This scenario assumes Chytil comes off LTIR in February and we accrue enough space to get Hathaway.
Before I dive into lines / roles, my trade deadline add is Garnet Hathaway. Hathaway had tremendous possession / chances against numbers under Laviolette in Washington and has been one of the best defensive bottom 6 forwards for a while. Each month there has been a different fan favorite to trade for (Duclair, Tarasenko, Guentzel, Lindholm, etc.) but those moves to me feel too flashily and don’t address the biggest needs. If a top 6 of Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider, Trocheck, Lafrienerre, and Kakko can’t provide the necessary playoff 5v5 scoring it doesn’t matter who we get. If Zibanejad and Panarin have another playoff no-show it doesn’t matter if we bring in Tomas Hertl or Boone Jenner. I added Hathaway to help shore up what is a really good bottom 6. Vesey and Cuylle have had tremendous season, Chytil is a 2C we’re able to slide down, Pitlick has great defensive numbers playing against top lines, Goodrow as awful as the contract is has been an elite PKer and has been dragged along by Pitlick / Vesey, Hathaway takes over LW4 has Vesey moves into the top 9. Hathaway draws an eye popping 3.92 penalties / 60, for a team that will ultimately live and die by the PP this is an enormous add (he takes penalties at a similar rate to Trocheck, but that’s a trade off I’m willing to make). Hathaway’s no-nonsense, physical north south hockey will help in the trenches in the playoffs.
Line 1:
- This line had an ok 10 game run. Their ability to shut down opponents is ridiculous (14 HDCA in 120:57), and their shot share / possession numbers are strong, but they need to create more. Ignoring the fact that their on ice SH% was less than 5%, they just didn’t create enough at 5v5. I’m hoping during the injury Kakko did some reflecting and will look to shoot more be more willing to get the dirty areas around the net. I’m more than happy to give them more runway, come playoff time they’ll be matched up against opponents top 2 lines and the goal is to win the Possession / high danger battle and be dependable to score.
Line 2:
- Since its formation after the Chytil this is one of the best lines in hockey. Come playoff time I think they get an even higher % of OZ faceoffs and an actual tactician like Laviolette should get them more favorable matchups than Gallant ever did. Just need these guys to stay the course, not much else to say. It will be interesting what line say for example Jordan Staal / Anthony Cirelli match up against. If it’s the Panarin line, the top line has to be a dependable scoring line, if it’s the Zibanejad line, line 2 should feast.
Line 3:
- This is my Swiss Army knife line. Cuylle and Vesey have been graded in the top 10% percentile of defensive forwards and have a combined 15 5v5 goals. Throw in Chytil’s speed, finishing touch, and finishing ability and this line will be a pain to play against. I feel fine about playing this line anywhere at anytime, and as far as 3rd lines go this is one of the best in the East.
Line 4:
- Vesey-Goodrow-Pitlick had a really nice stretch as a matchup 4th line that shut down star studded lines (Pasta, Kopitar, Tage Thompson, etc.). They continue as a matchup line with more size and physicality from Hathaway. I think the defensive difference between Vesey and Hathaway will be minimal and this line will be thrown out against top lines for important D zone draws. In my opinion They shouldn’t see an OZ faceoff.
Wheeler is the is top 9 reserve wing, if any of the top 9 wings can’t play, Wheeler gets inserted. Brodzinski is the 3C if one of the top 3 centers goes down and the reserve forward for the 4th line if any of them get hurt.
Honestly I’d be down for it. I also wouldn’t mind adding another 6th/7th defenseman for insurance in the playoffs (Seeler type). But if Chytil isn’t coming back this year, I really think we could use a 3C (Gourde type).
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Cuylle,
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