighters fight other fighters these days, fantastic we could have a 5 min a night guy to fight Xhekaj, doesn't prevent anyone from running around though.

 

[Senovision]

They weren't doing their jobs here.
Nobody wants to move their ohysical players as long as they are still being effective.
The draft by Staois group were physical players for the most part.

 

[NyQuil]

I'd really want Ostapchuk to get at least one more year in the AHL. I believe he would develop a lot more getting prime minutes with top linemates every night as opposed to 4th line scraps. He can be another Nick Paul type of player IMO and for that he needs more seasoning. Paul took 4 years of seasoning, Ostapchuk could use at least one more. Its not like he'd be a difference maker in making the playoffs based on potential replacements.

Probably one of the first on the injury call-up list too.

We need to have at least one defenceman that is extremely tough and intimidating and keeps other teams honest. We have 7 figure skaters back there. The NHL is a contact league and the temperature in any game can change quickly.

I wouldn't call Kleven a figure skater.

He has yet to show it at the NHL level but his resume is full of huge hits like an Andy Sutton.

 

[Micklebot]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843314964683260051

Giroux is missing practice with the new baby


Edit: This suggests Cousins drops down when giroux is back and pushes macEwen out,

 

[DackellDuck]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843314964683260051

Giroux is missing practice with the new baby


Edit: This suggests Cousins drops down when giroux is back and pushes macEwen out,

A nicely balance lineup that’s a lot more complete than in years past.

With that said, looking at those lines, I don’t think goals are going to come all that easy, so we need to get a lot more comfortable trying to win 3-2 or 2-1, and Ullmark needs to be very good.

 

[DackellDuck]

Garrioch speculates that the Sens may be looking at a depth LD on waivers.

Tyler Tucker could fit the bill. Blues fans seem to like him but they want to make room for a younger player.

Big shot, physical, can fight… but not a great skater.

 

[Micklebot]

A nicely balance lineup that’s a lot more complete than in years past.

With that said, looking at those lines, I don’t think goals are going to come all that easy, so we need to get a lot more comfortable trying to win 3-2 or 2-1, and Ullmark needs to be very good.

Last year goal pace in brackets:

Tkachuk (37) - Stutzle (18 - 41 2yrs ago) - Giroux (21)
Greig (15 as a rookie) - Norris (26) - Batherson (28)
Perron (18) - Pinto (18) - Amadio (16)
Gregor (8) - Ostapchuk (0) - Cousins (8)


So, is Stutzle a 40 goal guy or 20, is Norris a 25g guy or 35, is Greig going to improve in year two, can Pinto move up?