At the very least, get Gionta off Eichel's line. I'd move Girgs up there on the wing until Ennis gets back. I would also consider putting McGinn at LW with Eichel.

Kane-ROR-Reinhart
McGinn-Eichel-Girgs
Moulson-Legwand-Gionta
Foligno-Larsson-Deslauriers
- mhp

I like this a lot MHP...spot on.
This is so much fun watching this team come together and finding the right combinations...I love this part of team building

I like this a lot MHP...spot on.
This is so much fun watching this team come together and finding the right combinations...I love this part of team building
- IonSabres

It's so much better than thinking about which combination of Ellis, Conacher, and Konopka will help us lose enough games. I still have nightmares.

REVISITING A HORSE WE BEAT MANY, MANY TIMES THIS SUMMER


ROR (25 games played)
8 g, 12 a, 4 PIM, 62 sog, 0+/-, 6 hits, 13 blocks, 59% FO, 10 giveways, 12 takeaways

Anze Kopitar (24 games played)
8g, 6 a, 6 PIM, 40 SOG, +12, 24 hits, 18 blocks, 52% FO, 17 giveaways, 12 takeaways

Patrice Bergeron (22 games)
8 g, 14 a, 12 PIM, 74 SOG, +4, 23 hits, 13 blocks, 54%FO,10 giveaways, 19 takeaways

Jonathan Toews (25 games played)
8g, 7a, 28 PIM, 59 SOG, +4, 32 hits, 10 blocks, 61%FO, 12 giveaways, 21 takeaways.


He absolutely belongs in this company. Come at me bros/sisses.
- Der Kaiser

Right now absolutely. Let's see if the production hold up over time though.

I'd say in an ideal world we won't need him playing 20+ minutes a game. Eichel eventually will be the #1 center

Right now absolutely. Let's see if the production hold up over time though.

I'd say in an ideal world we won't need him playing 20+ minutes a game. Eichel eventually will be the #1 center
- sbroads24

If he keeps it up I see no reason not to keep his minutes where they are. I'll say when I watch him play I feel like he's all over the ice and constantly making positive plays. Seems to always put the puck in front of the net.

It's a nice thing to see for a player I was against getting.

If he keeps it up I see no reason not to keep his minutes where they are. I'll say when I watch him play I feel like he's all over the ice and constantly making positive plays. Seems to always put the puck in front of the net.

It's a nice thing to see for a player I was against getting.
- Zschalberg

I don't think it's wise to put that much wear and tear on him during the regular season.

If Reinhart/Eichel/Girgensons really start to improve over the next few years, they will probably start to eat up some of that ice time.

I don't think it's wise to put that much wear and tear on him during the regular season.

If Reinhart/Eichel/Girgensons really start to improve over the next few years, they will probably start to eat up some of that ice time.
- sbroads24

That'd be fine. The way that you would hope he loses ice time is because others command it. Will be nice to watch this team evolve into what it'll look like when it's finally done.

"This isn't even my final form"

If you want a player that needs to step it up, (and maybe started doing so yesterday) it's Zemgus. Until yesterday he's had a really difficult, to the point of being a really bad year.

Him and Ennis, understanding Ennis has been "injured" were able to perform in a systemless system and need to change to work with Dan's or they might not last here.
- Zschalberg

I think you're underrating what Girgensons is doing beyond getting on the scoresheet. He has been used more this year at a 3rd line checking guy. He's being asked to shut down the top scorers of the other team. My guess would be if you looked at the advance d stats, you'll see that his zone starts are probably overwhelmingly going to be in the defensive zone.

John Scott is 6th in All Star voting. 1st in the Pacific
- Zschalberg

The winner in each division becomes the captain .

Imagine that

I don't think it's wise to put that much wear and tear on him during the regular season.

If Reinhart/Eichel/Girgensons really start to improve over the next few years, they will probably start to eat up some of that ice time.
- sbroads24

I'm not a heavy stat guy, so I don't know if TOI stats include PPTOI or not:

AVG TOI:

ROR - 21:51 (PPTOI 3:08)
Kopitar - 20:14 (PPTOI 2:35)
Bergeron - 19:56 (PPTOI 3:08)
Toews = 20:03 (PPTOI 2:46)

If the PPTOI is not part of avg TOI, then ROR appears to be getting about two minutes more per game (or 110%). That can wear a guy down over the course of an entire year.

Goose nailed it when describing what Eichel is going through: he is learning when to use which of the gears he has, and specifically when to slow down and when to fly.

He simply cannot go full speed all the time or everybody on his line would be left behind.

As for where Ennis has his place, in an ideal world, to me, it would be on a line of Moulson-Girgensons-Ennis.

Assuming Kane-O-Reilly-Reinhart stays together, that leaves McGinn-Eichel-Gionta, and while that is far from ideal, it works at least for the time being.

Goose nailed it when describing what Eichel is going through: he is learning when to use which of the gears he has, and specifically when to slow down and when to fly.

He simply cannot go full speed all the time or everybody on his line would be left behind.

As for where Ennis has his place, in an ideal world, to me, it would be on a line of Moulson-Girgensons-Ennis.

Assuming Kane-O-Reilly-Reinhart stays together, that leaves McGinn-Eichel-Gionta, and while that is far from ideal, it works at least for the time being.
- kingcong39

sounds like youre optimizing the third line at the expense of the second.

That's backwards, man.

I'm not a heavy stat guy, so I don't know if TOI stats include PPTOI or not:

AVG TOI:

ROR - 21:51 (PPTOI 3:08)
Kopitar - 20:14 (PPTOI 2:35)
Bergeron - 19:56 (PPTOI 3:08)
Toews = 20:03 (PPTOI 2:46)

If the PPTOI is not part of avg TOI, then ROR appears to be getting about two minutes more per game (or 110%). That can wear a guy down over the course of an entire year.
- Der Kaiser

It should be included in total TOI. O'Reilly is playing a ton. Which he should, he and Risto are this teams best players. And you are right, he belongs in that category of upper echelon centers. He's been that good this year

Let's go ideal world cap scenario with the team.

Who I'd love to have off the team after this season: Moulson (would rather spend that $$$ and more on an upgrade in FA if possible).

Who I can live with but would hope to have off the team after the 2016-2017 season: Gionta (FA, so easy with that), Gorges (I'd rather spend his money on an upgrade or at least a younger version of him)

Would Ennis be part of either group above?

sounds like youre optimizing the third line at the expense of the second.

That's backwards, man.
- Der Kaiser

I like the idea of McGinn with Eichel. The RW options are few and far between regarding impact.

Part of my thinking is that I am trying to regain good form from last year when I believe Girgensons played with both Moulson and Ennis.

Further, is there anything wrong with giving Eichel 3rd line minutes against lesser opposition outside of PP time? It might help him.

sounds like youre optimizing the third line at the expense of the second.

That's backwards, man.
- Der Kaiser

I dont think so..... I like Mcginn with Eichel, Gionta for the veteran status to kind of tell Eich when to go. I like those top 3 lines.

Goose nailed it when describing what Eichel is going through: he is learning when to use which of the gears he has, and specifically when to slow down and when to fly.

He simply cannot go full speed all the time or everybody on his line would be left behind.

As for where Ennis has his place, in an ideal world, to me, it would be on a line of Moulson-Girgensons-Ennis.

Assuming Kane-O-Reilly-Reinhart stays together, that leaves McGinn-Eichel-Gionta, and while that is far from ideal, it works at least for the time being.
- kingcong39

I think right now Eichel is suffering from limited space. Teams are clamping down on him.

I would rather put him with other players that can create space. Ennis/Eichel/Girgensons
Kane/O'Reilly/Reinhart
Moulson/Larsson/Gionta
Foligno/Legwand/Delauriers

I think right now Eichel is suffering from limited space. Teams are clamping down on him.

I would rather put him with other players that can create space. Ennis/Eichel/Girgensons
Kane/O'Reilly/Reinhart
Moulson/Larsson/Gionta
Foligno/Legwand/Delauriers
- sbroads24

Mcginn?

And I went from loving Ennis to having a hard time figuring out who to pair him with. With Eich i feel like Ennis would have the puck to much...

I think right now Eichel is suffering from limited space. Teams are clamping down on him.

I would rather put him with other players that can create space. Ennis/Eichel/Girgensons
Kane/O'Reilly/Reinhart
Moulson/Larsson/Gionta
Foligno/Legwand/Delauriers
- sbroads24

I've been very pleasantly surprised by McGinn's play. I can't gauge his speed, yet, but if he could keep up with Eichel I think he could make some space for him. I think the early plan was to have Kane do that for him, but they never seemed to develop any chemistry.

EDIT: Late.

Mcginn?

And I went from loving Ennis to having a hard time figuring out who to pair him with. With Eich i feel like Ennis would have the puck to much...
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I forgot McGinn. Place him anywhere on the bottom 6.

I think having a 3 guys with different skill sets could work

Ennis- puck carrier
Eichel- Speed, elite shot
Girgensons- works along the boards, goes to the net

I forgot McGinn. Place him anywhere on the bottom 6.

I think having a 3 guys with different skill sets could work

Ennis- puck carrier
Eichel- Speed, elite shot
Girgensons- works along the boards, goes to the net
- sbroads24

At one point last night they did have Girgensons out there with Eichel. The bumped Moulson down a line and put Girgs in his spot. Bylsma has done that with Eichel and Girgs a few times this season but it never seems to happen from one game to the next.

I like this a lot MHP...spot on.
This is so much fun watching this team come together and finding the right combinations...I love this part of team building
- IonSabres

Absolutely ion. Lots of interesting combinations you can put together. Better horses to work with this year.

this needs to be mentioned again

Risto has ZERO penalty minutes this year

unreal

this needs to be mentioned again

Risto has ZERO penalty minutes this year

unreal
- homiedclown

I just noticed that Larsson doesn't have any either, though Risto's is far more impressive considering the amount of ice time he gets and everything.

Larsson is a pest, so the fact that he hasn't been called for some sort of coincidental minor is a bit surprising.

Let's go ideal world cap scenario with the team.

Who I'd love to have off the team after this season: Moulson (would rather spend that $$$ and more on an upgrade in FA if possible).

Who I can live with but would hope to have off the team after the 2016-2017 season: Gionta (FA, so easy with that), Gorges (I'd rather spend his money on an upgrade or at least a younger version of him)

Would Ennis be part of either group above?
- kingcong39

I would say you could always move Ennis to upgrade the roster, if that's the choice. I would like to keep Ennis for the remainder of the year and see how he does. Trading him in the off season might prove more fruitful though.

Who I would love off the team after the season? Gionta. Make ROR captain and you can find a suitable replacement for Gionta.

I can live with Moulson on the roster for now but potentially a buyout after the 16/17 season would seem plausible.

I just noticed that Larsson doesn't have any either, though Risto's is far more impressive considering the amount of ice time he gets and everything.

Larsson is a pest, so the fact that he hasn't been called for some sort of coincidental minor is a bit surprising.
- HonkFortheGoose

ROR with only 4 minutes is very impressive as well

I did not know he was that disciplined of a player

I guess we have been conditioned to the typical vanek/lydman lazy penalty with the game on the line for too many years