Quote:
Originally Posted by CroFlames
As far as I'm concerned, you got your top six and you got your bottom six.
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I don't see it that way. Before, it used to be something
more like:
Top Line (Scoring on checking lines)
2nd Line (Sheltered secondary scoring)
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3rd Line (Hard Matchup Checking / PK)
4th Line (Energy / Facepunching)
So top 6 / Bottom 6 made sense.
But nowadays you have your:
Top Line (Best-on-Best Scoring)
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2nd Line (Secondary scoring / secondary checking)
3rd Line (Sheltered secondary scoring)
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4th Line (PK / Softer Checking)
Of course where you
play on the lineup doesn't define
what you are. 3rd liners may see PP time, top liners may just be grinders. I find middle sixer to be a more appropriate definition for guys like Backlund, Frolik, and Brouwer. They won't hurt you on the 2nd line but your team probably lacks a second line if ALL of your second line consists of them. Two middle sixers and a top line star forward might make a good second line though. Think Hagelin-Bonino-
Kessel. But Hagelin-Bonino-
Brouwer would be a fine, if overpaid, third line. Hence: middle sixers.