#1RW: Lindholm, Neal, Tkachuk, or someone else?

[TheScorpion]

So far this season we've seen a few guys on that top line with Gaudreau and Monahan, and each of them have had good moments. Which one of these guys do you think makes the most sense up there?

Lindholm -- has had success, especially against Vancouver. Great release, decently physical, good PKer as well.

Neal -- still in the midst of adjusting. Seems to have decent chemistry with Tkachuk and Bennett. Sure paid to play on the top line

Tkachuk -- great player with basically anyone he plays with. Has a long history with Backlund. RW is his off-side, but he looked good in spurts there today.

Or should it be somebody else on that top line? (Knowing Bill Peters, we'll probably see Derek Ryan there at some point.) What are your guys' thoughts?

[GreenLantern2814]

Lindholm. He works well with Johnny and Monahan

Tkachuk and Backlund can do their thing while rehabbing the misfit toys.

[Textcritic]

I don't think Neal belongs the first line at all. And while I thought Tkachuk looked good there I still prefer having a great skater like Lindholm up there.

I do like the fact that Peters is shuffling through options, and I also expect that to continue. But Lindholm should be the primary occupant on Monahan's RW.

[Dajazz]

Any one of them depending on he score, the game situation and form.

They all add different skill sets and should be used accordingly.

It is not fixed, Peters is going to mix and match.

[Textcritic]

After seeing him in five games I can hardly believe that Lindholm has a career high of 18 goals.

He is going to smash that this season.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

After seeing him in five games I can hardly believe that Lindholm has a career high of 18 goals.

He is going to smash that this season.

At this rate, he'll be more than halfway there by the end of the month.

[TheScorpion]

I'll be honest in that I only saw him in my first couple years of watching the sport, but Lindholm reminds me a lot of Huselius but with a lot more physicality in his game.

[topfiverecords]

Why not all three. Shuffle em. Keep other teams on their toes. Build chemistry with all of them. Let success and injuries (hopefully not) dictate.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'll be honest in that I only saw him in my first couple years of watching the sport, but Lindholm reminds me a lot of Huselius but with a lot more physicality in his game.

Lindholm hasn't demonstrated an ability to control play like Huselius yet, on the PP or 5v5. Juice could be on the side boards for 30 seconds working guys on his own.

Love the early returns on this trade.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'll be honest in that I only saw him in my first couple years of watching the sport, but Lindholm reminds me a lot of Huselius but with a lot more physicality in his game.

So, don't misunderstand me, here. I am not saying he is anywhere close in terms of his skill and offensive instincts, but there is something about how Lindholm plays that reminds me of Peter Forsberg.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

So, don't misunderstand me, here. I am not saying he is anywhere close in terms of his skill and offensive instincts, but there is something about how Lindholm plays that reminds me of Peter Forsberg.

He's not nearly as nasty as Forsberg was in the corners. Forsberg was like a .....like...like a grizzly bear mauling a deer whereas Lindholm is more like a police trained German Shephard. Still gets the job done but he's not a wild beast monster like Peter the great. Same game styles though.

I think Lindholm as he gets older can get to honey badger status.

[Enoch Root]

The whole point of pairs is to mix and match them depending on game situations, who is hot, injuries, etc. And that is exactly what we are seeing from Peters - he continually finds ways to keep the lines fresh and keep things rolling.

If I had to pick one, for the rest of the season, it would be Lindholm. But I don't. So I won't.

As for Lindholm's style of play, he reminds me of a Frolik with top line skills. He does everything right, like a well-coached middle 6er, AND he has the talent to finish.

[EVERLAST]

I’ll take it. Not quite a grizzly but in the same breath as Peter Forsberg and the juice ....so settling for a honey badger that don’t give a damn.......sign me up.

Yeah , he’s a hybrid of a few things and is like a car you steal and take for a joyride and realize wow can this car handle , accelerate and brake.

I keep thinking we fleeced the Canes.

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The whole point of pairs is to mix and match them depending on game situations, who is hot, injuries, etc. And that is exactly what we are seeing from Peters - he continually finds ways to keep the lines fresh and keep things rolling.

If I had to pick one, for the rest of the season, it would be Lindholm. But I don't. So I won't.

As for Lindholm's style of play, he reminds me of a Frolik with top line skills. He does everything right, like a well-coached middle 6er, AND he has the talent to finish.

Imagine how Gulutzan would put together permanent lines with this roster and just pound them into the ground for weeks on end before adjusting. I'm so happy with the direction we're going with Peters. Rolling four lines, switching up the players for effectiveness.

I heard from a swedish journalist who had spoken to Lindholm that he was really happy to have found somewhat of a permanent spot on a line, since he was tossed around pretty heavily in Carolina, so it's probably likely that most players in the room feel like they have fairly set lines already, but the in-game adjustments will work wonders with the depth on the roster.

[Icon]

Lindholm. Because I have him in my fantasy league.

[GranteedEV]

I want to see Jankowski at #1RW at some point.

[jonkaupp]

I think its nice to mix them up but for the most part I like Lindholm there. I’d like to see Bennett, particularly if he keeps up the strong play, to become a fixture on the Backlund/Tkachuk line.

Little disappointed in Jankowski so far but I think he could pair nice with Neal/Dube but guess we’ll see.

Leaves Frolik/Ryan/Czarnik as a 4th. Lordy depth is nice.

[ComixZone]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm have not been terribly productive during 5v5 play. They’ve been quite good (at times) on the PP though, so I definitely say keep that PP unit together (although switch players to their off-wings).

For 5v5 play though, it should be Tkachuk. They’ve played their best 5v5 minutes with Tkachuk, and 2nd best 5v5 minutes with Neal. With Lindholm I think they struggle to generate high danger chances, and I think it has to do with Lindholm carrying the puck whereas with Tkachuk/Neal, Johnny is the one acting as the primary carrier.

What I’d like to see on Wednesday:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Bennett-Backlund-Neal
Dube-Lindholm-Czarnik
Jankowski-Ryan-Hathaway

[Lanny_McDonald]

It doesn’t matter who they play with Gaudreau and Monahan, they are going to be successful and get their points. The larger concern should be who plays on the lower lines and in what combinations. Secondary scoring is the larger concern and finding some chemistry there is more important.

[robbie111]

Would like to see Jankowski get a shot as he could take faceoffs like Lindholm does and Jankowski had great success scoring 4 goals in the only game he got to play with Gaudreau last year. He also set up a nice break away pass for Monahan in preseason this year.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Jankowski
Bennett-Backlund-Neal
Tkachuk-Lindholm-Czarnik
Ryan-Dube-Hathaway