Quote:
Originally Posted by 868904
Yeah if you have to break up the top line, i'd rather move Bennett into first RW spot than Neal. Bennett can at least do the dirty work in the defensive end and the cycling in the offensive zone, which is the main thing that Lindholm brings to that line. Neal doesn't do the dirty work, he is a pure shooter plain and simple. He can't win board battles and can't cycle. He is an opportunist with a good shot and he just needs to keep things simple and shoot the puck all the time.
You can move Lindholm to centre the second line with Tkachuk and Neal on the right. Tkachuk is decent defensively and he and Lindholm should cover most of Neal's shortcomings in possession play. Tkachuk can also set up both Lindholm and Neal who are shooters.
This also allows Backlund to go back with Frolik which is who he has the best chemistry and throw Ryan on their right side, and you have a line that can be a possession monster with faceoff advantages and defensive awareness. I think this would be a great shutdown line too.
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I generally like this idea, but a big part of why the top line has been so good this year, is because Lindholm winning right side face offs. The more that line starts with the puck the better they are. If Lindholm comes off that line, I could see Ryan replacing him, to keep the right handed face off (and shot) available. I'm likely in the very small minority that would like to see this happen. That would give top 3 lines of:
Johnny - Monahan - Ryan
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Neal
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik
Fourth line would be Jankowski at centre and a rotation of the other players on the wings depending on who Peters wants for each situation.