Nikita kucherov is the ducking man . Not sure how u send namestnilov back down either

Panik or Brown? Who goes? I think Kucherov and Connolly are locked.
- Artyukhin76

Kucherov should be (frank)ing locked on that 1st line he is a beast ... Namestnikov is making a HUGE case for himself ... Kucherov namestnikov could be our new palat and Johnson

Michael you have a serious man crush on Brett Connolly!

Michael you have a serious man crush on Brett Connolly!
- omatty44

Yup!

Yup!
- Michael_Stuart

But, but, but, what about me?

Hey Michael,

I had drafted Max Domi in a keeper pool I'm in, we have to draft a full team (12 forwards, 6 d and 2 goalies) and remain cap compliant all year so we have to draft these young guys with low cap hits. As you must know he was sent down to junior and I'm tasked with replacing him with a similar cap hit player. So I was thinking of Connolly or Draisaitl (Edmonton). I know you believe Connolly will make the team but what do you think his role will be now that you'Ve been able to watch a few pre-season games? Do you think he's still vying for the second line?


Thanks,

What would you guys think if this were the lines to start the season:

Palat-Stamkos-Kucherov
Killorn-Filppula-Callahan
Panik-Johnson-Connolly
Morrow-Boyle-Brown
Drouin (injured)

I know Panik would be shifting sides but he would be the only one out of position per say and I don't see him having an issue with it. Cooper said he like Palat with Stamkos so I figured that would be a wicked first line if Kucherov at his natural RW and puts Callahan back with Filppula who work well together. Also this assumes that March, Vlad, and Paquette go back to the Crunch.

Thoughts? 6 days away, can it get here fast enough.

What would you guys think if this were the lines to start the season:

Palat-Stamkos-Kucherov
Killorn-Filppula-Callahan
Panik-Johnson-Connolly
Morrow-Boyle-Brown
Drouin (injured)

I know Panik would be shifting sides but he would be the only one out of position per say and I don't see him having an issue with it. Cooper said he like Palat with Stamkos so I figured that would be a wicked first line if Kucherov at his natural RW and puts Callahan back with Filppula who work well together. Also this assumes that March, Vlad, and Paquette go back to the Crunch.

Thoughts? 6 days away, can it get here fast enough.
- stammerman

Sounds good. I'd maybe switch sides with Panik and Connolly. Connolly has played the left side before.

Hey Michael,

I had drafted Max Domi in a keeper pool I'm in, we have to draft a full team (12 forwards, 6 d and 2 goalies) and remain cap compliant all year so we have to draft these young guys with low cap hits. As you must know he was sent down to junior and I'm tasked with replacing him with a similar cap hit player. So I was thinking of Connolly or Draisaitl (Edmonton). I know you believe Connolly will make the team but what do you think his role will be now that you'Ve been able to watch a few pre-season games? Do you think he's still vying for the second line?


Thanks,
- Savlep

I think he's still got a good chance to earn a top-six spot. If it's a keeper league, I'd take Draisaitl though.

I think he's still got a good chance to earn a top-six spot. If it's a keeper league, I'd take Draisaitl though.
- Michael_Stuart

The thing about the Bolts right now is that if they keep Tyler Johnson as the 3rd line Center than that line in my opinion is definitely another scoring line and not really a checking line as TJ is not a checker, so if Connolly ended up there he would still have his chances to put up some points. But I think Palat, Callahan, Killorn and Kucherov are above Connolly for a spot with either Stammer or Filppula to start the season.

tampa is 8th I think in goals for this preason , and 1st in goals against !

tampa is 8th I think in goals for this preason , and 1st in goals against !
- RileyB77

While it is nice to see all those good numbers means very little once regular season begins.

While it is nice to see all those good numbers means very little once regular season begins.
- Artyukhin76

Ok arty

Ok arty
- RileyB77

I'm not trying to be a Richard, I'm quite happy with the way they've played, but in truth it really doesn't matter because it's preseason. Look at the Columbus blue jackets!

I'm not trying to be a Richard, I'm quite happy with the way they've played, but in truth it really doesn't matter because it's preseason. Look at the Columbus blue jackets!
- Artyukhin76

It's a good start . Cooper wants to be just that . A top 10 offensive and defensive team except were 1st

It's a good start . Cooper wants to be just that . A top 10 offensive and defensive team except were 1st
- RileyB77

"If" they continue it into the regular season.

Arty is absolutely right. Preseason means next to nothing. Tons of teams in the past have been great in exhibition play and dreadful during regular season games. Then there's the opposite. Winning now is better than losing now, but it doesn't mean much.

Arty is absolutely right. Preseason means next to nothing. Tons of teams in the past have been great in exhibition play and dreadful during regular season games. Then there's the opposite. Winning now is better than losing now, but it doesn't mean much.
- Michael_Stuart

WTF!?! You're agreeing with me? Now I'm worried.

Arty is absolutely right. Preseason means next to nothing. Tons of teams in the past have been great in exhibition play and dreadful during regular season games. Then there's the opposite. Winning now is better than losing now, but it doesn't mean much.
- Michael_Stuart

We are the best team in the NHL Hedman is winning the Norris Stamkos is winning the rocket and cooper NHL coach of the year! Yzerman gm of the year! Drouin Calder rookie of the year!

Arty is absolutely right. Preseason means next to nothing. Tons of teams in the past have been great in exhibition play and dreadful during regular season games. Then there's the opposite. Winning now is better than losing now, but it doesn't mean much.
- Michael_Stuart

The whole point behind my statement was that cooper wanted to be that and that's what we are to start our hockey year off .. I know pre season means nothing . Look at Brett Connolly for an example

Everyone says how good his pre season is ... He looks good , but namestnikov looks better .. I wouldn't call him a lock for the team .. Panik and palat and Johnson made the team Asa trio last year . Kucherov and namestnikov could make it as a duo

The whole point behind my statement was that cooper wanted to be that and that's what we are to start our hockey year off .. I know pre season means nothing . Look at Brett Connolly for an example

Everyone says how good his pre season is ... He looks good , but namestnikov looks better .. I wouldn't call him a lock for the team .. Panik and palat and Johnson made the team Asa trio last year . Kucherov and namestnikov could make it as a duo
- RileyB77

Then we lose Brett Connolly to the wavier wire.

We are the best team in the NHL Hedman is winning the Norris Stamkos is winning the rocket and cooper NHL coach of the year! Yzerman gm of the year! Drouin Calder rookie of the year!
- todd1a

I would be happy with a simple Norris nomination (Hedman), Vezina nomination (Bishop), Calder nominaton (Drouin) and Jack Adams Nomination (Cooper). It's high time Hedman and Cooper get some recognition here. They both had huge impacts on the Lightning last year and went largely unnoticed.

Then we lose Brett Connolly to the wavier wire.
- Artyukhin76

Yes could mean connolly and panik are the odd men out.

Then we lose Brett Connolly to the wavier wire.
- Artyukhin76

Yeah, that's the plan... if he makes it its his time if not then he's gone. hes not outplaying anyone but I hope he makes it but I also hope he steps up his game

Yeah, that's the plan... if he makes it its his time if not then he's gone. hes not outplaying anyone but I hope he makes it but I also hope he steps up his game
- RileyB77

Kucherov and Vladdy are clearly out playing him right now. I agree we need to keep vladdy and kucherov up as a package! Kucherov is clearly better with vladdy.