Take a shot: Opening night lineup

Hagelin has no business being a top 6 forward unless there are injuries.
Perfect bottom 6 player.

Nash:Richards:Callahan
Kreider:Stepan:Gaborik
Hagelin:Boyle : Pyatt
Asham:Halpern:Rupp

McDonagh:Girardi
Staal:Stralman
Del Zotto:Redden
 
Does Kreider's pathetic AHL play garner 1st line consideration right away?

This isnt the rollercoaster of the playoffs. Hes going to have to earn it now.

I think his showing in the playoffs is more important than in the AHL with a terrible team. Not a great excuse, but I don't think he was very motivated in the AHL.
 
don't sleep on JT Miller making this team, kids.

yea he wont be rushed. I imagine he doesnt even come to a short camp and goes back to CT.

Wondering why some say Asham LW and Rupp RW? Is Rupp not a LW/C and shoots Left while Asham shoots Right? Did they switch it up in Pittsburgh for some reason?
 
I think his showing in the playoffs is more important than in the AHL with a terrible team. Not a great excuse, but I don't think he was very motivated in the AHL.

While everyone drools over Kreider's playoff performance, it pro-rates to just over 20 goals and under 40 points in a full NHL season. Lets hope he can keep himself motivated without the adrenaline of the playoffs, too. This came along with some spotty play in the defensive/neutral zones.

Hes got a lot to learn.
 
Hagelin has no business being a top 6 forward unless there are injuries.
Perfect bottom 6 player.

Nash:Richards:Callahan
Kreider:Stepan:Gaborik
Hagelin:Boyle : Pyatt
Asham:Halpern:Rupp

McDonagh:Girardi
Staal:Stralman
Del Zotto:Redden

This is interesting. If they have to keep him (for this year) anyway and he counts against the cap anyway... is he a legitimate option at 3rd pairing RD?

He may well be - the only question is how creative (and quick) GMs are going to be to start wheeling and dealing under the new rules. Various posters have talked about dealing Wade for a guy who costs more to buy out in terms of real dollars and that would make a lot of sense too.
 
Nash-Richards-Gaborik
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan
Kreider-Boyle-???
Pyatt-Halpern-Asham

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-MDZ
Eminger-Stralman

I think we need to find a 3rd line RW in camp, be it Thomas, Miller, ect.

Replace Asham with Rupp as he's suspended. Maybe Hrivik/Miller get a shot for the first two games.
 
Nash, Richards, Callahan
Hagelin, Stepan, Gaborik
Kreider, Boyle, Pyatt
Rupp, Halpern, Haley


McDonagh, Girardi
Staal, Stralman
Del Zotto, Eminger


Lundqvist

If JT Miller can REALLY impress in camp, and Tortorella doesn't care about having some goons on the roster (which he's shown he definitely does care about), then he has an outside shot of making the team. Maybe he could be slotted in where I have Haley on opening night, but that depends who Torts likes early on.
 
JT Miller and Chad Kolarik have more then decent shots of being on this team.

I don't think it's wise to promote Miller this early, but he's going to have them thinking long and hard.
 
This is interesting. If they have to keep him (for this year) anyway and he counts against the cap anyway... is he a legitimate option at 3rd pairing RD?

He may well be - the only question is how creative (and quick) GMs are going to be to start wheeling and dealing under the new rules. Various posters have talked about dealing Wade for a guy who costs more to buy out in terms of real dollars and that would make a lot of sense too.

I am sorry, but I don't see anyway Redden is with the team. He will be traded to a team looking to get to the cap floor or he will be buried in the minors and we will take the hit, Torts doesn't want any part of him.
 
my guess is
Nash-Richards-Gaborik
Kreider-Stepan-Callahan
Hagelin-Boyle-Pyatt
Rupp-Halpern-Asham

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-MDZ
Eminger-Stralman
 
Nash - Richards - Callahan
Kreider - Stepan - Gaborik
Hagelin - Boyle - *Arnott
Pyatt - Rupp/Halpern - Asham/Rupp

McD - G
Staal - MDZ
?? - Stralman
King
Biron

I want another bottom six forward and think we need a better option on the bottom pairing. If Redden is hungry in camp I'd let him play there as he'll likely be better than Bickel or Eminger and a vet could help in our playoff run. Gotta pay him? If he can contribute in that role, play him. Also lots of reports that Miller will get a legit look, but I can't see him sticking for more than a few games.
 
Hagelin can also 100% play a top 6 role.

Hags was a key player in us advancing in the 1st and 2nd round in the playoffs, he pushed the pace for Richards and Gabby, so all this talk about him being a 3rd liner is nonsense to me. Players may look like something on paper, but that doesn't mean anything. Remember when we had a rookie goalie named Lundqvist and Kevin Weekes... look at how that worked out.

Also I agree on Kolarik possibly making this team, but he is not a 4th liner. He needs to be on the 3rd line to be successful at the NHL level.
 
While everyone drools over Kreider's playoff performance, it pro-rates to just over 20 goals and under 40 points in a full NHL season. Lets hope he can keep himself motivated without the adrenaline of the playoffs, too. This came along with some spotty play in the defensive/neutral zones.

Hes got a lot to learn.
I think Kreider was working on other parts of his game in the AHL. Lets face it the whales dont have a very talented team so kreider's production will go up when he plays with stepan/richards
 
What is this Kolarik might make the team nonsense? He turns 27 this month and has managed to appear in 6 NHL games in his life with 1 point. But not only does he have a 'real chance' of making the team, it'll be in the top nine? Right... Not on a team that wants to call itself a contender. There's a reason he's only been given 6 games so far by 27 years old. He was drafted 8 years ago and hasn't earned a real look in the NHL. This is supposed to be our year and he's somehow magically going to get his chance here?
 
Kreiders offensive play in the playoffs was due to Stepan setting him up. Kreider needs to play with a playmaker to be successful. He really isn't the type to create on his own.
 
I'd start with the following:

Hagelin - Richards - Gaborik
Nash - Stepan - Callahan
Kreider - Boyle - Pyatt
Rupp - Halpern - Asham
Haley

McDonagh - Girardi
Staal - Stralman
Del Zotto - Eminger/Bickel

Torts has indicated his preference for Gaborik to have a left-handed center (and that first line had a stretch of great chemistry last year). Conversely, I expect Torts would like to give Stepan a chance playing with an elite winger on his strong side.

this with the only adjustment is having Kreider play with Richards and Gabby and Hagelin on the 3rd line.

Reason being is that Kreider needs a playmaker and Boyle aint it. Plus having the calming influence of Richards would be better than Stepan.

Kreider - Richards - Gaborik
Nash - Stepan - Callahan
Hagelin - Boyle - Pyatt
Rupp - Halpern - Asham

the rest that you posted is good.
 
Cally will not be a third liner on this team. I think that's pretty much a given.

If Hags is ready to go:

Nash - Richards - Callahan
Kreider - Stepan - Gaborik
Hagelin - Boyle - Pyatt
Asham - Halpern - Rupp

I actually like this line!!

and btw, we're talking HOCKEY now boys.
 
What is this Kolarik might make the team nonsense? He turns 27 this month and has managed to appear in 6 NHL games in his life with 1 point. But not only does he have a 'real chance' of making the team, it'll be in the top nine? Right... Not on a team that wants to call itself a contender. There's a reason he's only been given 6 games so far by 27 years old. He was drafted 8 years ago and hasn't earned a real look in the NHL. This is supposed to be our year and he's somehow magically going to get his chance here?

Kolarik provides nothing on the 4th line, think Enver Lisin or Petr Prucha on the 4th line and all of their "production." If we are looking for an extra 4th line body Newbury or Haley will get that shot, Kolarik is a skilled player who didn't look too bad in his time with the Rangers 2 seasons ago.

I remember another player close to Kolarik's age who had no business being on the big team a few years ago, PA Parenteau and look at how well that one worked out for us. Age is a number, if he fits into out system, plays his heart out, and can produce I don't care where he came from or that he is 27.
 
I could see why some people would put Callahan on the 3rd line (gives us a scoring threat on that line)

Hagelin-Richards-Gaborik
Nash - Stepan - Kreider
Pyatt-Boyle-Callahan
 

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