Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814
I am all for separating Monahan and Gaudreau for a while. I am all for giving Lindholm a shot at centre, especially centering Gaudreau.
They can't saddle Monahan with Mangiapane/Bennett/Junk for long. Rather than have either Johnny or Matthew playing on their off-wing, I'd like to see Tkachuk and Monahan get an extended look together. Backlund always talks about how Tkachuk drags him into the fray - playing with Tkachuk will put Monahan in situations that he just never has to face with Johnny, and he'll be stronger and wiser for it.
Johnny-Lindholm-X
Tkachuk-Monahan-X
Lucic-Backlund-Frolik
X-Ryan-X
As a group, the centres are too passive, but that looks like something worth trying.
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Agree that this helps short term - but longer term I think Johnny/Monahan together is the play. That's still our best playmaker with historically our best finisher, and we shouldn't let 12 games overlook the 5 seasons of production together.
Johnny - Monahan - Dube
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Czarnik
Bennett -
Backlund - Frolik
Mangiapane - Ryan - Lucic
Jankowski
Three of those are pairings of guys that have proven chemistry in the past. Then the only new pairing is Tkachuk + Lindholm which should be a good mix of offensive talent, tenacity, and defensive responsibility.
Personally I liked Dube on the top line in his two games there in the preseason. I think that his speed really helps out Monahan, since skating is a weakness for him.
Really though in the end we need to get another top 6 RW (top 9 even) if we plan on moving Lindholm to center.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaudreau is a Ninja
I’m still think maybe Tre should have pulled the trigger on Mark Stone trade. Now hindsight is 20/20 and it’s hard with Valimaki hurt, but he would be perfect for this team. With that said Valimaki could come back the last part of this season and look awesome and cheap. Also Pelletier is looking like a sweet prospect so I don’t know ��
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Still not sure how we are fitting Stone and his $9.5M contract into this team's salary structure.
Look at Toronto as an example too...good luck trying to get Tkachuk to take a discount at $7M when you gave a guy that he got more goals and points then last year $9.5M.