Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunk
Yeah, you gotta try a few options. I have zero doubt they'll experiment a lot in preseason and early in the season with various combinations, see if various combos pop. There is certainly merit to the idea of putting Tkachuk on a more offensive-oriented line. In any event, he will certainly be a staple on the Powerplay, if he sticks with 3m or with say Backlund and Lindholm with high defensive responsibilities 5 on 5.
|
I have my scoring lines in NHL 18 right now as
Gaudreau-Monahan-Neal and
Bennett-Lindholm-Tkachuk.
-Neal indicated that he’d be getting a major look with the top duo and I don’t think there is any way he doesn’t stick. Johnny is as pure a setup guy as you can get and Neal is as pure a shooter as you can get, and both are stars at it.
-After a season where scoring was an issue, and an offseason of adding scoring depth, I don’t want our best offensive weapons in a checking role if the Flames can help it. Neal could probably still score 25 even then on the 2M line, but if he stays with Monahan/Gaudreau, gets fed o-zone minutes and PP time then that number is likely closer to 35.
-Peters made mention of trying Tkachuk out in a more offensive role and for trying him out on his offwing. He specifically told Tkachuk to try stuff out on his off-wing in training, like picking it up off the wall / positioning etc. I think he picked up on how many of Matthew’s goal highlights in his draft year had him on the right side of the ice. Plus he can grab off-wing shooter tips from Neal.
-Chucky needs higher end skill/finishing to really unlock that potential. Him and Bennett looked like absolute monsters on a line together during the 2016-17 preseason too but I don’t recall that duo ever being touched again after he moved to 3M.
-Backlund and Frolik are still fine as a duo. Tkachuk is star quality though and
did a lot to elevate that line, but without him they are still competent and can function adequately even carrying an anchor like Brouwer around, so they should still be great with someone like Ryan.
-Elias was the first one to get mentioned as getting a tryout with the top line. It will probably get a look at some point but I still feel Neal will run away with it. In that case you still want to put him with two higher skill players in Tkachuk and Bennett as he had even more offensive potential at the draft than Monahan. There is also the point of Lindholm much preferring center over wing as well, as his game is far more suited to it and him being used on the right was more a product of being
heavily influenced by the Hurricanes nonexistent RW depth.
-I know Bennett can be bad about attempting to stickhandle past the entire opposing team but he is fast and skilled. Just needs to pick his spots, keep it simple and manage his emotions better.