[srotaneS]

I'm the first guy to jump on any coach for juggling lines, regardless of their reasonings. That being said, I think I have a solution for Hitch. Rather than juggle full lines, credit those who play well together, and make the guys who are playing as individuals work harder to solidify themselves with a pairing.

Here are my pairs.

Vermette - Umberger: Shown great chemistry in the past, and I have seen some of that again this year. If they can stick together for a longer period of time, I really think they can get going as a pairing.

Brassard - Voracek: The sophomore power pack! If there is one thing I am sure of, it's that both of these guys can handle the best of the NHL, and simply need to develop into those players together. We saw them escalate last year, and I think they can continue their ascension to the top line by playing together.

Torres - Dorsett: Speak what you will of Dorsett's talent, this guy has given me every reason to think he belongs on the third line. He and Torres have to be brutal for each team to play against, and double D has done a great job rising to the occasion.


So consider it..

Top Line: Nash (rotating 1/2 pair)
Second line: Huselius (rotating 1/2 pair)
Third line: Pahlsson (third pairing)

...and then fill in the gaps. Give Huselius the second line minutes (or less) that he currently deserves, and rotate in Filatov and Chimera when necessary. It will force Juice to start working again, and compete for minutes. Then retain the third line unless Pahlsson takes a night off, and scramble the fourth line as necessary.

What do you guys/gals think?

This point has been edited by srotaneS: 09 November 2009 - 12:48 PM

[suitcaseJake]

i agree with this. juice needs to get 2nd line time until he stops turning the puck over every time he touches it. i like dorsett and torres together, they both do not quit on a play. and it's only a matter of time until jake is on the 1st line full time, and brassard will follow soon after.

[srotaneS]

suitcaseJake, on Nov 9 2009, 03:46 PM, said:

i agree with this. juice needs to get 2nd line time until he stops turning the puck over every time he touches it. i like dorsett and torres together, they both do not quit on a play. and it's only a matter of time until jake is on the 1st line full time, and brassard will follow soon after.

I think Brassard is the key to Jake getting on the first line, and vice versa.

They are the non-twin versions of Daniel and Henrik Sedin haha

[BurnTHalO]

I agree, with the exception that I think you permanently keep RJ/Nash/Vermette together. Nash and Vermette seem to just have it, and RJ driving the net with it just makes a great pairing to me. I'd also like to see the young kid's line I have been screaming for, though I know that will never happen. And you are spot on on Dorsett.

[srotaneS]

BurnTHalO, on Nov 9 2009, 07:53 PM, said:

I agree, with the exception that I think you permanently keep RJ/Nash/Vermette together. Nash and Vermette seem to just have it, and RJ driving the net with it just makes a great pairing to me. I'd also like to see the young kid's line I have been screaming for, though I know that will never happen. And you are spot on on Dorsett.

As much as I like Vermette, he doesn't belong on the top line. He does far better with second line minutes and top PK minutes. Same goes for RJ. While they may be a great interim help while the young guns ramp up, they simply don't have the capacity to remain top line players.

[BurnTHalO]

srotaneS, on Nov 9 2009, 08:04 PM, said:

As much as I like Vermette, he doesn't belong on the top line. He does far better with second line minutes and top PK minutes. Same goes for RJ. While they may be a great interim help while the young guns ramp up, they simply don't have the capacity to remain top line players.

Maybe, but Brass and Nash do not click. They don't do well together, and forcing them together does not help either.

[srotaneS]

BurnTHalO, on Nov 9 2009, 08:12 PM, said:

Maybe, but Brass and Nash do not click. They don't do well together, and forcing them together does not help either.

Brass needs Voracek when he moves up to the first line. It wasn't that Brass couldn't click with Nash, it was that Brass couldn't click with Nash AND Juice.

With Jake on the top line beside him, they will bring their chemistry up and get Nash the puck eventually.. Nash will just have to go invisible and get into the right position until such time. (and honestly, I think it will work)

[BurnTHalO]

srotaneS, on Nov 9 2009, 08:14 PM, said:

Brass needs Voracek when he moves up to the first line. It wasn't that Brass couldn't click with Nash, it was that Brass couldn't click with Nash AND Juice.

With Jake on the top line beside him, they will bring their chemistry up and get Nash the puck eventually.. Nash will just have to go invisible and get into the right position until such time. (and honestly, I think it will work)

I'll believe Nash is wiling to be invisible and play positioning hockey for the sake of the team when I see it.