As long as the team is winning, it is prudent to remain patient.
It could be that the line doesn't work, and needs to be switched up. But it also might be that they're just not firing on all cylinders yet.
Unless, things turn bad, I think you give it to the end of November to see where we're at - then we'll have had a significant homestand as well as a couple good road trips. We'll know all we need to know by then.
Huberdeau has tried to create a lot that hasn't happened. I see that lack of connectivity more on Lindholm's play to date than Huberdeau.
And year interestingly enough, the guy that I thought would hamper this line's transition has had a solid start to the season (Toffoli)
Huberdeau is a set up guy. How can a set up guy succeed when is transition partner if fumbling the puck every time he gets it?
They had at least a couple line rushes Saturday night, where Lindholm was carrying the puck, and both times he basically skated over the blueline with it, and right into the defenseman, and the d-man just casually knocked the puck away. Like Lindholm was a 4th liner.
There was another play, where the Flames had dumped it in, and it would have been icing, except Lindholm was a full stride ahead of (behind?) the d-man, so the icing was waved off. It should have been automatic possession for Lindholm, except he skated right past the puck in the corner, and the D-man came in behind him and simply skated away with the puck. He didn't even have to check Lindholm. It was like Lindy had no interest in engaging the play whatsoever. It was actually quite astounding.
Watching it, all I could think was that he is under the weather. Because he sure hasn't been the player we know and love.
He'll get there though, and he will be fine. But for now, I don't see how we can draw any conclusions about the line while he is MIA.
They had at least a couple line rushes Saturday night, where Lindholm was carrying the puck, and both times he basically skated over the blueline with it, and right into the defenseman, and the d-man just casually knocked the puck away. Like Lindholm was a 4th liner.
There was another play, where the Flames had dumped it in, and it would have been icing, except Lindholm was a full stride ahead of (behind?) the d-man, so the icing was waved off. It should have been automatic possession for Lindholm, except he skated right past the puck in the corner, and the D-man came in behind him and simply skated away with the puck. He didn't even have to check Lindholm. It was like Lindy had no interest in engaging the play whatsoever. It was actually quite astounding.
Watching it, all I could think was that he is under the weather. Because he sure hasn't been the player we know and love.
He'll get there though, and he will be fine. But for now, I don't see how we can draw any conclusions about the line while he is MIA.
Exactly.
You can't investigate chemistry when a key driving member of a trio is not himself at all.
The way Lindholm is playing a second line with Mangiapane and Dube would really struggle.
More risk in nuking both lines by changing it up when both centers aren't on their games.
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I like Toffolli this season, he has been way better than last imo, he is getting plenty of chances. However, those chances are not generated by first line chemistry, but by individual plays or by puck bounces etc. I do not mind giving them more time to try and develop chemistry but if they are still ineffective by 10 game mark I would try the following:
I'd give them until January or February, which is when they could bring in a rental to shift Toffoli, Dube and Lewis down the depth chart. Perron makes the most sense IMO
It's not Toffoli, Huberdeau, or Lindholm who are the individual issues with that top line.
Obviously we aren't going to be able to replace "the best line in hockey" that we had last year but the main difference is that we don't have a puck carrier on the line anymore.
During Gaudreau's negotiations, his agent asked what we were going to do about not having anybody else to take the puck carrying load off of Johnny and that's even more valid today with him gone as he was our most effective carrier with possession. Johnny was the one who started the offense of the Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk line much of the time.
If you look at the winning play in the Carolina OT, that was Andersson carrying the puck in with his skating and then centering for the pass. Kadri does this to an effect on the second line. The first line however, is completely missing the puck carrier. Huberdeau is a top-class passer, Lindholm is a supporting center, and Toffoli is a shooter - however none of them are effective at carrying the puck into the zone while warding off defenders. Instead, what happens every play is someone on their line flips the puck into the zone and we play dump and chase and all the skill on that line is wasted when we lose possession.
We need a puck possession/carrier on line #1. Maybe that is Kadri, but then what do we do with line 2?
The issue has been Lindholm. He's to good a player to look this bad and clunky forever.
As noted above he's either not seeing the ice well he has skated the puck right into traffic and the line becomes easy to defend. The defensive team doesn't even have to worry about Huberdeau or Toffoli because Lindholm is bobbling the puck around or skating it into traffic. Once he can make passes and open the offensive zone and get into areas to one time the puck they should get going.
The team is being patient because of the record but if they start losing it will be a different story. Lindholm and Huby really need to start showing some chemistry and get it going 5vs5. Lindholm has not even been very good in his own end to start the year. He has been weak in his middle of the ice d zone coverage. That line lacks a player that can transition the puck. Just stick Kadri their and see what happens.
Toffoli is the least of my concerns when it comes to the top line. He has been fine putting up points and has had a lot of chances in the early going. I am not really concerned about the other guys either to be honest. If this team was 1-4 then I might feel differently but you know this team is a contender when fans are freaking out about our goalie and top line despite being 4-1 winning against 3 teams many have called cup contenders.
Toffoli is the least of my concerns when it comes to the top line. He has been fine putting up points and has had a lot of chances in the early going. I am not really concerned about the other guys either to be honest. If this team was 1-4 then I might feel differently but you know this team is a contender when fans are freaking out about our goalie and top line despite being 4-1 winning against 3 teams many have called cup contenders.
Penguins next...changes in the line up considered I think the Flames are managing to win as they figure it out. Just wait till they have it figured out. Still not a fan of our starting goalie and still think that Hanifin (although he has grown on me) is huge trade bait. Markstrom and Hanifin as trade bait...
