Probable line combinations this year?

Hey guys, I'm not all that familiar with your line-up but I'm in a hockey pool and I need to know who will play with who. I planned on picking LeCavalier AND Richards, but it would be nice to know who they will be playing with. Thanks in advance.

Hey guys, I'm not all that familiar with your line-up but I'm in a hockey pool and I need to know who will play with who. I planned on picking LeCavalier AND Richards, but it would be nice to know who they will be playing with. Thanks in advance.

Coach Tortorella has been doing some experimentation with the lines during camp, so they haven't been locked down completely. The ones thrown out here are subject to change. Keep an eye on the last two pre-season games when he'll have more of an idea. And... Torts is notorious for mixing up the lines all the time during a game to find something that clicks. If there's anything definite, it's that his line combinations are not definite.

With that said...

Richards and St. Louis play with each other most all the time. For the last two seasons, Fredrik Modin has seen the most time on the left wing with those two. However, there is a big debate going on whether that will carry on to this season. Ruslan Fedotenko has been used alot during camp with those two. At this point, who knows. Dmitri Afanasenkov is a long, long, long shot -- but he's getting a longer look this year than any previous year.

Just about everyone believes that Stillman and Lecavalier will be paired up, and they've been almost exclusively iced together during camp. But the coach has recently made some noise about those two not really clicking, so who knows. As far as the RW spot on that line, that has been the elusive search by the Bolts for a couple of years now -- Lecavalier's RW. It has been a veritable musical chair go-round in that spot. Shane Willis might be emerging in camp as the favorite to win that spot, but not by a longshot. Ben Clymer and Fedotenko could get/have gotten some time there as well. Other candidates were Eero Somervuori and Nikita Aleexev, but those two have pretty much dropped out of the running at this point.

If you find out the answers, let us know! ;)

My waiver draft protected list would leave:

Unprotected: Olvestad, Afanasenkov, Cibak, Laukkanen, Pratt, Rumble, Trepanier

I don't believe any of those 7 are a really tantalizing target for another team. I really don't. Maybe a team looking for a veteran d-man takes Pratt or Laukkanen, but I kind of doubt it and don't see losing either as a Titanic blow to the roster.

I'd then would like to carry the full 23 as follows:

Modin/Richards/St. Louis
Stillman/Lecavalier/Willis
Andreychuk/Taylor/Fedotenko
Roy/Keefe/Clymer
(Dingman/Cibak)

Cullimore/Sarich
Lukowich/Boyle
Laukkanen/Kubina
(Pratt)

Khabibulin
Grahame

To Farm: Svitov, Alexeev, Olvestad, Afanasenkov, Rumble, Trepanier

Now, will it happen that way? No. Willis will be left unprotected and that spot used to protect either Pratt or Laukkanen IMO. Willis goes in the waiver draft or goes unselected and is farmed (unfairly, again). Clymer to 2nd line RW. Willis' 23-man roster spot then given over to Alex Svitov even though he doesn't deserve it.

So once the dust settles and all this Modin bashing nonsense dies down:

Modin/Richards/Lecavalier
Stillman/Lecavalier/Clymer
Andreychuk/Taylor/Fedotenko
Roy/Svitov/Keefe
(Dingman/Cibak)

Cullimore/Sarich
Lukowich/Boyle
Laukkanen/Kubina
(Pratt)

Khabibulin
Grahame

I sincerely believe Sheldon Keefe has made this team.

-Pete Choquette

I hope so, but I don't see them sending down Alexeev and not Svitov; or vis versa. Hopefully they are both sent down and placed on a line with R2 in Hershey. I'd also rather see Fedotenko with minutes on one of the top 2 lines instead of Clymer or Willis. Fed's has shown more than either so far; though being on the RS line may of had something to do with it. Though Willis will probably isn't the defensive protigy that Fedotenko is so he will find time on the top.


Modin-Richards-St.Louis
Stillman-Lecavalier-Willis
Clymer-Keefe-Fedotenko
Andreychuck-Taylor-Roy
(Cibak/Dingman)

Sarich-Boyle
Cullimore-Kubina
Lukowich-Laukkenen
(Pratt)

I sincerely believe Sheldon Keefe has made this team.


Not after he gets plucked in the waiver draft.

I fail to see the logic in protecting Rumble (with his unwieldy 1-way $290,000 contract) and exposing Keefe (with infinitely higher upside and a less financially burdensome deal).

So long, Sheldon.

I fail to see the logic in protecting Rumble (with his unwieldy 1-way $290,000 contract) and exposing Keefe

Unless Cheeto Jay shook some money out of Dollar Bill's pockets to snatch Chris Therien tomorrow, this move is indefensible. No one was going to select Darren Rumble.

-Pete Choquette

**gasp**

perhaps trying to rid himself of another Dudley protigy?

**gasp**

perhaps trying to rid himself of another Dudley protigy?

Not likely, although I don't blame anyone for speculating that. If that were his M.O., then I suspect Aleexev would've been traded this summer along with Modin for Hamrlik.

true; but wasn't he going to until managment stepped in or am I sadly mistaken?

true; but wasn't he going to until managment stepped in or am I sadly mistaken?

No. I overheard Barber talking about the possible deal from my seat near the Bolt table at the Nashville draft. There was no indication that management above Feaster squelched the deal. From the snippets I overheard from Barber, it sounded like Feaster declined the offer from Milbury because he, Barber, and the scouting staff considered Aleexev and Svitov to be future "core" players.

How is Shane Willis doing? Is Vinny looking as good as he was last season? How are Vinny and Cory Stillman doing togethar? Any chemistry?

What about that Euro Soumeveriouri guy? I thought he was supposed to make your top two lines and opening day roster and be a surprise impact player? Where is he as of today?

JF Soucy is he still around? Why did Alexeev and now it sounds like maybe Svitov get deomoted?

What are the LINES???

What are the LINES???
Geez, we're getting to it! :p

Anyway, I stole these from another board because I like them, but you have to understand that our coach can change lines from shift to shift, we really don't have "lines" here.

Fedotenko/Modin - Richards - St. Louis
Stillman - Lecavalier - Afanasenkov
Modin/Fedotenko - Taylor - Clymer
Andreychuk - Svitov/Cibak - Roy/Dingman

One of Svitov or Cibak will get reassigned, probably on Tuesday. All the other guys that were asked about have been reassigned already:

Hamilton: Olvestad, Somervuori, Holmqvist, Van Hoof
Hershey: Craig, Perrin, Soucy, Aleexev, Artukhin, Willis, Dicaire, Trepanier, Eklund (we only have 6 spots here for the moment, so some of these guys will be sent to our ECHL affiliate)

Someone gave the defense pairings above, and of course, Khabi is the starter.

Stillman may end upon Richards' line IMO, throwing all of Torts' preseason scoring lines into upheaval because it makes no sense to play Stillman and St. Louis on the same line at even strength.

-Pete Choquette

Hershey: Craig, Perrin, Soucy, Aleexev, Artukhin, Willis, Dicaire, Trepanier, Eklund (we only have 6 spots here for the moment, so some of these guys will be sent to our ECHL affiliate)

Soucy, Dicaire, Eklund, and Craig were sent to Pensacola of the ECHL Sunday night to make way for the arrival of Aleexev, Willis, Trepanier, and the Svitov/Cibak loser.

So much for Feaster's talk about Dicaire jumping ahead of Holmqvist on the depth chart.

So much for Feaster's talk about Dicaire jumping ahead of Holmqvist on the depth chart.
I think he actually said Dicaire had simply moved himself up, not ahead of Holmqvist.

It's nice to see that Holmqvist is doing so well in Hamilton right now.

Dicaire doesn't belong in the ECHL.

That sucks.

Soucy, Dicaire, Eklund, and Craig were sent to Pensacola of the ECHL Sunday night to make way for the arrival of Aleexev, Willis, Trepanier, and the Svitov/Cibak loser.

So much for Feaster's talk about Dicaire jumping ahead of Holmqvist on the depth chart.

DiCaire wasn't sent to Pensacola, Feaster worked a deal for him to play with the Utah Grizzlies per the Sunshine msg board. I don't have a link, there's no update at the official site but DiCaire was also NOT mentioned in the Pensacola press release today, only Soucy, Craig & Eklund.

DiCaire wasn't sent to Pensacola, Feaster worked a deal for him to play with the Utah Grizzlies per the Sunshine msg board. I don't have a link, there's no update at the official site but DiCaire was also NOT mentioned in the Pensacola press release today, only Soucy, Craig & Eklund.

Actually, I think the story first broke here on this message board in the wee hours of Wednesday morning when Gerard's father himself *clued* us in.


Link (http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?postid=287055)

What are the LINES???

Anyway... back on topic...

Torts reveals his lines for the opener:

Stillman-Richards-St.Louis
Afanasenkov-Lecavalier-Fedotenko
Modin-Cibak-Clymer
Andreychuk-Taylor-Dingman/Roy

Actually, I think the story first broke here on this message board in the wee hours of Wednesday morning when Gerard's father himself *clued* us in.


Link (http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?postid=287055)

Sorry I read it first at Sunshine and didn't compare the post times..... :)

Anyway... back on topic...

Torts reveals his lines for the opener:

Stillman-Richards-St.Louis
Afanasenkov-Lecavalier-Fedotenko
Modin-Cibak-Clymer
Andreychuk-Taylor-Dingman/Roy

Bee-yoo-tiful. Two years later and we're STILL looking for that feature winger to put on Vinny Lecavalier's line. Oh, no, wait ... we're looking for TWO of them. I'm so mad I could sh*t.

Afanasenkov-Lecavalier-Fedotenko

C'mon, Joe. This is merely the 2nd coming of Naslund-Morrison-Bertuzzi.

Great way to treat Vinny.

As Pete has mentioned umpteen times, move STL with Vinny.

Taking what Vinny deserves out of the equation, a Stillman-Richards-STL line could be one of the top-5 lines in the league when all is said and done. No one outside Tampa would believe that, though.

C'mon, Joe. This is merely the 2nd coming of Naslund-Morrison-Bertuzzi.

Great way to treat Vinny.

As Pete has mentioned umpteen times, move STL with Vinny.

Taking what Vinny deserves out of the equation, a Stillman-Richards-STL line could be one of the top-5 lines in the league when all is said and done. No one outside Tampa would believe that, though.

I'm an LA fan living in the SF Bay Area, and I could be convinced. ;)

If not top-5, at least top-10.

Bee-yoo-tiful. Two years later and we're STILL looking for that feature winger to put on Vinny Lecavalier's line. Oh, no, wait ... we're looking for TWO of them. I'm so mad I could sh*t.
Yeah, now that I see this lineup actually written down, I'm not exactly thrilled. That's not going to strike fear into anyone. :( I am not too crazy about that 2nd line at all, although I think Feds has looked better now than he did down the stretch of last year. I predict a lot of swapping around of Stillman, Modin and Feds.

Oh well, as we all know, lines don't last more than half a game around here for the most part.

I'm an LA fan living in the SF Bay Area, and I could be convinced.
:) Thanks, it does look nice, doesn't it? Then you see what's after it and it just doesn't look pretty!

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is the deal with Willis, I know that he was sent to the minors some time ago, not sure why the demotion and what has happened since then, but according to some he could play on the second line. Please fill me in.

Willis is persona non grata with Tortorella and Feaster. I would like to know why myself.

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is the deal with Willis, I know that he was sent to the minors some time ago, not sure why the demotion and what has happened since then, but according to some he could play on the second line. Please fill me in.
Like flycoon says, your guess is as good as ours at this point.

I'll give a try, if you guys don't mind.


Forwards
Cory Stillman - Vincent Lecavalier - Martin St.Louis
Frederik Modin - Brad Richards - Ruslan Fedotenko
Dave Andreychuk - Martin Cibak - Ben Clymer
Chris Dingman - Tim Taylor - Andre Roy
Alexander Svitov

Defensemen
Cory Sarich - Dan Boyle
Brad Lukowich - Pavel Kubina
Jason Cullimore - Nolan Pratt
Janne Laaukanen

Goalthenders
Nikolai Khabibulin
John Grahame

I'll give a try, if you guys don't mind.


In the eyes of our coach, Vincent Lecavalier doesn't center the top line on this team. Brad Richards does.

Also doubtful you'll ever see Andre Roy and Chris Dingman on the ice together, or maybe even in the same game.

Also, Sarich and Boyle typically both play on the right side. Cullimore and Pratt both typically play on the left. Doubt you'll see those pairings.

Besides which, it's virtually pointless to speculate since Tortorella doesn't stick with any one combination for longer than a game or two. Sometimes not even more than a few shifts.

In the eyes of our coach, Vincent Lecavalier doesn't center the top line on this team. Brad Richards does.


Really? With all the respect I have for Brad Richards, as he's one of my favorite players in the league, there is no doubt in my mind Lecavalier should have the #1 center spot. It's not only about offensive contribution; perhaps Richards has put up more points than Lecavalier last season, but Vincent brings so much to the game, and is very effective against the other team's first line. I can't believe the management is fine with the head coach's decision.


edit: As for the defense pairings, I based mine on the ones I had seen previously on the thread.

Most of the good teams have 6 good forwards, 6 role forwards and typicaly 2 good defenseman.

Lecavalier, Richards, Stillman, St. Louis, Modin

Boyle

IMO we still need 1 good forward and 1 good defenseman. Khabibulin is still top 5 IMO and Grahame can spot him well; considering how weak our division is too, we should make the playoffs and have atleast the #3 seed. Fedotenko and Afenasenkov could both score 20+ goals so that could possibly give us 7 forwards.


I think what Tortorella is trying to do is use Vinny as a catalyst in jump starting Fedotenko and Afenaenkov's game. Fedotenko is defensivly responsible and has offensive upside and Afenasenkov is very good offensivly and has the speed to match Vinny. The "finisher" that line has been needing. If im not mistaken either he was defesively sound while in the minors too.

On paper, the second line doesn't look very "seksy" in terms of stats. But the make up of the line deffinatly has the ability to click; and if it does Tortorella will look like a genius once again.

Then you have Holmqvist, Decaire, Svitov, and Alexeev in the minors if someone gets injured.

Clymer, Afenasenkov, and Roy are also offensive speicmens...I think our lineup looks fantastic considering

... Afenasenkov could both score 20+ goals ...

Dude has 1 career goal. He's only scored 8 in his past two AHL seasons combined. I think hoping he can pot 20 in the NHL is maybe a bit unrealistic.

Dude has 1 career goal.

And that was over 2 years ago.

-Pete Choquette

saying hes scored 1 goal is like saying "Sosa has never hit a post season homerun". You've got to give him time to score. If im not mistaken though it was against Columbus in 00 that he scored that goal and it was a pretty roofer. He also set up a ton of plays and got robbed on a few as well. He really pumped some energy into the team then.


Hes done pretty well in the minors with Cibak and Cibak's a defensive center. Imagine what a finisher will do with Lecavalier? I say he pots "atleast" 20 and becomes the surprise of the team. You said yourself Pete he has some pop at the end of that stick.

Hes done pretty well in the minors

His career year in the minors was just 15 goals and 37 points. That's why we're distrustful of Tortorella handing him a scoring line job.

If it were my decision, he'd be down in Hershey right now playing on a line with Svitov and proving this camp was not a fluke rather than being handed a scoring line job with the franchise player.

Call me crazy, but after two awful seasons in Springfield, my burden of proof is a little higher for Dimitry.

-Pete Choquette

Call me crazy, but after two awful seasons in Springfield, my burden of proof is a little higher for Dimitry.
Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it with Affy.

Point is, he's not proven, and I'd really, for once, like to see someone proven on Vinny's line, not another "experiment".

Sosa = Afanasenkov?

That's a new one.

Affy will likely be in Hershilton by Christmas.

Hes done pretty well in the minors ...

I'm not convinced that 24 goals and 62 points in 152 games in the AHL/IHL even qualifies as "pretty well."

Well I was impressed with him when he was called up and recieved little ice time.

Poor Vinny, did Fedo pull another vanishing act? I looked for him the entire game and did not see a lot. yet I was impressed with the way Affy at least moved towards the net on his goal- gee he has matched his entire previous output. Stillman looked great and really moved to the front of the net and the expression on his face of total concentration was great to see- hope it rubs off on some people. Vinny and Brad looked to be in mid-season form. I was vey happy with the play after we got our first goal- prior to that they were a bit sloppy. I feel for Vinny- he needs someone with more experienced on his wing. Any other cmments??

Modin - Richards - St.Louis
Stillman - Lecavalier - Fedotenko
Andreycuk - Taylor - Clymer
Dingman - Svitov - Roy

Sarich - Boyle
Lukowich - Kubina
Cullimore - Pratt

Khabibulin
Grahame

Modin - Richards - St.Louis
Stillman - Lecavalier - Fedotenko
Andreycuk - Taylor - Clymer
Dingman - Svitov - Roy

Sarich - Boyle
Lukowich - Kubina
Cullimore - Pratt

Khabibulin
Grahame

Sorry, Svitov's in the minors. Thanks for playing.