I really like that Top 9 Michael, that would probably be how I'd set it up. Possibly switching BC and TP but I like both variations.
- norbs

I like having a veteran presence to play on each of the lines. Filppula on the second. Purcell on the third.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Purcell on a third line to start the year if Connolly continues to produce with Filppula and Killorn.

Malone Stamkos St. Louis
Killorn Filppula Connolly
Drouin Johnson Purcell
Crombeen Thompson Panik

Hedman Salo
Carle Gudas
Brewer Aulie
Barberio

Bishop
Lindback

--

I'm not saying that's a prediction or anything, but it's what my opening night lineup would look like.
- Michael_Stuart

I'm down with that, but we can carry up 23 so I would say the extra forwards are Palat and Labre. I like having Teddy on the 3rd line, it gives us three legit scoring lines that will give the other teams fits

Andre Vasilevski is MIA from both MHL and KHL!!!!!!!!!
edit: he's injured.

i think drouin will be alright, hes nervous as poop...hes 18 on a team with a legend in the making (stamkos) and in my opinion a future hall of famer and one of the most well known well respected and talented players in the NHL for the last decade martin st louis.. as long as a bunch of other prospects who are excelling ..

i think a few more practices/games on the WING he will be alright,imo

Andre Vasilevski is MIA from both MHL and KHL!!!!!!!!!
edit: he's injured.
- Artyukhin76

what doid he hurt?

what doid he hurt?
- RileyB77

Not sure, people at boltprospects are looking into it.

Not sure, people at boltprospects are looking into it.
- Artyukhin76

oh ok lol, hopefully just a minor injury

oh ok lol, hopefully just a minor injury
- RileyB77

They said he's out for about a week.

They said he's out for about a week.
- Artyukhin76

oh ok good news ...

After watching the BUF vs TOR line brawl it made me wonder who on the lightning do we really have to stand up for our skill guys. Say it was TAM vs BUF and Scott made a run at Stamkos who from our team do we really have to retaliate.

Crombeen - love his heart but he is Glass Joe anymore
Labrie - I think he can scrap but he is not a big heavy
Aulie - He has scrapped some but he is a head case
Gudas - Again he is actually not a large guy
Malone - Please don't fight we need him healthy

Our biggest guys are our goal tenders... at least I don't see an opposing goalie challenging our goalies.

It almost seems that with our new division we kind of need a goon on the team to defend our smaller skill players.

After watching the BUF vs TOR line brawl it made me wonder who on the lightning do we really have to stand up for our skill guys. Say it was TAM vs BUF and Scott made a run at Stamkos who from our team do we really have to retaliate.

Crombeen - love his heart but he is Glass Joe anymore
Labrie - I think he can scrap but he is not a big heavy
Aulie - He has scrapped some but he is a head case
Gudas - Again he is actually not a large guy
Malone - Please don't fight we need him healthy

Our biggest guys are our goal tenders... at least I don't see an opposing goalie challenging our goalies.

It almost seems that with our new division we kind of need a goon on the team to defend our smaller skill players.
- stammerman

gudas is small but would kill anyone lol

its not so much that he has to beat the poop out of whoever (frank)s with stamkos, but just stand up for him and fight whether he gets his ass kicked or not, and I think anyone on the team would do that

whether the fight is won or lost the factor of protection and sticking together is still there and gives momentum / would probably pump stamkos up to score a goal for whoever did that for him

names that come to mind though are:
gudas
Thompson
Malone
labrie
crombeen
hedman would drop the gloves when nessesary (in this case I think he most definitely would)

Oh Hedman, I remember last season when Nazem Kadri sucker punched him while be held by I believe Colton Orr, he went nuts and got ahold of Nadri before it was all broken up. Yeah Hedman would scrap.

Funny thing is actually, Stamkos is actually a good fighter for a skill guy. I have been told by a ex lightning trainer he can throw down with quick hands and balance. Aside from causing huge issues that come with running at a superstar, the trainer said even some opposing teams players wont run on him so as not to lose a fight to a skill guy. How true that is I don't know but I know for a fact the guy saying it was a trainer for the Lightning.

Oh Hedman, I remember last season when Kazem Nadri sucker punched him while be held by I believe Colton Orr, he went nuts and got ahold of Nadri before it was all broken up. Yeah Hedman would scrap.

Funny thing is actually, Stamkos is actually a good fighter for a skill guy. I have been told by a ex lightning trainer he can throw down with quick hands and balance. Aside from causing huge issues that come with running at a superstar, the trainer said even some opposing teams players wont run on him so as not to lose a fight to a skill guy. How true that is I don't know but I know for a fact the guy saying it was a trainer for the Lightning.
- stammerman

stamkos has faught before and was the last thing from bad at it, I was thinking in my reply he would probnably take care of it himself, but was staying on topic of who else would ..he is by far better than a lot of others

After watching the BUF vs TOR line brawl it made me wonder who on the lightning do we really have to stand up for our skill guys. Say it was TAM vs BUF and Scott made a run at Stamkos who from our team do we really have to retaliate.

Crombeen - love his heart but he is Glass Joe anymore
Labrie - I think he can scrap but he is not a big heavy
Aulie - He has scrapped some but he is a head case
Gudas - Again he is actually not a large guy
Malone - Please don't fight we need him healthy

Our biggest guys are our goal tenders... at least I don't see an opposing goalie challenging our goalies.

It almost seems that with our new division we kind of need a goon on the team to defend our smaller skill players.
- stammerman

How is Aulie a head case? He's a not he swiftest on his feet, but he can fight. Crombeen is a punching bag and Labre is good at chucking the knuckles, but that's about it. Bugsy has never been hurt fighting, just getting hit. His Last injury was on a questionable hit. We have team toughness and we don't need a someone that just strictly fights. Crombeen is a good PK guy and I guess they see more Labre then what we do.

How is Aulie a head case? He's a not he swiftest on his feet, but he can fight. Crombeen is a punching bag and Labre is good at chucking the knuckles, but that's about it. Bugsy has never been hurt fighting, just getting hit. His Last injury was on a questionable hit. We have team toughness and we don't need a someone that just strictly fights. Crombeen is a good PK guy and I guess they see more Labre then what we do.
- Artyukhin76

Bugsy injury last year was definitely a cheap shot against him in my opinion. I say Aulie is a head case because as I watch him play from the stands he seems to be in his own little world sometimes, I think he can fight but is not great at it.

Bugsy injury last year was definitely a cheap shot against him in my opinion. I say Aulie is a head case because as I watch him play from the stands he seems to be in his own little world sometimes, I think he can fight but is not great at it.
- stammerman

I'm not his biggest fan, but if we demote him then we run the risk of a wavier claim. I think Sustr or Korobov are better suited then him.

You know what would be ultra frustrating to our opponents? This:
Drouin Stamkos St. Louis
Killorn Filppula Connolly
Malone Johnson Purcell
These top three lines would be difficult for teams to match up against!

You know what would be ultra frustrating to our opponents? This:
Drouin Stamkos St. Louis
Killorn Filppula Connolly
Malone Johnson Purcell
These top three lines would be difficult for teams to match up against!
- Artyukhin76

If Drouin has chemistry with Stammer and St. Louis, I'm totally comfortable with that. The Killorn-Fil-Connolly line is the one I want to see most. Love the look of it.

If Drouin has chemistry with Stammer and St. Louis, I'm totally comfortable with that. The Killorn-Fil-Connolly line is the one I want to see most. Love the look of it.
- Michael_Stuart

Of course, only if the chemistry is there.

Yes, im sure if put together the chemistry would be there

st louis and drouin are insane play makers...they have vision that is rarely heard of...stamkos always opens himself up for the pass, thats why he is so great...he can see a play develope ahead of time and get himself in position to score, and with such great passers he makes it easy for them to feed him the puck...

i think the chemistry will be there i know that line is so media driven but its true it would be such a sick line if it clicked

Of course, only if the chemistry is there.
- Artyukhin76

Looks like they'll get their shot tomorrow maybe.

Looks like they'll get their shot tomorrow maybe.
- Michael_Stuart

Truth be told I have NO clue how I feel about the upcoming season. I'm completely up in the air on how I believe They will do. It's difficult to guess what will happen. This team has the capability of greatness, but it's almost like they have some sort of anchor holding them back. I can see us improving, but how much is up to them.

Truth be told I have NO clue how I feel about the upcoming season. I'm completely up in the air on how I believe They will do. It's difficult to guess what will happen. This team has the capability of greatness, but it's almost like they have some sort of anchor holding them back. I can see us improving, but how much is up to them.
- Artyukhin76

I wanna say they are gonna fight for the last 2 playoff spot and its going to be a tight race. Boston/Toronto/Ottawa/Detroit/Pittsburgh/New York Rangers are playoff worthy I believe. Florida and Buffalo are going to be terrible and New Jersey not far behind. The rest is wide open.

I wanna say they are gonna fight for the last 2 playoff spot and its going to be a tight race. Boston/Toronto/Ottawa/Detroit/Pittsburgh/New York Rangers are playoff worthy I believe. Florida and Buffalo are going to be terrible and New Jersey not far behind. The rest is wide open.
- TBolts4

Boston yes
Ottawa yes
Detroit yes
Montreal yes
Toronto yes
Pittsburgh yes
Rangers

Boston yes
Ottawa yes
Detroit yes
Montreal yes
Toronto yes
Pittsburgh yes
Rangers
- Artyukhin76

to me, nobody has really locked a spot in east except boston ottawa detroit and pittsburgh,.... montreal may have collapsed....terrible towards the end, terrible in the playoffs, in a full 82 game schedule they mightve barely made it, or maybe it was just a little hiccup and they would recover, who knows..

toronto wasnt given the oppurtunity to collapse the 2nd half of the season cause they only played the 1st half lol

lets not forget where they finished the year before, same with toronto