Quote:
Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack
I'm going to be optimistic and assume that Mony's surgeries are all 100% successful and he starts opening night pain free. but based on how good the top line was without him (yes in garbage no playoffs time), does he even get his original spot back ever again?
if we're returning with Mony the 2nd liner going forward, what are the realistic expectations? 25 goals, 50 points? I can't imagine his ceiling being too much higher without an elite setup winger.
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I believe they would try the top line from the end of the year again to start the season, though I agree it was not exactly under mid season conditions that they excelled. And I can see Monahan, Mangiapane and Coleman working well. No selite setup man, but Monahan can be a setup guy when called upon - the Gaudreau hilights showed that. And Mangiapane and Coleman are capable of gritty, hard working setups to Monahan. Now, even healthy, his point totals would drop from a couple years ago due to less ice time.
I expect to see this:
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk
Mangiapane-Monahan-Coleman
Dube-Backlund-Pitlick
Lucic-Lewis-Ritchie
Gawdin/Froese
I think Dube's contract shows he is going to be given some more rope, and I think Pitlick's checking is wasted on the fourth line so I think Lucic is getting dropped to the 4th. That 4th is real Sutter line though.