With only a limited amount of time left in the preseason, the coaching staff will have to make some decisions. The big one they’re facing is who will be playing across from Larkin and Raymond on the left wing of that top line. The revolving door is already showing. Soderblom has had some looks; Finnie and Copp have played up there as well. The de facto number one in JVR hasn’t been at camp for his tryout there either. It’s time to assess who is best for the organization if they’re playing LW1.
The Veterans:
This group comes down to Copp and JVR. The pros of this group are pretty simple: the margin for error is smaller. Copp has had time with the team and is known to be a responsible forward you can count on in nearly all situations, even if his offensive talent isn’t a huge plus. JVR has been an offensive helper essentially his entire career. He has a big body and knows how to contribute from the dirty areas around the net. Generally, there is no real risk in playing the veterans up on LW1; the upside is just limited. You won’t get a 40-50 point guy, even if either of them sticks on that top line LW, just because neither of them is ready for that kind of role at this point in their careers.
Andrew Copp for Detroit | Photo: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Kids:
Finnie, Danielson, and MBN are the three who are vying for the spot the most. Now, at the point of writing this, Nate Danielson has gone down with an injury, but he would’ve been my pick to play the top line on this wing. I will say, both Finnie and Danielson look good. One of them making the lineup is a good thing for the organization.
Detroit has so many rookies they’re going to want to integrate at some point or another. Danielson, ASP, Lombardi and Bear later on are all coming. You can’t play a roster with four rookies on it, that’s too risky at this point in the rebuild. But integrating one in MBN or Finnie this year might help. They contrast the vets; they might not stick at the NHL level, but if they do, they have the potential to be the difference makers that get Detroit into the playoffs.
The Tweeners:
Not quite vets, not quite kids. Berggren and Soderblom are both in rotation for this spot. Both of them have had time on it last season, so it isn’t purely hypothetical. Berggren on the top line created over 4GF per 60, but that line had really poor advanced analytics, and playing against elite defensive competition doesn’t really cater to Bergy’s game. Soderblom is a little bit more well-rounded. Soderblom is a bit of a Swiss Army knife in that he will do anything he needs. He can hit, defend, and play a decent offensive game. Soderblom seems like the guy who they want to be up there, given the way McClellan talks, but there is something to be said about him not being there.
Who Has Earned it Most:
Cross off Copp and JVR to start. Copp has looked great with Appleton on the checking line, and there is no point in breaking up one line that works for another. JVR hasn’t even been at camp yet and is 36. You don’t really want to thrust a guy like that into 20+ minutes a night for a player with an injury history. Cross of Danielson and Berggren next. Danielson is hurt, so I fear he doesn’t even have the choice right now. Berggren hasn’t really played up to snuff away from Larkin and Raymond, though he did have a nice assist on a Raymond goal. Generally, I don’t think Berggren is well-rounded and gritty enough to play on the top line. That leaves Finnie, MBN, and Soderblom.
All three are guys whom I would be okay with being on the top line. Finnie seems to have the right skill set for it, but he hasn’t even played a full season of pro hockey. MBN seems to be the stylistic fit; he hits, can score, and skates hard. But is a spot in the NHL over Soderblom better for his development than running the ship in GR?
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