I mentioned this in another thread a few months ago and still wonder if it wouldn't be worth a shot?
Essentially, the lines center around Monahan being a bit too reliant on Gaudreau and me wanting to see if there could potentially be some chemistry between Johnny and Bennett.
My thoughts:
Tkachuk - Monahan - Lindholm
Gaudreau - Bennett - Dube
Mangiapane - Backlund - Leivo
Lucic - Ryan - Simon
Nordstrom/Gawdin/Robinson
Gio - Tanev
Hanifin - Andersson
Valimaki - Kylington/Nesterov
Mackey
Markstrom
Rittich
I think Tkachuk with that top line really changes the dynamic. Not a lot of flash but hopefully more consistency and useable anywhere on the ice. The next two lines are really 2a/2b in my mind. You play them in different situations, the Bennett line getting the majority of match-ups and offensive zone starts with Backlund's mainly defensive zone starts. Including Leivo, lots of options to tinker with the right side on that line to have it suit what is required (ie. more offense - perhaps Leivo, more defensive - Simon?Nordstrom?). The 4th line is so flexible now with all the seemingly good (at least on paper) bottom 6 guys that you can mix/match as guys go hot/cold.
On defense, there is the clearcut top pairing, with an up and coming 2nd pairing and then a 3rd pairing that may develop into an excellent duo and I think it's worth giving Kylington a shot on the R side.
In goal, nothing surprising there.
I'd be pretty excited to see something like that on opening day.
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