Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny01
I don’t agree.
Mangipane was amazing when he was elevated to Tkachuk line be that with Lindholm or Backlund at center. Now if the playoff Sam Bennett shows up then it makes sense to have him in the top 6.
I don’t think pushing Dube or Mangipane down the lineup for Bennett makes any sense right now.
I would rather try the center experiment again before elevating Bennett on the wing. I have long been a Bennett fan and supporter as well
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Mangiapane+Backlund+Tkachuk
TOI: 351 Minutes
xGF%: 54.5%
Bennett+Backlund+Tkachuk
TOI: 202 Minutes
xGF%: 53.3%
Mangiapane+Backlund+Tkachuk are great together, and are slightly better from an expected goals for perspective than with Bennett on that line but the real difference to me is just how good Mangiapane and Ryan are together.
They become an elite third line when paired together, and have undeniable chemistry. To me the benefit we get from having a third pair of forwards that are elite together (Gaudreau+Monahan, Tkachuk+Backlund, Ryan+Mangiapane), outweighs the benefit of Mangiapane on line two with Backlund & Tkachuk.
Look at how effective those three pairs of forwards are together, those three pairs should be the anchor of our forward lineup.
(Over the last two seasons)
Ryan+Mangiapane
TOI: 378 Minutes
GF: 25
GA:9
GF%: 73.5%
xGF%: 58.9%
HDCF%: 61.7%
Backlund+Tkachuk (w/o Mangiapane)
TOI: 1020 Minutes
GF: 52
GA:40
GF%: 56.5%
xGF%: 53.0%
HDCF%: 51.4%
Gaudreau+Monahan
TOI: 1892 Minutes
GF: 97
GA:85
GF%: 53.3%
xGF%: 51.4%
HDCF%: 51.0%