Darryl Sutter needs to deploy better lines - STAT

[Mindtravellee]

I think this is close to something. Other options could be swapping Toffoli and Phillips (Ruzicka and Phillips had chemistry in the AHL).


Few weeks ago Dube had a game at center on the 4th line, I don't know if this is worth trying a few weeks. Wings of Lewis and Ritchie. Bench Lucic as 13th forward, age caught up, needs a break. Wave Rooney and hopefully someone takes him.

[memphusk]

Yeah Huberdeau has been invisible on every line at some point. That's not elite.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Mindtravellee

(Ruzicka and Phillips had chemistry in the AHL).

Knowing this would never actually be tried, one does wonder if this could work though...

Huberdeau-Kadri-Lindholm
Pelletier-Ruzicka-Phillips
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Ritchie-Dube-Toffoli
Lewis

[Kasi]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Yeah Huberdeau has been invisible on every line at some point. That's not elite.

Even if he’s not elite whatever that may mean you need to put a playmaker with players that can you know do something creatively offensively. Not people who flub offensive chances.

[Yikes]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Yeah Huberdeau has been invisible on every line at some point. That's not elite.

Huberdeau is over the top elite, we all saw Tanguay at his best as a Flame....this guy is better. Not thinking Sutter hockey is in Huberdeau's vocabulary and this head coach seems to have no idea how to use him/his strengths.

[Monahammer]

Imo huberdeau can and will learn to be more complete and overall better under Sutter. Just like Johnny. But that took .5-.7 seasons to fully take effect. Huberdeau has still played less than 20 games. Give him time.

[genetic_phreek]

Huberdeau made a joke when he was mic'd up against Florida. When a shot on net from someone he said "nice shot, Corsi" so I think he's probably aware that the system is just put pucks to the net.

I wonder if he's a fan or not of the style, his game seems to be suffering in a bad way. He's on pace for one of his worse years. A lot of people says new coach so he needs time to adjust but even when he's had new coaches in Florida he still produced at a higher rate.

[Macho0978]

I think this is more a motivation thing and holding players accountable. When sutter first got hired he did the same thing with Tkachuk Gaudreau and Lindholm. Tkachuk had games playing 12 mins. Sutter got them playing hockey then put the 3 together and they exploded.

I think we need some patience. Sutter wants these guys to play the right way first

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Imo huberdeau can and will learn to be more complete and overall better under Sutter. Just like Johnny. But that took .5-.7 seasons to fully take effect. Huberdeau has still played less than 20 games. Give him time.

Gaudreau did get forced to play with Brett Ritchie.

…Sutter doing the same thing with Blake Coleman/Mikael Backlund? (and yes, I am comparing this year’s Backlund and Coleman to Brett Ritchie, both have hands of stone this season)

[Paulie Walnuts]

They are playing the right way. What more do you want from them?

He rewards his boys with ice time and keeps playing Markstrom who is costing is games. Players are probably frustrated with him and his bench management.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Gaudreau did get forced to play with Brett Ritchie.

this was clearly the key to his 115 point season .. it all makes sense

[CGY12]

What doesn't make sense to me is Darryl preaching patience and process repeatedly to the media and then treating his lineup like a god damn lunatic who seems desperate for something to stick to the wall for good.

[bubbsy]

Lindholm, kadri, backlund aren’t top line Cs.

Huberdeau, toffoli, Coleman, mangiapane, dube, Lewis aren't topline/top6 wingers.

Markstrom is an average goalie.

The results, unfortunately, match the talent pool.

[81MC]

Originally Posted by CGY12

What doesn't make sense to me is Darryl preaching patience and process repeatedly to the media and then treating his lineup like a god damn lunatic who seems desperate for something to stick to the wall for good.

I’d take that to mean the patience and process of a coach doing their job, finding those lines and players who work best together, giving the players and the coach time to maximize their potential. I’m not hockey coach, but I imagine there’s an awful lot of review and consideration given to whatever lines were iced.

I’ve grown pretty apathetic to the team and haven’t caught much of anything this year, but it is a fundamentally new team. Shaking up the lines now for decisions to be made about best long term strategy wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Lindholm, kadri, backlund aren’t top line Cs.

Huberdeau, toffoli, Coleman, mangiapane, dube, Lewis aren't topline/top6 wingers.

Markstrom is an average goalie.

The results, unfortunately, match the talent pool.

Huberdeau isn't a top six winger now lol

The results are mostly on goaltending....920 like last year and they are laughing.
Kadri was a top scorer on the cup champs

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Huberdeau isn't a top six winger now lol

The results are mostly on goaltending....920 like last year and they are laughing.
Kadri was a top scorer on the cup champs

Huberdeau was a second liner who had a great past year. That doesn't mean he's capable of being a top line offensive driver.

In fact, his first 20 games show that he isn't an offensive alpha. He makes so many weak plays, it's no wonder he's stapled with strong d players like backlund and Coleman.

The huberdeau contract is quickly looking like an absolute disaster.

[jg13]

Changing Huberdeau's linemates every couple games because nothing has come together consistently is a waste.

Play this guy with the same linemates until they understand his thinking of the game. Hell, make him spend time with guys off the ice to understand his thinking of the game. That is the only way Huberdeau is going to find success. Once they get it you will see 3-4 point games on occasion. /f

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Huberdeau was a second liner who had a great past year. That doesn't mean he's capable of being a top line offensive driver.

In fact, his first 20 games show that he isn't an offensive alpha. He makes so many weak plays, it's no wonder he's stapled with strong d players like backlund and Coleman.

The huberdeau contract is quickly looking like an absolute disaster.

115 points .. 85 assists (highest ever , ALL time for a LW)

i'm fairly certain he leads all LWers in point over the last 4 seasons as well with 346

that is uhhh quite the second liner

i think you're out to lunch .. in hong kong

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

115 points .. 85 assists (highest ever , ALL time for a LW)

i'm fairly certain he leads all LWers in point over the last 4 seasons as well with 346

that is uhhh quite the second liner

Ugh.. He didn't play on the panthers top line, with their best player in barkov. Look it up bud...

Second line playing with Bennett and duclair.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

yes he played on the "second" line

but it was more of a 1b , arguably 1a because he made it their 1a

he made duclair a 30 goal guy . he checks every single box you could imagine for a 1LW .. it doesn't matter where he technically slotted on that team

we just need to learn some patience around here before calling a guy a bust based on 18 games vs the 600 games prior to them