Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry Lime
I don't really understand the keep Johnny and Monny together mentality. It's been over 60 games since they really worked well together. They are not figuring it out.
Tkachuk-Monahan-Mangiapane
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Dube
Lucic-Ryan-Backlund
Frolik-Jankowski-Czarnik
I think that Monahan goes back to centre and Gaudreau back into a scoring role. But I would keep them both apart. Tkachuk is a really underrated playmaker, because Backlund never finishes his setups.
Speaking of Backlund, he is the one that I would try on the wing. He loves coming down the right side with speed, but doesn't do it much because it puts him out of position as a centre. That line would have some great grinding, defensive acumen, and it would put the shut down line as the third line where it belongs.
Swap Ryan and Backlund, if you're a purist.
This is the change I would have made 15 games ago, when it was clear that the first line wasn't going to produce as it was constructed.
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I think Tkachuk and Monahan makes all kinds of sense just from where each likes to play. I'd still go with Backlund on that line because of defence plus the extra centre like Monahan has with Lindholm now.
That would give each of the top two lines two players with top line quality plus another decent winger.