Even though there is a sticky thread for this, i'm bored so here goes:
Top 6 Option 1
Line 1: Brayden Schenn - Claude Giroux - Wayne Simmonds
Line 2: Michael Raffl - Sean Couturier - Jakub Voracek
Top 6 Option 2
Line 1: Jakub Voracek - Claude Giroux - Wayne Simmonds
Line 2: Michael Raffl - Sean Couturier - Brayden Schenn
Voracek and Schenn each played both LW and RW last season with some success at each position. We will likely see both options during the course of the season when players run hot and cold. We may even see a 3rd option like this:
Top 6 Option 3
Line 1: Michael Raffl - Claude Giroux - Jakub Voracek
Line 2: Brayden Schenn - Sean Couturier - Wayne Simmonds
That was the 1st line in 14-15 and Voracek had an 80 point, 1st team All-Star season. Raffl does the dirty work on the line, I.E. winning board battles, wreaking havoc in front, and being strong defensively. Schenn and Couturier have good chemistry and so do Schenn and Simmonds. Couturier and Simmonds haven't shown it yet though which is why this is Option 3.
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Bottom 6 Option 1
Line 3: Scott Laughton - Nick Cousins - Dale Weise
Line 4: Matt Read - Boyd Gordon - Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Adding Weise to the 3rd line and Gordon to the 4th line should allow those lines to take some defensive responsibility away from Giroux and Couturier, who were both used in defensive situations last season more than you typically want you top 6 centers to be. Laughton shows flashes of being a very good bottom 6 forward last season but he can't seem to settle in a long groove. Although Laughton was being groomed for 3C since 2012, Cousins was better there after his call-up last season. Dale Weise is a lock at 3RW. Gordon is a lock at 4C. Bellemare is very close to a lock at 4RW. Matt Read's job spot in the lineup could be lost in training camp, which takes me to Option 2:
Bottom 6 Option 2
Line 3: Travis Konecny - Nick Cousins - Dale Weise
Line 4: Scott Laughton - Boyd Gordon - Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Although this is Option 2, I would very much prefer it. I just think it's the less likely Option as I think Hextall will take the overly cautious route and send Konecny back to Juniors for one more season. This option bumps Matt Read out of the lineup.
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Defense Option 1
Defense 1: Michael Del Zotto - Radko Gudas
Defense 2: Andrew MacDonald - Shayne Gostisbehere
Defense 3: Ivan Provorov - Mark Streit
Although the names aren't flashy, MDZ-Gudas were very effective as a duo last season. After Greene-Larsson, they were probably the most underrated D pair last season. That's what happens when you are reclamation projects though, I suppose. Not a fan of MacDonald in any way, but he played reasonable well with Ghost. Looking forward to the day when Ghost has better options for his partner. Provorov gets eased into the lineup on the 3rd pair with the veteran Mark Streit. Should see a good amount of ozone starts and they could end up manning PP2 together as well.
Defense Option 2
Defense 1: Michael Del Zotto - Shayne Gostisbehere
Defense 2: Ivan Provorov - Radko Gudas
Defense 3: Nick Schultz - Mark Streit
MDZ and Ghost also played together with success last season. Provorov and Gudas seem like would compliment each others games very well. Schultz and Streit have played together much of the past 2 seasons. Andrew MacDonald healthy scratched.
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Goalie 1: Steve Mason
Despite Neuvirth's strong play early in the season and in the playoffs, Mason is still the #1.
Goalie 2: Michael Neuvirth
Love having Neuvy as backup and hope he can stay healthy this season so Mason isn't leaned on too heavily down the stretch and worn out come playoff time again like last season.
sorry shootout I just had to laugh
