good game last night, you guys have been a thorn in our sides all season long.

Is it me or does it seem like you guys are a better team without Koivu?

good game last night, you guys have been a thorn in our sides all season long.

Is it me or does it seem like you guys are a better team without Koivu?
- DDM-Coga

Strange choice of words... a record of 5 - 0 - 1 normally wouldn't indicate being a "thorn" in ones side.

As far as Koivu goes, definitely NOT a better team without him... He's just not the key cog in the machine like he was a couple years back. I think the fact that they are still winning games without him only furthers the rationale that Yeo is not utilizing him correctly and that he should not be the first line center.

I can tell you one thing. If Yeo breaks up the Parise, Granlund, Pominville line when Koivu comes back I think I'll quit watching them until he's fired...
- MnGump

He'll do it. It will be entertaining to hear him try to spin it with some Zen coaching philosphy or bullpoop big brother analogy.

I believe you suggested he put Koivu with Coyle and Niederreiter and I completely agree - I think those three play complementary styles and could fit well together. But I could also see them keeping Heatley-Coyle-Zucker together just to try to maximize Heatley's production. If so, maybe Fontaine can fill that spot with Koivu and Niederreiter.

good game last night, you guys have been a thorn in our sides all season long.

Is it me or does it seem like you guys are a better team without Koivu?
- DDM-Coga

Better with all the kids in the lineup and better with Granlund centering Parise & Pominville. Koivu should be with Coyle and Zucker when he returns IMO.

Russo reporting that the line combinations for tonight appear to be:
Parise-Granlund-Pominville
Heatley-Coyle-Zucker
Cooke-Brodziak-Niederreiter
Haula centerting two of Fontaine/Mitchell/Rupp

I know I should be thrilled that Yeo has kept Parise-Granlund-Pominville together and quit complaining about the line combinations, but I can't let it go.

It seems obvious that Niederreiter would be a better fit with Haula and Fontaine rather than play him with Cooke and Brodziak. Mitchell can easily and maybe even better fill that spot with Cooke and Brodziak. It seems like there are better options to the bottom two lines and Yeo will put out the less productive ones.

I even think if the Heatley-Coyle-Zucker line isn't performing too well, it would be a good option to play Zucker with Haula and Fontaine. I'd like to see if Haula's speed could better leverage Zucker's speed and give other teams' 3rd or 4th lines trouble handling them. Besides, looking long-term, if Zucker becomes a reliable two-way player, I could envision a Zucker-Haula-Fontaine checking line that could offer a significant offensive punch.

All that being said, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Rupp in the lineup tonight. I could see the Flames trying to get pretty physical with the Wild tonight. Yeo might want Rupp available just in case it turns into a bit of a gong show. Maybe he can dress Rupp and double shift Zucker on that 4th line. Then if we get shenanigans, he can send out Rupp for a few shifts.

Better with all the kids in the lineup and better with Granlund centering Parise & Pominville. Koivu should be with Coyle and Zucker when he returns IMO.
- Tony Dean

You don't think Zucker's speed is wasted playing with those two?

You don't think Zucker's speed is wasted playing with those two?
- Chinaski

Nope I think their skill sets are very complimentary. Zucker and Koivu together is the playmaker shooter combo and with the effort in both ends by Coyle & Koivu no doubt it keeps Zycker honest. I could see him getting sprung more often. also Coyle would get less attention in offensive zone. I really want to see it in action.

Nope I think their skill sets are very complimentary. Zucker and Koivu together is the playmaker shooter combo and with the effort in both ends by Coyle & Koivu no doubt it keeps Zycker honest. I could see him getting sprung more often. also Coyle would get less attention in offensive zone. I really want to see it in action.
- Tony Dean

I just think Koivu isn't quick enough to recognize all the opportunities he may have to setup a guy like Zucker. He just tends to hold the puck too long and sometimes I think he isn't even looking when that open passing lane is there. I'm not sure Zucker is going to be as effective on the wall as a guy like Niederreiter would. And I think with a Koivu-Coyle line combination, the line would spend a lot of time on the wall.

I would, however, expect Suter to be able to spring Zucker more often if Zucker played more regularly with Suter on the ice. Maybe playing with Koivu is the best chance of that happening.