Way too much time between now and then. Who knows how Bourque will turn out? Who knows if Kennedy gets his shot on Malkin's wing and actually sticks? There's just too many variables as of now, but I'd like to eventually see:
I like Godard but I think Rupp does an alright enough job fighting and can take a regular shift, I think that 4th line can use a speedster. Either Dupuis or Bourque.
Godard can sit out every night. He doesn't help the team win. Rupp, Talbot, and McKee can all fight and actually play hockey.
I think Bourque will prove himself a useful player once he gets his shot. He's not going to score 25 goals, but he can bring energy and make simple hockey plays with his hands...something Dupuis and Godard can't do.
Last night on the Isles broadcast, even their announcers pointed out how lost Dupuis looked on Malkin's line. Then went on to say he doesn't have the skills required to play on the top two lines, which has been painfully obvious for awhile.
For whatever reasons, he keeps getting put in that role, which makes people hate him. If he was a fourth liner, we would all love him.
Last night on the Isles broadcast, even their announcers pointed out how lost Dupuis looked on Malkin's line. Then went on to say he doesn't have the skills required to play on the top two lines, which has been painfully obvious for awhile.
For whatever reasons, he keeps getting put in that role, which makes people hate him. If he was a fourth liner, we would all love him.
Exactly. I said something to this effect in the 5/5 thread as well.
How about the lines for Wednesday night? After getting some practice time it might be a good night to play Bourque. I'd love to see Godard sit (is there any need for him in the lineup against the Coyotes?) and have Dupuis slide back down, what do you guys think?
Is it popular again to hate on Dupuis? These trends change too fast.
It's always popular to think he isn't a scoring-line-level producer. It's never popular to think he's absolutely useless as a player. There's rarely ever any fluctuation on either of these two points.
How about the lines for Wednesday night? After getting some practice time it might be a good night to play Bourque. I'd love to see Godard sit (is there any need for him in the lineup against the Coyotes?) and have Dupuis slide back down, what do you guys think?
Not a bad idea to try, and if your gonna pick any game to try it in, a non-conference game against what will almost certainly be a non-playoff team is ideal.
You guys seriously underestimate what Godard brings to the ice. The line combos you have posted are playoff line combos, not regular season combos. Its relatively simple, regular season Godard plays, Playoffs he sits. He is our 4th line RW through April. Ray Shero forgot more about hockey by the time he was 10 than any of us will ever hope to know, so lets not question his personnel decisions. Don't kid yourselves, we need Godard each night. Example, when Koci went after Talbot last year, who stepped up, Godard. Thats why he's there, and will continue to be there.
How about the lines for Wednesday night? After getting some practice time it might be a good night to play Bourque. I'd love to see Godard sit (is there any need for him in the lineup against the Coyotes?) and have Dupuis slide back down, what do you guys think?
You guys seriously underestimate what Godard brings to the ice. The line combos you have posted are playoff line combos, not regular season combos. Its relatively simple, regular season Godard plays, Playoffs he sits. He is our 4th line RW through April. Ray Shero forgot more about hockey by the time he was 10 than any of us will ever hope to know, so lets not question his personnel decisions. Don't kid yourselves, we need Godard each night. Example, when Koci went after Talbot last year, who stepped up, Godard. Thats why he's there, and will continue to be there.
Even though I always say that Godard has to and will play the majority of games during regular season and that we need the enforcer patrolling the ice, I'm with M specifically for the upcoming Phoenix game, if they keep playing with the current lines:
Boedker - Lang - Doan
Upshall - Lombardi - Mueller
Prucha - Hanzal - Vrbata
Winnik - Korpikoski - Fiddler
They got some tough players on D, but I think Rupp, Adams and eventually the other guys can handle this one. I'd try M's lineup with minor changes:
Even though I always say that Godard has to and will play the majority of games during regular season and that we need the enforcer patrolling the ice, I'm with M specifically for the upcoming Phoenix game, if they keep playing with the current lines:
Boedker - Lang - Doan
Upshall - Lombardi - Mueller
Prucha - Hanzal - Vrbata
Winnik - Korpikoski - Fiddler
They got some tough players on D, but I think Rupp, Adams and eventually the other guys can handle this one. I'd try M's lineup with minor changes:
If Biz-Nasty practices in the morning, then it's another story and we should keep the current lines, IMO.
I just saw that the Coyotes dropped 6 goals on the Kings in their first game, maybe we'll have a run and gun game on our hands Wednesday night!
Having Bourque on Malkin's line would be nice in that it would give each of the top 3 lines one fast player that is willing to throw his body into the forecheck. I don't expect Bourque to be anything special, but I can't see him being any worse than Dupuis offensively.
Finally, someone that doesn't automatically push TFK into the top 6, just because. Bourque would be a waste anywhere in the line-up except where you have him.
3rd line? We have the best 3rd line in hockey and they should not be broken up for any reason.
4th line? Might as well be in WBS, if that's where he's playing with the big club.
Sid has his line put together already and everyone moans and cries that Geno has to play with Dupuis, so let's try Bourque out and move Dupuis back to the 4th line. This line-up makes total sense to me.
Finally, someone that doesn't automatically push TFK into the top 6, just because. Bourque would be a waste anywhere in the line-up except where you have him.
3rd line? We have the best 3rd line in hockey and they should not be broken up for any reason.
4th line? Might as well be in WBS, if that's where he's playing with the big club.
Sid has his line put together already and everyone moans and cries that Geno has to play with Dupuis, so let's try Bourque out and move Dupuis back to the 4th line. This line-up makes total sense to me.
Try Bourque on that 2nd line, if he works, then it gives a chance to pair Talbot with Rupp and Adams which does not have the scoring ability of the 3rd line but can play deadly 2 ways hockey. The line gets a little less physical dropping Godard but if you look at how well Talbot and Adams could wear people down last season, then throw Rupp into it. Not only do we have the 3rd line wearing down the opponents playing a 2 ways game you have the 3rd and 4th. That is a lot to fight through for any team, opposing lines would get very frustrated facing two lines like that. Another good thing about a Rupp - Talbot - Adams line, is they can all play each others positions. All three can center and all 3 can wing on a 4th line role, that can become a extremely confusing line if they clicked together and could change on the fly where they were attacking or defending from.
If you need a more physical line for a game there is nothing stopping you from bringing in Godard again. Or if Bourque does not work out with Malkin and Fedo then you can scratch or waive him. And do one of two things, plug Talbot back on the 2nd line, or bring up TK for a shot and put Talbot on that 3rd line wing.
Even if it came to that, replacing TK with Talbot would not be that bad, you loose some scoring, but he is still all over the ice just like TK is. That line would still be shutting down nearly anyone it came across. And it gives TK a shot to show what he can really do. Going into the season opener I was all about putting TK on a wing spot with Geno. Now that I have seen the 3rd line basically be the glue, my opinion is breaking up that line is the last option. Not an out of the question one, I think Dan should try everything else before it happens.
Last edited by Fictionzero: 10-05-2009 at 06:11 PM.
