I'd like to see the following lines in this group:
Lucic - Backlund - Ryan
Mangiapane - Bennett - Dube.
I think I hate this, and cannot fathom why you would opt to put Bennett with two potential, budding top-six forwards ahead of Backlund, who makes every young player look pretty amazing.
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Dealing with Everything from Dead Sea Scrolls to Red C Trolls
Quote:
Originally Posted by woob
"...harem warfare? like all your wives dressup and go paintballing?"
Why are you getting worked up? There are a lot of silly reactions in this thread, but I didn't see anyone directing it at you personally.
Yes, camp is shorter than usual. But I think it is a safe bet that the line matchups change every day - especially after the numbers are reduced.
Yeah, I suggest you read my posts in a Morgan Freeman voice, not, say a Frank Costanza
That’s kind of the thing. This isn’t, as I understand, a camp where you have cuts.
Like Tre mentioned, there are intra squad games scheduled for the 7th and 11th
So these are the groups. 6ish NHL forwards on each side. Non NHLers are there to push and give as high a level of play as they can. But this is it
So it’s notable that Ward has
- Backlund and Tkachuk not in the same group
- Lindholm at C
- no apparent intent to look at trying out 13 and 23 separately
They want to be ready when the season starts, so if these are the groups, then we actually are learning a bit about the coach’s envisioned plan
I think that’s notable
Some people just prefer to talk about waiting and seeing. Cool.
I think there is actually a bit more information to be gleaned than you would have on day 1 of a normal camp
Hope that makes sense
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I cannot wait to have a bonafide number one. Really excited to have a set it and forget it starter, and have that confidence permeate through the team.
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So, Day 1 is only slightly interesting to me. Lindholm and Backlund lines do heavy lifting, Monahan and Gaudreau get gravy offensive match ups. It’s good to have two strong lines like that, but I’d still like to see Monahan and Gaudreau separated or Monahan shifted to a wing.
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Tkachuk Lindholm Leivo
Gaudreau Monahan Simon (O-zone starts)
Mangiapane Backlund Bennett
Lucic Ryan Dube
Gio Tanev
Hanafin Anderson
Valimaki Nesterov/Kylington
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So three defensively responsible, and relatively balanced lines.
I would switch it around slightly and try to give all 4 lines equal time 5 on 5:
Tkachuk Lindholm Leivo
Gaudreau Monahan Ryan (O-zone starts)
Mangiapane Backlund Simon
Lucic Bennett Dube
Hanafin Anderson
Valimaki Tanev
Gio Nestorev/Kylington (Gio will get his extra minutes on special teams)
I really don't like Dube on the fourth line.
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"Life of Russian hockey veterans is very hard," said Soviet hockey star Sergei Makarov. "Most of them don't have enough to eat these days. These old players are Russian legends."
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Yeah, I don't mind those lines compared to last seasons.
With Monahan settling in as a one-dimensional shoot-first centre you have two options with him:
- Accept him for what he is and play him to his strengths.
- Bump him to wing in the Stamkos/Giroux/Draisaitl centre-at-wing role.
Gaudreau-Monahan-Simon
The classic Sedin deployment of heavy offensive starts with little responsibility elsewhere. Recognizing you have a defensively-weak winger and a centre who isn't interested in fulfilling a centreman's defensive zone responsibilities, the less time this line spends in their own end, the better. Simon in the Zach Hyman puck retrieval role as he is really good at that and is tenacious in pursuit, a weakness of both 13 and 23.
Tkachuk-Lindholm-Leivo
Dominant two-way line who can hang with most lines in the league head-to-head. This gives Coach Ward wonderful flexibility in line deployment and matching tactics, and a nightmare for opponents.
Mangiapane-Backlund-Bennett
Offensively lacking in finishing but watertight defensively and excellent in transition and on the forecheck. Shutdown the opposition line and get the puck to the offensive zone for 13/23/18 to take over. Love Backlund centering Bennett and have been pushing for that for some time - Bennett's infectious aggressiveness causes him to be pulled out of position in over-pursuit at times and Backlund can read and react accordingly. The other way, Bennett's aggression will help with the stretches where Backlund suffers lapses in focus.
Obviously subject to regular change and review, but I'm glad they are seemingly accepting 13 and 23 are both total liabilities in their own end as opposed to hoping Monahan finally develops an interest in committing to the defensive work ethic required of a two-way centre. I imagine Dube moves up and down the roster as needed, too.
__________________ "I think the eye test is still good, but analytics can sure give you confirmation: what you see...is that what you really believe?" Scotty Bowman, 0 NHL games played
Last edited by united; 01-04-2021 at 12:58 PM.
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I would still like to see Tkachuk and Gaudreau together (at least at times throughout the season).
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"Life of Russian hockey veterans is very hard," said Soviet hockey star Sergei Makarov. "Most of them don't have enough to eat these days. These old players are Russian legends."
