Here are my thoughts:

Top 6 makes sense and shouldn't change, don't think folks are gonna challenge me on that. MAYBE Gonzo with Hags and Tony but that might be it.

Geekie, Paul, Gonzo is a goated line. Lotta size, lotta physicality, and could totally score. Also accomplishes the most important thing on the third line, giving Paul somebody to play with.

The Katchouk, Finley, Chaffee line is a line I created just as an extra line considering we signed these guys.

4th line is the biggest question mark. I love Gourdo at center but maybe he's better on winger? Also really would love to see Finley slot in as 4C because of his size and physicality, second tallest guy on our team behind Hedman. After that it really depends who you put on as wingers. I believe in Mitchell Chaffee but a lot of these new guys are probably scrappier than him. Holmberg I'm excited about because he's what we need, same for Boris.

Defense makes sense. Raddy and Heddy didn't have bad numbers when paired, keep the Mac Cerny pair intact, and either let Max have the McDonagh effect on Lilleberg and make him better, or let Moser switch to his normal side and play with Max.

Lilleberg should not touch the ice unless paired with Crozier.

What do y'all think?

15 comments

  1. In theory it’s a top end roster with elite wingers and steady dmen. How it plays out is hard to say. Seems like a very good regular season team that might get bullied again come April.

    If Geekie, Gage and JJ can take decent steps forward in their games we’ll be looking real good.

  2. We have too many 7th Dmen and not enough 6th. Like Raddysh and Lilleberg should not BOTH be mainstays. As for our forward core, why it never plays out as well as it does on paper is tough to say tbh. In theory our top 2 lines can compete with everyone, center depth is one of the best in the league.

    But tbh our PP will still be a problem, if they don’t come up with a solution to the left circle shot, I want them to look at integrating more motion in like Edmonton

  3. I think our defensive depth is bleak and I shudder to think about our chances if we have any injuries at all in our top 5 forwards or top 4 dmen.

  4. First comment: “this is a solid roster, as long as there aren’t injuries we should be in good shape.” Third comment: “this team is screwed.” 😆

    I think it proves a decent point, that none of us, ME VERY MUCH INCLUDED, know shit. Lol. Let’s just see what happens!

    I personally land on the optimistic side, too, but as I said, I could be completely wrong. I know I love our boys, and im very happy that we apparently have not acquired any former Florida Panthers!

  5. Oh yeah, actual thoughts on your lineup: I think you’re probably right on, but I could see Yanni and Bjork floating up and down the lines as necessary. I think youve got the right starting combos, though. Would like to see Geekie take a step forward – but he’s the one, for me, that could be swapped in and out with Chaffee.

    And I don’t care what anyone says, im going to miss Glendening. However, i agree that a Yanni, Zemgus, Pontus 4th is a hell of a checking line. Somebodys gonna have to get better at face offs, though – Paul and Cirelli are decent but not specialists. I’m hoping Pointer, who is my favorite player but is pretty shit at them, improves substantially! 🙂

    I’d still like another D Man, so that Moser can be with Heddy and we have a better 3rd pair, but doesn’t appear likely to happen. I think they’ll be pretty good as is, but maybe not elite.

  6. That defense group gonna get us bounced in 5 come playoff time. Definitely need to upgrade there now or at the deadline

  10. Outside of defensive depth I think this is a solid roster. Hopefully with the spare cap space come trade deadline JBB will be able to take a swing at a pretty decent D man.

  11. The forward group is elite, but slightly top heavy. We need a strong depth dman to be able to make it far in the playoffs. I don’t like crozier as an nhl regular

  12. PuckPedia so disrespectful using Maxwell for Crozier like he’s a dog 💀💀

  13. I think Chafee should be in the lineup more this year over girgensons. A younger and faster dude can score and play physical

  14. People need to understand that this is the first time the cap has helped us out a bit but at the same time the market has been pretty slim in guys we need. It also sucks with the Howard situation where we kinda have no leverage for a decent trade cause I would have loved to get a another solid dman out of it.

  15. There’s no way that 3rd line happens more than a handful of times. Geeke will get another chance but unless he got stronger physically and better skating wise, he’s not gonna provide much. As a center he was awful, poor on faceoffs and poor on zone coverage.As a wing, he was slow and late to forecheck and refused to shoot when given the opportunity – which is really why he’s there.

    The coaches never let Paul settle in as 3C. He’s used as a utility knife filling in on 2nd line and occasionally 1st.

    Goncalves is the playmaker for the middle 6. However, his playmaking hasn’t resulted in goals due to the lack of finishing among the bottom 6. He really blossomed after returning from the AHL becoming more confident and playing instinctual.

    Katchuk wont be playing at the NHL level. He is an AHL veteran and was brought to help the kids down there.

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