HockeyVirus
Woll stan.
- Nov 15, 2020
- 19,582
- 30,016
I'll take a stab at my ideal lines
McMann - Matthews - Domi - Think this is the same mold as what worked well down the stretch for us
Knies - Holmberg - Nylander - I think Knies and Holmberg complement each other well in how they play down low, and Nylander and Knies complement each other at making high speed plays.
Jarnkrok/prospect - Tavares - Marner - Yes that is an expensive third line but I think if they roll the top 9 lines and can double shift Marner it makes us incredibly deep
Dewar - Kampf - Reaves/whoever else
IMO that forward group is pretty deep. Helps sell the team identity as well that everyone is needed if each line has star power on it. Subject to change if a kid shows they are ready.
Defense:
Rielly - Tanev - We need this pairing to work. Maybe they can't play 25 min outside of serious situations but this is clearly our best pair.
OEL - Liljegren - Time has come to let Liljegren show if he can be a top 4 dman or not. Give him 25 games and re-evaluate from there.
McCabe - Benoit - Ideal third pairing D on a contending team. Not sure there is another team who has a clear better bottom pair than this.
Overall, I think defense is still the weak spot of the roster unless we have a few guys take steps. I think forward group is "worse" but still deep. And goaltending has some questions.
This is a roster I think is deep and if things go right, can win.
McMann - Matthews - Domi - Think this is the same mold as what worked well down the stretch for us
Knies - Holmberg - Nylander - I think Knies and Holmberg complement each other well in how they play down low, and Nylander and Knies complement each other at making high speed plays.
Jarnkrok/prospect - Tavares - Marner - Yes that is an expensive third line but I think if they roll the top 9 lines and can double shift Marner it makes us incredibly deep
Dewar - Kampf - Reaves/whoever else
IMO that forward group is pretty deep. Helps sell the team identity as well that everyone is needed if each line has star power on it. Subject to change if a kid shows they are ready.
Defense:
Rielly - Tanev - We need this pairing to work. Maybe they can't play 25 min outside of serious situations but this is clearly our best pair.
OEL - Liljegren - Time has come to let Liljegren show if he can be a top 4 dman or not. Give him 25 games and re-evaluate from there.
McCabe - Benoit - Ideal third pairing D on a contending team. Not sure there is another team who has a clear better bottom pair than this.
Overall, I think defense is still the weak spot of the roster unless we have a few guys take steps. I think forward group is "worse" but still deep. And goaltending has some questions.
This is a roster I think is deep and if things go right, can win.