Quote:
Originally Posted by 868904
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk
Ritchie-Monahan-Mangiapane
Coleman-Backlund-Pitlick
Lucic-Dube-Ritchie
I'm not big on signing Coleman to a big deal but this lineup is kind of interesting.
It'd be a difficult team to play against. Especially in the playoffs, if they can make it in.
Hard to say if that second line can generate enough offense to win games.
But that third line could be one of the best checking/shutdown lines in the game.
That 4th line is just scary if you are the opposition. Even Dube can throw some big hits.
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Nick Ritchie in a 2nd line role? By all accounts last year was his
best year and he produced 1.48 P/60 @ 5v5.
For some comparison, among Flames forwards who logged 400 minutes, here was their 5v5 production:
Code:
Player Total Points/60
Andrew Mangiapane 2.15
Johnny Gaudreau 2.08
Elias Lindholm 2.01
Matthew Tkachuk 2
Dillon Dube 1.96
Mikael Backlund 1.91
Derek Ryan 1.91
Milan Lucic 1.9
Sam Bennett 1.6
Sean Monahan 1.47
(That Bennett sample doesn't include his post-trade production, and Monahan was... not 2nd line caliber last year)
I'm skeptical that Ritchie could produce sufficiently in a 2nd line role. He's known for some offensive skill, sure, but probably limited to being a 3rd wheel. We don't have two guys who could carry him like that I think.
I'm even more skeptical that Ritchie could check sufficiently in a Backlund line role. He's not known for his neutral or defensive zone play.
He'd probably just find himself on the 4th line.
