This is our best top 6 (at forward) since.....?

[Frk It]

Well per the tweet 8 mintues ago from Ansar Khan, looks like we are going to open the season with a top 6 of DeBrincat, Larkin, Raymond, Kane, Compher, Tarasenko.

Not sure about the rest of the lineup, but I think that is a pretty good top 6. (I know Kane and Tarasenko are older, but still)

Is this the best top 6 we have had since Datsyuk or Z were on the team? What do you all think?

Click to read more...

 

[ShanahanMan]

Well per the tweet 8 mintues ago from Ansar Khan, looks like we are going to open the season with a top 6 of DeBrincat, Larkin, Raymond, Kane, Compher, Tarasenko.

Not sure about the rest of the lineup, but I think that is a pretty good top 6. (I know Kane and Tarasenko are older, but still)

Is this the best top 6 we have had since Datsyuk or Z were on the team? What do you all think?

Compher is a 3rd/4th line C playing a 2nd line role. If we had a good center there I would agree but that downgrades the line significantly

 

[Retire91]

We have been playing forward units for a long time now that I would not even consider NHL level forward units. This is the first season since I can remember in a long time where we are icing a legit top 6. Our second unit is past its prime but that is a lot of competency. Yes this is easily the best forward group we have had since the last time the wings were relevant

Compher is in a 'best we can do for now' position which I agree downgrades the line significantly. If we hav e aprospect winger and C land in the next 1 or 2 seasons we will really be cooking.

 

[Frk It]

Compher is a 3rd/4th line C playing a 2nd line role. If we had a good center there I would agree but that downgrades the line significantly

Find me a 3/4C that puts up 50 points.

 

[norrisnick]

Compher isn't even the worst player of the six listed.

 

[datsyukfan]

Compher is a 3rd/4th line C playing a 2nd line role. If we had a good center there I would agree but that downgrades the line significantly

Compher is definitely not a 4C he’s a great 3C imo

 

[izlez]

COMPHER BEING BAD DOESN'T PREVENT THE TOP 6 FROM BEING THE BEST WE'VE HAD IN SEVERAL YEARS.

 

[ShanahanMan]

Find me a 3/4C that puts up 50 points.

He'll have higher points because again, he's being forced to play 2C and with really good linemates. However if we want to talk about skill level, I would say the majority of teams have a better 2C and some even a better 3C (Lowry, Lundell, Henrique, Haula)

Compher is definitely not a 4C he’s a great 3C imo

"Good" 3C I'll agree with.

 

[SoupNazi]

He'll have higher points because again, he's being forced to play 2C and with really good linemates. However if we want to talk about skill level, I would say the majority of teams have a better 2C and some even a better 3C (Lowry, Lundell, Henrique, Haula)

You didn't answer the question. I'm not surprised, but still.

 

[ShanahanMan]

You didn't answer the question. I'm not surprised, but still.

I acknowledged the question though. He's got 50 points because of his placement. Most of his time in COL was on the 3rd line.

 

[Frk It]

He'll have higher points because again, he's being forced to play 2C and with really good linemates. However if we want to talk about skill level, I would say the majority of teams have a better 2C and some even a better 3C (Lowry, Lundell, Henrique, Haula)


"Good" 3C I'll agree with.

He was the 2C on a very good Colorado team, I think he’s fine in that role for us.

 

[RRhoads]

What is the average points for a 2C?

 

[Our Lady Peace]

What is the average points for a 2C?

"Point-per-game"

- ShanahanMan, probably

 

[lilidk]

Top 2 lines and only Larkin plays physical game. Better move Tarasenko to third line and bring Kasper to play top 6 wing.
Not gonna happen

 

[Gniwder]

He'll have higher points because again, he's being forced to play 2C and with really good linemates. However if we want to talk about skill level, I would say the majority of teams have a better 2C and some even a better 3C (Lowry, Lundell, Henrique, Haula)


"Good" 3C I'll agree with.

Compher's 48 points would have put him 63rd in points as a center on NHL.com, but they have a few players that played wing, not center. Statistically, he's a very bottom end 2C. Contenders usually have 1A/1B type centers.

Production goes down when wingers get stuck playing with Compher instead of DBoss, I'm not really sure how much Tank will produce with Compher as center.

What is the average points for a 2C?

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Best top 6 since maybe 2014-15 with;

Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Nyquist, Tatar, and Abdelkader

Mule missed a lot of time that season and spelled the end of his career sadly

 

[Gniwder]

COMPHER BEING BAD DOESN'T PREVENT THE TOP 6 FROM BEING THE BEST WE'VE HAD IN SEVERAL YEARS.

On paper it looks better, we'll see how it actually works out.

 

[Snuggs]

COMPHER BEING BAD DOESN'T PREVENT THE TOP 6 FROM BEING THE BEST WE'VE HAD IN SEVERAL YEARS.

Nyquist/Tatar/Datsyuk/Zetterberg which was what... 2015? Almost 10 years.

Best forward group in 10 years I'll say.

 

[Henkka]

Find me a 3/4C that puts up 50 points.

Sam Bennett. Worse points/game than Compher as Stanley Cup winner 2C.

 

[Frk It]

Yeah I think this is the bright spot of this team for me. Kind of excited to see these two units play and I think we should be able to create chances on the power play with these guys as well.

Would have liked to see the team improve more overall, but I am excited to watch these guys play.

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

Just looking at points doesn't do Compher justice. He's a solid two-way player either at RW or C and is an adequate 2C at this point for the Wings. The suggestion he is only a 3rd/4th line player is nonsense. He wouldn't be on any team's 4th line. His last year in Colorado he was third among forwards in ES TOI. Better than anyone in that role for Detroit since Dats/Z and not much different overall than Filppula. The top six as indicated is the best in about a decade and still needs to get better.

 

[dalem177]

OK, normally I try to leave my questions til GDTs but...

Can someone HERE (i.e. not a copy-pasta from NHL.com) give me a quick explanation of the difference between wingers and center? I understand the positioning but hockey is so reactive I don't get the "he's the playmaker and they're the shooters" or whatever.

Thanks!

 

[Gniwder]

OK, normally I try to leave my questions til GDTs but...

Can someone HERE (i.e. not a copy-pasta from NHL.com) give me a quick explanation of the difference between wingers and center? I understand the positioning but hockey is so reactive I don't get the "he's the playmaker and they're the shooters" or whatever.

Thanks!

It's whatever they self identify as, the birth position doesn't matter. The NHL is very progressive.

 

[saska sault]

Top 6 is solid on paper. Think it's the best in a long time considering how the last 8 to 10 years have gone. Let's hope they click on the ice.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Tarasenko is more of a 3rd liner at this stage so I’m not sure it’s as good as people think. I don’t think he’s much of an upgrade on Perron. We also lost depth scoring in Sprong and Fabbri and replaced that with Berggren and Watson, so IMO the forwards are a wash compared to last season.