I have Toffoli here for now, however this could easily change. Drouin could play here to add a playmaking element, Anderson could play here to be the power forward, Armia could play here to bring his puck control skills, etc. There are several options for the top line so it's gonna come down to who performs the best.
Line 2: Hoffman - KK - Gallagher
I really like this line, it reminds me of the EGG line back in the day that featured Galchenyuk - Eller - Gallagher. KK deserves the opportunity as 2C, he will be 21 this year and ready to take the next step (and Poehling / Evans are ready for 3C duties so it's time to take the training wheels off KK). Hoffman and Gallagher would give him two 30 goal scoring wingers. Gallagher would ensure this line drives play at 5 on 5 which is exactly the type of player Hoffman needs with him.
Line 3: Drouin - Poehling - Anderson
Drouin and Anderson had good chemistry last season I thought, while Poehling has the potential upside of a strong two way C. Poehling played with Blandisi and Teasdale in the AHL last year and I see Teasdale as the AHL Anderson and Blandisi as an AHL Drouin so I like the make up of the line for Poehling... Poehling and Evans are pretty interchangeable though.
Line 4: Lehkonen - Evans - Armia
What a shutdown line, all of these players excel defensively. MTL was a 4 line team in the playoffs and I don't expect that to change this season, depth is their strength.
Extras:
- Paquette brings grit that no other forwards can (except Anderson but he shouldn't be the enforcer).
- Perreault is good depth and could suprise like Perry did last year.
- Byron is on the IR but his speed and veteran presence is valuable to the habs.
All of these players will factor into the lineup at some point, there will be injuries so the depth is important.
D Pair 1: Edmundson - Petry
No doubt with Weber out this is the clear top pair.
D Pair 2: Romanov - Savard
Romanov has the potential to be a solid top 4, and I think MTL will plan on relying on him a little more this year. Savard should be a good steady partner for him.
D Pair 3: Chiarot - Norlinder
So as this roster is currently constructed I think Norlinder has a legitimate shot at making the team. Norlinder is easily MTL's most skilled defenseman on the roster... the question is can he play this year or should he play with Frolunda another year? I would argue if nothing changes Norlinder will make the the team... aside from Petry MTL has no one who can run a PP (maybe Romanov or Wideman but not ideal) so Norlinder brings something that is desperately needed. Norlinder is also very comfortable playing RD so that gives him the edge over someone like Kulak. If nothing changes, the only players he really needs to beat out are Wideman and Brook and I think he's capable of doing that. For reference, Erik Karlsson put up 5G, 5A, 10PTS in 45 GP with Frolunda the year before he made the jump to the NHL. Norlinder just put up 5G, 5A, 10PTS in 37GP with Frolunda so it is possible he is ready for the jump to the NHL as well. I don't think MTL would have signed him to an ELC this year if they didn't plan on giving him a legitimate look in camp. Both Harris and Guhle could be competing for a spot in 2022-23 so Norlinder should take advantage of the opportunity he has this year to make the NHL. Whatever happens, Norlinder will be an exciting player to follow.
Extras:
- Kulak can play up and down the lineup, although he doesn't play special teams or RD so that hurts his chances of being a regular.
- Wideman is likely plan B if Norlinder isn't ready.
- Weber? Sounds like he is done but we won't officially know until closer to the end of the year, maybe he comes back for one more run?
If MTL goes with thie lineup they can see how the young guys perform and potentially address team needs at the deadline when more players are available in the trade market. I'm OK with the wait and see approach.
- Petry (6.8 PPP/60) is the Pointman.
- Suzuki (5.8 PPP/60) is the QB.
- Toffoli (4.7 PPP/60) is the bumper.
- Caufield (3.0 PPP/60) is the shooter.
- Poehling is the goal line / net front.
Total = 20.3 PPP/60 (NHL Average = 18 PPP/60)
Suzuki was MTL's best PP forward last season and this PP set up gives him the most passing options: Direct one timer options in Toffoli, Petry, or Caufield... or he could go to Poehling at the side of the net for a quick one touch to Toffoli or a net drive. Poehling played this position in Laval and he is ideal for retrieving pucks down low, using his size to go to the net, or his passing to set guys up from down low - he can also take left handed faceoffs for Suzuki.
- Hoffman (10.1 PPP/60) is the shooter.
- Drouin (3.0 PPP/60) is the QB.
- Gallagher (2.6 PPP/60) is the goal line / net front.
- Kotkaniemi (2.3 PPP/60) is the bumper.
- Norlinder is the Pointman.
Total = 18 PPP/60 (NHL Average = 18 PPP/60)
Seems crazy to have Hoffman on the 2nd unit, but him and Suzuki can't share the same area of the ice so they will need to be split up. This set up plays to Hoffman as the shooter, he does best with a lefty point man setting him up for one timers so that would be Norlinder. Meanwhile Drouin always excelled as the playmaking QB on the left wall he just never had any left handed teammates to set up since he has been in MTL... that's now changed with Hoffman. Playing this role in TB and his first year in MTL Drouin had a PPP/60 of 6.9 and 5.1 respectively which is is very solid production. If all goes well MTL could have one of the top PP's in the league next year, the Hoffman addition is a game changer. This gives the habs two separate powerplay units to use depending on how guys are rested.
Penalty Killers:
- Evans and Armia
- Poehling and Lehkonen
- Suzuki and Toffoli
- Chiarot and Savard
- Edmundson and Petry
Poehling won't be PP, I see Anderson on ur PP1 and as for PK Dom will likely go for
Evans Lehkonen
Suzuki Armia
Toffoli Gally (Rare, but our 3rd)
A right handed player can't play the role I want on the PP1, has to be a lefty. Anderson can't do a one touch pass to Toffoli in the slot (no right handed player could do that). Poehling played this spot in Laval so why not use him there?
You'd put Gallagher on PK over Poehling? Something tells me you have something against Poehling haha... Gallagher has only killed 50 minutes of penalties in his career. Who takes the important left handed faceoffs on the PK out of your PK guys?
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Norlinder,
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