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SeanCharles · 12-03-2017, 11:54 PM

I feel what this team could really use is a 4th line that can stir up emotion, throw the other team off their game and gain momentum with a good shift. We need a 4th line that can be hard on the forecheck, use speed and tenacity as well as have the ability to frustrate their opponents with hard hits and relentless puck pursuit.

I like Versteeg but his injury has opened the door to build a 4th line with an identity. Having a PP specialist and a washed up gritty winger flank one of the barely NHL level centres we have rotated in that spot has not provided anything of use to the team.

The 4th line isn't expected to score on a regular basis but considering none of them provide much in the way of speed, grit and tenacity (outside of maybe Lazar) the zero goals from Stajan, Brouwer, F. Hamilton and Lazar doesn't benefit the team in the least.

I know it can't happen this year but the lineup below is more of a guideline for what I feel we need:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Bennett-Jankowski-Jagr
Lomberg-Dube-Hathaway
Lazar

I know there are still some bigger issues to work out like improving our overall team defence, improving the special teams and getting more consistent but I feel changing up the 4th line to be more gritty, hard working and difficult to play against will be a move in the right direction. When the team seems to be starting out flat the coach can up the 4th lines icetime which can generate some emotion and energy into the game.

I'm done with having a bunch of players, make up our 4th line, that are not good enough for top 9 responsibilities and not gritty or hard hitting and don't possess a relentless hunger for the puck.

12-03-2017, 11:54 PM	#18
SeanCharles First Line Centre Join Date: Jul 2013 Exp:	I feel what this team could really use is a 4th line that can stir up emotion, throw the other team off their game and gain momentum with a good shift. We need a 4th line that can be hard on the forecheck, use speed and tenacity as well as have the ability to frustrate their opponents with hard hits and relentless puck pursuit. I like Versteeg but his injury has opened the door to build a 4th line with an identity. Having a PP specialist and a washed up gritty winger flank one of the barely NHL level centres we have rotated in that spot has not provided anything of use to the team. The 4th line isn't expected to score on a regular basis but considering none of them provide much in the way of speed, grit and tenacity (outside of maybe Lazar) the zero goals from Stajan, Brouwer, F. Hamilton and Lazar doesn't benefit the team in the least. I know it can't happen this year but the lineup below is more of a guideline for what I feel we need: Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik Bennett-Jankowski-Jagr Lomberg-Dube-Hathaway Lazar I know there are still some bigger issues to work out like improving our overall team defence, improving the special teams and getting more consistent but I feel changing up the 4th line to be more gritty, hard working and difficult to play against will be a move in the right direction. When the team seems to be starting out flat the coach can up the 4th lines icetime which can generate some emotion and energy into the game. I'm done with having a bunch of players, make up our 4th line, that are not good enough for top 9 responsibilities and not gritty or hard hitting and don't possess a relentless hunger for the puck.