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Line Combos: The Power Play

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AWall THE CLAW

AWall THE CLAW

Registered User
Jul 23, 2010
2,384
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Now that we have a couple of snipers on the team in Gabby/Nash, and PP specialist/all-around beast John Mitchell signed for the big bucks in Denver, how would you put together the PP units? (assume the "center" is the front-of-the-net presence)

PP1:

Hagelin - Callahan - Nash

Girardi - Richards

I like this because you get your sniper out on the ice, Cally loves his garbage goals, Hags is awesome at puck-retrieval, Richie can QB, and Girardi has a bomb from the point that he has to use more often. Lefties are on the right, righties on the left so everyone can make that move to the center of the ice; with the exception of Hagelin because I think this group will tend to dump-and-chase and they need his speed.

PP2:

Stepan - Kreider - Gaborik

Stralman - Del Zotto

This line is based more around creativity up front. I'd keep DZ at the point as the QB and Stepan on the left half boards; both guys are creative passers. Stralman has shown willingness to take the shot from the point. Kreider and Gabby should have more freedom to move around the slot and the right circle to get in position to get a shot away. If this combination could get it through their heads that you have to move around and find the open ice, they could make things happen out there.
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This is where im most thrilled to have nash

This team has been in desperate need of someone with some form of hands on the powerplay

Having Nash and Richards on the ice at the same time should exponentially increase our ability to control the puck and actually set up a powerplay...which has easily been this teams biggest flaw since Jagr left
 
mentioned this in another thread, Richards and Stepan pretty much have to be the 2 Cs on the PP since the rest are not PP material

Nash, Richards, Gaborik
Del Zotto, Stralman

Kreider, Stepan, Callahan
McD or Staal , Girardi
 
PP1:

Hagelin/Stepan - Nash - Gaborik

Del Zotto - Richards

PP2:

Stepan/Hagelin - Callahan - Kreider

Stralman - McDonagh
 
I find it difficult to imagine Torts at least starting with something like:

Nash - Richards - Callahan
MDZ - Gabby

(with Richards dropping back to the point after the faceoff)

Then your second unit can roll out with

Hags/CK - Step - Boyle/Pyatt
McD/Girardi/Staal/Stralman (in some combination)
 
I'm not sure of which combos I'd like to see, but I certainly hope that Torts finds a way to limit PP time for Girardi, McDonaugh and Staal. None of them are really PP material and considering their heavy TOI over the season, they could use the rest. Richards, Del Zotto, Strålman could get more time on the point, maybe even the occasional doubleshift.
 
Nash-Richards-Callahan
Del Zotto - Gaborik

Kreider-Stepan- Hags
Girardi - Mcdonagh
 
I think Nash and Gaborik will be split at even strength to put opposing defenses under constant siege, but on the PP they will play together because 4 men will struggle vs an attack with Richards's shot and passing, Gaborik's goal scoring presence, Nash's puck possession, Callahan's goal mouth presence.
 
Forgot about the 5 on 3!

Gaborik
Nash
Richards
Kreider
Callahan

...go out there and do whatever you want. BOMBS AWAY, *****ES! :yo:
 
I wouldn't necessarily load the PP with only offensive players at the points. I wouldn't mind McD getting some PP time or DG or SOMEONE to work on a slapper from the point.

Nash-cally-Richards
DZ-McD
Kreider-Step-Gaborik
Danny-Stralman.

Slowly we need some offense developed into our D. Just a touch can make key differences.

Not sure why you'd want Boyle on the PP. he needs to rest for PK, 3rd line. If he's on the ice for 1 minute per PP, then in all likelihood, he will have 3 extra minutes every game + PK + 3rd line which are far more important and what we need from Boyle.
 
Having that said, if a typical 3-1-1 (forward OD-DD) doesn't work all that well, then load up the basis and throw Gabby-Richards-Nash-Cally-DZ out there for 90 seconds from time to time when were in need to score goals
 
In the end, I think everyone is going to get a chance at the PP. Who glues the PP together? Until we find the right combo, Hags, Step, Kreider, our entire defense, Pyatt and Boyle will all get a look, some more than others
 
kreider/richards/gaborik - kreider and nash could dance on the point, always have size in front
mcdonagh/nash - mcdonagh is safer than del zotto w/ 4 forwards

hagelin/stepan/callahan - get the puck and give it to the point-- maybe swap kreider and hagelin to add size to this line, but cally deflects pretty well on his own andi don't think they'll need the puck chase w/ nash, richards, gaborik, and kreider together
del zotto/girardi - girardi is getting better at shooting and he's shooting a lot more often. del zotto doesn't shoot enough. balances out.

updated: changed my mind
 
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Nash-Callahan-Gaborik
MDZ/Stralman-Richards
BR will take draws.
Cally will play in front of the net.
I think this group has to be given a chance out of the gate to be the #1 unit.

Kreider-Stepan-Hagelin
MDZ/Stralman-Mcdonagh
Kreider will play in front of the net, assuming he is on the team immediately.

Both Boyle and Pyatt will see some time.
And all of MDZ, McD, Stralman, Girardi and Staal will see time on both PP1 and 2.
 
PP1:
nash-richards-callahan
MDZ-gaborik

richards is in for the face off then moves up to the point after

PP2:
hagelin-stepan-kreider
richards/staal/mcdonagh-stralman

obviously PP2 is mediocre at best but PP1 might be the best PP line in the nhl, it could certainly give crosby and malkin on the same line a run for its money. also PP2 is not that bad when you consider what we have had for a 2nd PP in recent seasons mitchell? dubi? boyle? AA? (love AA dubi eh but they were both more defensive players same goes for BB and mitchell should never really have been near the PP although he was solid when he won that face off which became staal winning in OT against the caps)
 
Hopefully the PP is better this year. They still don't have a true trigger man. One thing that's been a trademark of Rangers hockey since the day Sergei Zubov was traded...the Power Play frustration :help:
 
Gaborik-Nylander :amazed: -Nash
Del Zotto-Richards

Callahan-Stepan-Kreider
Staal/McD - Stralman

Nash-Richards-Cally
Kreider/Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan
Hagelin/Kreider - Boyle - Pyatt
Rupp - Nylander - Asham/Halpern

McD - DG
Staal- Stralman
MDZ - Eminger/Bickel

Crazy but bringing in a pure PP specialist to play 4th line minutes and PP only is maybe not the dumbest thing. One thing that has not been tried at least (save Kotalik :facepalm:)
 
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