Speculation: Who is the high quality player on your team who just isn't meshing on any lines?
- Thread starter mondo3
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Moose Head
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I’m pushing the definition of high quality here, but IMO Josh Anderson could be a consistent 30 goal scorer if he ever found chemistry with a center. I’m thinking the kind of bump a guy like Al Secord got when he was paired with D Savard.
Crow
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HugeInTheShire
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Dispite having 4 goals and 5 assists in the first 9 games, Timo Meier still can't find a line he fits on.
Since February 1st he has 23 goals and 43 points in 44 games and actually has a higher points per game than Hughes and Bratt. Leads the team in points and +/- to start this year.
The idea that Meier is washed/overrated or doesn’t fit in or was a bad trade and signing for New Jersey is simply an urban legend at this point.
Kevin poopy pants Fiala… boy do the Kings need a young RHD like Faber about now
HugeInTheShire
You may not like me but, I'm Huge in the Shire
I don't think he's washed or overrated in the slightest, he doesn't mesh with Hughes or Bratt. With Hischier and Mercer he's been a lot better, but he still looks out of place.
IMO the fact that he can still put up points while looking out of sync with his linemates speaks to his talent.
miscs75
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StIvany4Norris
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Seattle King
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Kevin Fiala's hubris is unmatchable. I hate you Rob Blake for all you have done.
Fist of Fury
Wang Chung
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I'm not sure, but they might have ask'd Dobson from Isles, wheeh dodged a bullet. Could've been Milbury esque trade.
VaporTrail
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Got him for an absolute steal of a deal though! He still rather be a DJ than a hockey player I'm guessing? lolMika Zibanejad, i wish he’d request a trade but stuck with him
The Fiala trade was amazing compared to PLD, omfg, does Rob Blake not watch hockey at all anymore? You have my sympathy, him and Ronny Franchise are in a "worst GM in the league" comp I think
From the good problem to have department, the Caps have two really good lines at the moment, too good to mess with, really. They have a scoring line of McMichael-Dubois-Wilson that is firing on all cylinders, producing goals and also getting the toughest assignments against the other team's best line five-on-five each night.
They also have a checking/energy line, of Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh, which has assumed the identity of Dowd's line from last year, and done it seamlessly. They maintain and regain possession and make life pretty miserable for the opponent. Relentless on the puck. Can eat up minutes, if you don't watch it, because they're so effective.
Typically, these are the second and fourth lines. Yet they do so many things that they're more 1b and 3b in terms of ice time and opportunity.
It's left the rest of the team sort of unable to find line chemistry. When the coach wants to make changes to juice a line combo, he's forced to mix and match from his first and third lines. Neither line is doing a ton. Strome plays with Ovechkin and they've had a revolving door of linemates. An island of misfit toys makes up the third line and bench.
They also have a checking/energy line, of Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh, which has assumed the identity of Dowd's line from last year, and done it seamlessly. They maintain and regain possession and make life pretty miserable for the opponent. Relentless on the puck. Can eat up minutes, if you don't watch it, because they're so effective.
Typically, these are the second and fourth lines. Yet they do so many things that they're more 1b and 3b in terms of ice time and opportunity.
It's left the rest of the team sort of unable to find line chemistry. When the coach wants to make changes to juice a line combo, he's forced to mix and match from his first and third lines. Neither line is doing a ton. Strome plays with Ovechkin and they've had a revolving door of linemates. An island of misfit toys makes up the third line and bench.
I thought about this too - though i think it's MSL strategy that is hurting Anderson. You have players that are north-south and need someone with a board putting X and Os where he needs to go.
Then you have players who dont function with X and Os, and who want and need a general idea of what is needed but the liberty to make it happen as they see fit to succeed.
MSL's ideology is definitely the latter, with the "ta game dans la game" meaning you can get stuff done your way and play beyond what you are typecast as. Works for players by Suzuki, but man Anderson works better under someone like Torts.
Johnny HFBOARDS
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samsagat
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Maybe begin with 20 goals?
Anyway, I don't know which actual NHL center would be able to make him score 30 goals. Maybe McDavid?
He's got one of the worst hockey IQ I've ever seen with a Habs jersey.
He's surprisingly good on the PK though.
Moose Head
Registered User
He does have that 27 goal year with Columbus and in his first 3 years with the Habs he did score at a 24 goal per 82 game pace, so I don’t think he quite needs a McDavid to get 30. Just some chemistry with someone who’s a very good playmaker. St Louis has been good for a few of the Hab forwards, but Anderson certainly has suffered. I agree, he has shit hockey sense, hence why he needs a smart center and a coach who knows how to utilize him.
