If it were me, I’d want to keep things as simple as possible and try not to disrupt the mojo the current lines have got going on. With that in mind, how about Quinn in Tuch’s place and Asplund in Quinn’s?
I know people think the thought of moving Cozens away from that 2C spot is sacrilege, but if I were Donny, I'm doing it. This team has survived off the strength of that 1st line's dominance and we can't afford to lose it, and Cozens is the only player that comes close to matching Tuch's game in terms of size, speed, & scoring. Cozens' line has been struggling to produce lately anyway. With that said, my lines (at least to start out) would be:
Skinner Tage Cozens
Peterka Krebs Quinn
Mitts Jost Olafsson
*Girgs/Asplund/Hinostroza Okposo
*need more defense, play Asplunds, more offense, Hino.
I agree with your write-up, but not with your lines.
L1 is fine, let’s try that out. Cozens has been a little flat trying to carry Olofsson and Peterka around.
L2 I don’t like. Krebs and Quinn are wonderful together, but Peterka is looking like a real anchor at this point. Swap him with Mitts.
L3 Jost and Olofsson worked fine in the past, maybe throw Hino on that line to see how they do.
L4 Peterka goes here with Girgs and Okposo. I think Peterka is snake bitten recently and is really pressing to score. Part of that is being on lines that are expected to score. Let’s put him with a line that doesn’t have those expectations.
Yeah perhaps you're right. It did wonders for Krebs development afterall. Just feel like maybe he'd relax a bit playing with the two others who are just as young and who he has familiarity with. Either way, I don't think he's been bad offensively, just a bit snakebitten as you said. Looks like Donny put him with Krebs and Olafsson today. They looked pretty good, but unfortunately they were the only line not to score today. Reminds me a bit of what Cozens went through at the end of last season, when he finished the last 30-35 games with like 2 goals. Still have tons of confidence in JJ.
He's been moved up to that 3rd line C spot the past few games with Mitts and Quinn. Prior to the Tuch injury of course. But it was the 2nd best line over the past few games now. Now they have him with JJ and Olafsson I guess. Which was Cozens line over this last stretch. Unfortunately they were the only line nornto score today.
Personally I hope they use this as an opportunity to call up Kulich and see what he's got with the big boys. He's been dominating the AHL so I think he'll be alright. I dont want them to bring up Hinostroza, and I don't want them to just throw Asplund in and call it a day. Unless Adams goes out and acquires Timo Meier we're going to have to get creative here.
A Kulich call-up, even for 9 games, would have been cool and was probably the right answer.
Although I don’t think he should have the pressure of being on L1 so that doesn’t easily fill that hole.
I like Quinn with Krebs. Thompson does the bulk of the puck work with the top line and I think that takes away from what Quinn does well. He’s much more effective with the puck on his stick than when it’s not on his stick.
There really isn’t an easy answer.
Skinner - Tage - Mitts or Krebs
Quinn or olofsson- Cozens - Peterka
Olofsson or Quinn - krebs or mitts - kulich / vinnie / Jost
Zemgus - asplund / jost - Okposo
Atleast that’s what I would do, the slashes depend on who we bring up
If it were me, I’d want to keep things as simple as possible and try not to disrupt the mojo the current lines have got going on. With that in mind, how about Quinn in Tuch’s place and Asplund in Quinn’s?
I’d be cool bumping Quinn up. I think he has the highest ceiling of potential replacements.
Let’s hope asplund remembers how to skate
Hot take: Skinner - Thompson - Krebs
I was thinking this but we need Krebs at center, his face off percentage is like 75
Skinner takes a bunch of the faceoffs anyway, just have Krebs do it instead.
Krebs has proven he’s best in the middle.
Who takes Krebs place at center?
I know people think the thought of moving Cozens away from that 2C spot is sacrilege, but if I were Donny, I'm doing it. This team has survived off the strength of that 1st line's dominance and we can't afford to lose it, and Cozens is the only player that comes close to matching Tuch's game in terms of size, speed, & scoring. Cozens' line has been struggling to produce lately anyway. With that said, my lines (at least to start out) would be: Skinner Tage Cozens Peterka Krebs Quinn Mitts Jost Olafsson *Girgs/Asplund/Hinostroza Okposo *need more defense, play Asplunds, more offense, Hino.
I agree with your write-up, but not with your lines. L1 is fine, let’s try that out. Cozens has been a little flat trying to carry Olofsson and Peterka around. L2 I don’t like. Krebs and Quinn are wonderful together, but Peterka is looking like a real anchor at this point. Swap him with Mitts. L3 Jost and Olofsson worked fine in the past, maybe throw Hino on that line to see how they do. L4 Peterka goes here with Girgs and Okposo. I think Peterka is snake bitten recently and is really pressing to score. Part of that is being on lines that are expected to score. Let’s put him with a line that doesn’t have those expectations.
Yeah perhaps you're right. It did wonders for Krebs development afterall. Just feel like maybe he'd relax a bit playing with the two others who are just as young and who he has familiarity with. Either way, I don't think he's been bad offensively, just a bit snakebitten as you said. Looks like Donny put him with Krebs and Olafsson today. They looked pretty good, but unfortunately they were the only line not to score today. Reminds me a bit of what Cozens went through at the end of last season, when he finished the last 30-35 games with like 2 goals. Still have tons of confidence in JJ.
I like the idea of giving Krebs a chance to play on an offense first line, not the shutdown line.
He's been moved up to that 3rd line C spot the past few games with Mitts and Quinn. Prior to the Tuch injury of course. But it was the 2nd best line over the past few games now. Now they have him with JJ and Olafsson I guess. Which was Cozens line over this last stretch. Unfortunately they were the only line nornto score today.
I think in the short term they’ll put in one of Asplund, Hinostroza, or Kulich. Maybe Rousek. I don’t think GMKA is going to panic
Jesus. I was starting to forget Hino was even still on the team lol
Personally I hope they use this as an opportunity to call up Kulich and see what he's got with the big boys. He's been dominating the AHL so I think he'll be alright. I dont want them to bring up Hinostroza, and I don't want them to just throw Asplund in and call it a day. Unless Adams goes out and acquires Timo Meier we're going to have to get creative here.
I dont need Kulich rushing his development. Let him keep cooking in Roch
Kulich is nowhere near getting called up.
Honestly, like this idea better than mine, but I have doubts it will happen.
A Kulich call-up, even for 9 games, would have been cool and was probably the right answer. Although I don’t think he should have the pressure of being on L1 so that doesn’t easily fill that hole.
I wouldn't put him on the top line, I'd put Quinn with them. I'd probably put Kulich with Krebs.
I like Quinn with Krebs. Thompson does the bulk of the puck work with the top line and I think that takes away from what Quinn does well. He’s much more effective with the puck on his stick than when it’s not on his stick. There really isn’t an easy answer.
In LA we experimented with Okposo on line one and if Donny does that again I will be very very sad.
Time for mitts to step up.
Skinner - Tage - Mitts or Krebs Quinn or olofsson- Cozens - Peterka Olofsson or Quinn - krebs or mitts - kulich / vinnie / Jost Zemgus - asplund / jost - Okposo Atleast that’s what I would do, the slashes depend on who we bring up
Krebs on first