The Post-Deadline Lineup

[cshea]

I thought it might be easier to have 1 thread to discuss the lineup, as opposed to jumping around between the Talbot and Connolly threads. The D remains as is:

They added 2 forwards yesterday, and subtracted Caron. There's a lot of options for Claude.

Today's practice:

63 - 37 - 18
20 - 34 - 21
17 - 51 - 88
23 - 11 - 68/14 (Connolly)

Talbot/Krejci not included yet.

Things get interesting if/when Krejci returns and Talbot arrives. It seems fairly obvious that Ferlin goes down sometime soon. Spooner seems like an obvious victim when Krejci returns. The question after that is where do Connolly and Pastrnak fit in. Do they rotate them in? Do they start trimming Pastrnak's games and TOI? As of now he's looked terrific and shows no signs of slowing down, but do they have an eye on the 40 game threshold? Do they consider moving Loui back to the left so Connolly can play the right?

Lot's of different directions, lots of questions to be answered over the next 20 games.

 

[cshea]

Full complement of players today, here's what Claude has come up with:

Marchand - Bergeron - Smith
Eriksson - Soderberg - Connolly
Lucic - Spooner - Pastrnak
Paille - Kelly - Talbot

I approve. Campbell and Ferlin have been rotating in. Campbell hasn't been cleared so his status for Thursday is unknown.

 

[TSC]

If Smith could pull his head out of his ass sometime soon - I really like that lineup. 

 

[TFP]

BOOM almost nailed it. Like that lineup a lot.
 
 

I actually think Talbot is a better player than Caron for the B's. The biggest downside to the deal for me was his cap hit next year. Since Colorado is eating half of that, it definitely moves this trade into the category of "whatever" and not nearly as horrible as I thought it was yesterday. Talbot is another bottom 6 guy who I'd rather have playing than Campbell (fat chance, though). I do think there is something to needing more veteran leadership in the locker room where Talbot will help, but not sure how much of that is quantifiable or if it's worth the cost.
 
Marchand - Bergeron - Smith
Eriksson - Soderberg - Connolly
Lucic - Spooner - Pastrnak
Paille - Talbot - Kelly
Ferlin/Campbell
 
 
I think that's a pretty good lineup right there.

 

 

[FL4WL3SS]

That lineup looks juicy. When Krejci gets back, I like it even more.

 

[cshea]

Connolly is nearing a return, so Julien has some tough decisions ahead. Who sits? Today's practice....

Marchand - Bergeron - Smith/Paille
Soderberg - Krejci - Eriksson
Lucic - Spooner - Pastrnak
Kelly - Campbell - Talbot/Connolly

The question is going to be how long they stick with the Spooner line. They have to for now. The line has been dynamic. They've carried the team through the past month and back into the playoff position. They do need to be sheltered and kept away from opponents too lines, which is going to be more challenging with 4 of the last 5 on the road.

This is a good problem to have.

 

[TSC]

I'd like to see Connolly play with Marchand and Bergeron. 
 
Throw Campbell to the wolves, put Talbot in a suit, and allow the 4th to be Paille/Kelly/Smith.
 
Though I wouldn't mind Pasta getting a night or two off over the next 4 before the playoffs (assuming they clinch a spot in the next game or two). He's never played this much before, and it'd suck if he wore down now.

 

[TFP]

Man I love Krejci on Bergeron's wing, but not sure how much he's adjusting there. Personally I would go with:
 
Marchand - Bergeron - Krejci
Lucic - Spooner - Pastrnak
Eriksson - Soderberg - Connolly
Paille - Kelly - Smith
 
Camplbell/Talbot sitting.
 
Could make a case for switching Smith and Connolly too. All of a sudden you have 4 deep lines with speed and scoring.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Beaten to it but a 4th of Paille-Kelly-Smith/Connolly looks to me like the kind of pseudo-3rd line that could really make a difference without losing any of the hustle, energy, and "little things" chops that you look for from a traditional grinder line.

 

[LogansDad]

I love that you guys think there is a realistic shot of Campbell sitting.
 
I really wish that I felt as confident about that as you guys.

 

[TFP]

Oh I'm not predicting here, I'm putting down what I want. I know there's no chance he's gonna sit and that makes me angry.

 

[cshea]

Man I love Krejci on Bergeron's wing, but not sure how much he's adjusting there. Personally I would go with:
 
Marchand - Bergeron - Krejci
Lucic - Spooner - Pastrnak
Eriksson - Soderberg - Connolly
Paille - Kelly - Smith
 
Camplbell/Talbot sitting.
 
Could make a case for switching Smith and Connolly too. All of a sudden you have 4 deep lines with speed and scoring.

Off the top of my head, I don't think the Bergeron line has scored since they were put together. Part of that is Krejci's rust but I think they could've been better.

 

[burstnbloom]

I like Connolly on the 4th line to start as well, but I don't believe the version of the fourth line that we all want (Paille - Kelly - Connolly) is what will happen.  I think that line has good speed, can forecheck and has at least the possibility of scoring a goal or 2.   I'm  guessing Clode will scratch Smith and put Connolly on Soderberg's wing. 
 
I think in a perfect world the lines look like this: 
 
Lucic - Spooner - Pastrnak
Marchand - Bergy - Krejci
Loui - Soda - Smith
Paille - Kelly - Connolly
 
Or maybe a REALLY perfect world: 
 
Loui - Krejci - Connolly
Marchand - Bergy - Smith
Lucic - Spooner - Pastrnak
Kelly - Soderberg - Paille

 

[cshea]

FWIW, Connolly says he's ready and wants to play tomorrow. This came on quick.

 

[LogansDad]

 
Lucic - Spooner - Pastrnak
Marchand - Bergy - Krejci
Loui - Soda - Smith
Paille - Kelly - Connolly
 
 

In this scenario, how would you feel about swapping Smith, moving Yeti to the wing, and having Krejci center the third line?  Any chance that might get both Smith and Yeti going a little better?

 

[veritas]

Not sure what Soderberg has done to deserve a center spot more than Krejci. He has more experience than Krejci on the wing and isn't particularly great in his own end as a center. I'd like to see this:
 
Soderberg-Bergeron-Loui
Marchand-Krejci-Smith
Lucic-Spooner-Smith Pastranak
Talbot-Kelly-Literally any healthy skater in their org except Campbell
 
Loui and Soderberg have chemistry together. Bergeron and Loui have absolutely owned possession stats when they've played together in a fairly small sample size (62.7 CF in 391 minutes). And the three of them have experience playing together on the PP. I've always wanted to see what they'd do 5v5.
 
edit: oops, clearly I didn't want Smith double shifting and Pastranak on the bench...

 

[j44thor]

Not sure what Soderberg has done to deserve a center spot more than Krejci. He has more experience than Krejci on the wing and isn't particularly great in his own end as a center. I'd like to see this:
 
Soderberg-Bergeron-Loui
Marchand-Krejci-Smith
Lucic-Spooner-Smith
Talbot-Kelly-Literally any healthy skater in their org except Campbell
 
Loui and Soderberg have chemistry together. Bergeron and Loui have absolutely owned possession stats when they've played together in a fairly small sample size (62.7 CF in 391 minutes). And the three of them have experience playing together on the PP. I've always wanted to see what they'd do 5v5.

 
You really want to change every single line while this team is fighting for the final playoff spot?
 
Lucic-Spooner-Pasta
has to stay together, this team is probably on the outside looking in without that line the last month
 
Marchand-Bergeron-Loui
dominant defensive line with more than enough scoring touch, just what you need in playoffs
 
Yeti - Krejci - Connolly/Smith
very good 3rd line with blend of possession, speed, creativity (I would alternate Connolly/Smith until one proves better than the other)
 
Talbot - Campbell - Kelly
don't want Campbell but he is going to play, this also gives Claude 6 C and we know he loves his C at the end of the game

 

[cshea]

Not sure what Soderberg has done to deserve a center spot more than Krejci. He has more experience than Krejci on the wing and isn't particularly great in his own end as a center. I'd like to see this:
 
Soderberg-Bergeron-Loui
Marchand-Krejci-Smith
Lucic-Spooner-Smith
Talbot-Kelly-Literally any healthy skater in their org except Campbell
 
Loui and Soderberg have chemistry together. Bergeron and Loui have absolutely owned possession stats when they've played together in a fairly small sample size (62.7 CF in 391 minutes). And the three of them have experience playing together on the PP. I've always wanted to see what they'd do 5v5.

I assume the 62.7% CF includes the PP time? I've got Bergeron/Eriksson at 54.8% CF at ES when on the ice together. That is very good, but not close to the elite 59.3% they're getting ojt of the Marchand/Bergeron duo. I wouldn't split those two up, but givin Loui a look at RW there may not be a bad idea. Especially with a full compliment of forwards available and playing well.

Edit: numbers from Bergy's WOWY's

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=572&withagainst=true&season=2014-15&sit=5v5

 

[TheRealness]

 
You really want to change every single line while this team is fighting for the final playoff spot?
 
Lucic-Spooner-Pasta
has to stay together, this team is probably on the outside looking in without that line the last month
 
Marchand-Bergeron-Loui
dominant defensive line with more than enough scoring touch, just what you need in playoffs
 
Yeti - Krejci - Connolly/Smith
very good 3rd line with blend of possession, speed, creativity (I would alternate Connolly/Smith until one proves better than the other)
 
Talbot - Campbell - Kelly
don't want Campbell but he is going to play, this also gives Claude 6 C and we know he loves his C at the end of the game

 
I am somewhat close to this. I would look at either a Marchand/Bergeron/Smith-Connolly line, or Soderberg-Krejci-Eriksson line. Bergeron and Marchand should stay together, but I'd be curious to see how Connolly does with them. I am fine if they sit Smith to take a look at Connolly given Smith has been a ghost in a lot of games. I, too, would love to see them bench Campbell, but we are all tilting at windmills on that point. 
 
I definitely think Krejci should go back to the middle, and I would love to get a look at Connolly before the playoffs, so it will be very curious to see how Claude handles the lines now that Krejci is shaking off some rust and Connolly is ready. 

 

[McDrew]

As long as Lucic-Spooner-Pastrnak is producing, I'm not touching it. 
I'm also not splitting Marchand/Bergeron or Eriksson/Soderberg. 
 
Marchand-Bergeron-Krecji
Lucic-Spooner-Pastrnak
Eriksson-Soderberg-Connoly/Smith
Talbot-Kelly-Connoly/Smith
Campbell

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

Ericksson - Krecji - Connolly
Marchand - Bergeron - Smith
Lucic-Spooner-Pastrnak
Soderberg - Kelly - Talbot/Campbell

 

[Zososoxfan]

Marchand-Bergy-Connolly/Smith
Looch-Spooner-Pasta
Yeti-Krejci-Loui
Paille-Kelly-Talbot
 
 
 
 
 
 
Campbell
 
No way you break up Looch-Spoon-Pasta and I don't think Marshy-Bergy either. Krejci hasn't done much on the wing, so probably time to get him back at C. Get him between the Swedes and see how it looks. Connolly/Smith until one of them shows something. Other one either shares time or bounces to the 4th line instead of Talbot.

 

[veritas]

I assume the 62.7% CF includes the PP time? I've got Bergeron/Eriksson at 54.8% CF at ES when on the ice together. That is very good, but not close to the elite 59.3% they're getting ojt of the Marchand/Bergeron duo. I wouldn't split those two up, but givin Loui a look at RW there may not be a bad idea. Especially with a full compliment of forwards available and playing well.

Edit: numbers from Bergy's WOWY's

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=572&withagainst=true&season=2014-15&sit=5v5

 
Yeah I was looking at their 2 year numbers, ES:  http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=572&withagainst=true&season=2013-15&sit=5v5
 
62.7 CF together. Also, that 2nd Smith should have been Pastranak, I definitely did not mean to suggest breaking up that line.

 

[McDrew]

Marchand-Bergy-Connolly/Smith
Looch-Spooner-Pasta
Yeti-Krejci-Loui
Paille-Kelly-Talbot
 
 
 
 
 
 
Campbell
 
No way you break up Looch-Spoon-Pasta and I don't think Marshy-Bergy either. Krejci hasn't done much on the wing, so probably time to get him back at C. Get him between the Swedes and see how it looks. Connolly/Smith until one of them shows something. Other one either shares time or bounces to the 4th line instead of Talbot.

I had not thought about Yeti-Krecji-Loui 
 
Setting up lines, you can throw Marchand-Bergeron-Connolly/Smith against the team's top line, Soderberg-Krecji-Eriksson against their second line, and I REALLY like Pasternak-Spooner-Lucic against other teams 3rd lines. 

 

[Eddie Jurak]

I hope Clode sticks with the Krejci, Soderberg, Eriksson line. It's true Soderberg has played better at C than LW, but it is also true that he's never played with Krejci before.

I'd rather see Connolly get a look on the Bergeron line and Campbell get fired into the sun, or at least the press Box.