Team USA needs to blow up the top line

[Guest blueadams]

I'd start the reallignment with getting a net presence and sniper on each of the top three lines...

FORWARDS:

Ryan-Stastny-Kane

...Need to get a net presence on this line, Ryan, Malone, Backes, or Brown. Parise-Stastny-Kane are too cute out there together and aren't getting it done at even strength. Need to get someone in there to mix it up, create some havok in front of the net, and create some effort opportunities. I'd like to see Ryan out there because he's so good with the puck and seems to always be creating such great opportunities out of tough spots.

Malone-Pavelski-Parise

...Parise basically steps down and replaces Kessel on this line. One could argue that Backes should step up and replace Malone as well as he's played also. But, Malone hasn't been at all bad, so I'm not going to downgrade him here. Hopefully Parise will shine here controlling the puck much more than he has been alongside Kane and Stastny. People seem to be ripping Pavelski on the board, but I really like what he's been doing as our second center.

Backes-Kesler-Kessel

...This gives us a legitimate third scoring line. Kessel really came out of his shell and was a threat today. Backes has been incredible. He needs to be out there in front of the net creating opportunities with good scorers around him. Kesler is a great all-around center. This is the kind of depth we need to create to beat the russians and sweedes (no chance against canada, I'm afraid). If we can wear other teams down with three great scoring lines...that are still defensively responsible like this....we'll be in great shape I think.

Brown-Drury-Langenbrunner

Callahan

...This is sort of the leftover line, but still, they have been EXCELLENT defensively. Rotate Callahan in there to keep them fresh and it can be our shut-down line throughout the tournament. It'd also be wise to rotate him in there for Kane and Kessel once we have leads later on in games. He's been excellent defensively.

DEFENSEMEN:

Suter-Rafalski

Gleason-E. Johnson

J. Johnson-Orpik

Whitney

...The defensive pairings are all solid, they just need to play smarter. The elite teams are going to pick us apart unless we make an adjustment in philosophy.

GOALIES:

Miller

Thomas

Quick

...Miller's been solid also, though, not really tested. We shall see.

POWER-PLAY:

Parise-Stastny-Kane

Suter-Rafalski

...There's no reason to have Langenbrunner out there. We need to play smarter defensively. Having him on the point doesn't help. Keep putting your three best offensive players out there, but someone needs to commit to working in front of the net. It's been Stastny more often than Parise thus far, and it shouldn't be. Get Parise down there.

Ryan-Pavelski-Kessel

J. Johnson-E. Johnson

...Maybe you can put Langenbrunner on the point out here, but again, really, I just want him to be focused on playing good defense. We're going to need it against the elite teams. Save him for the penalty-kill and shut-down shifts against the big boys. J. Johnson is just as big a threat on the point anyways. Also no reason that Malone should be out there ahead of Ryan.

PENALTY KILL:

Kesler-Langenbrunner

Suter-Orpik

...Rafalski's our smartest defensive player, yes, but he shouldn't be out there on the penalty-kill. I'd say put E. Johnson out there, but we don't need two kids like that back there on the first pk unit. How about letting Orpik commit himself to the role!? He's a great defensive player!

Drury-Callahan

Gleason-E. Johnson

...Also, get J. Johnson's dumb arse off the second penalty-kill unit too. And no more Whitney out there either. Gleason's a great defensive player. E. Johnson's a solid defensive player. No reason to have those dummies out there.

[Swayze 81]

After what happened with Langenbrunner on the point today, keep him OFF of it.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Lines thread & blueadams. Surprising combination.

[BeeRYCE 2]

There's no reason to not have Parise on the top line however way you work it out.

[Guest blueadams]

There's no reason to not have Parise on the top line however way you work it out.

think he's more deserving of the top spot than kane?

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Lines thread & blueadams. Surprising combination.

I bet when he plays hockey video games, he changes his lines for every game.

In any case, these players are not used to playing together, so it's a good idea for coaches to switch things around until something works. The problem for them is that they only have one game to figure it out. After this, elimination games will begin. Not much time to obtain chemistry.

[StevieY'sguy 1]

Not bad pairings but Kessel MUST have top 6 minutes IMO.

[Guest blueadams]

Not bad pairings but Kessel MUST have top 6 minutes IMO.

we're going to need a lot of defense against the big three...and he doesnt provide it.

[Guest zackmorris]

Here's a hint about what's wrong with the US' top line.

And it doesn't involve Parise or Kane.

Get Stastny off there.

[Guest blueadams]

Here's a hint about what's wrong with the US' top line.

And it doesn't involve Parise or Kane.

Get Stastny off there.

please...is pavelski better!? is kesler better!? (i'm guessing that you are going to say yes to that one) is backes better!? is drury!?

[Guest zackmorris]

They don't have to be better. They just have to mesh better. And everytime I saw that line Stastny just didn't fit in. Parise and Kane are amazing and the two best players on the team, excluding Miller, and need to be getting top line minutes. The key is finding a guy who can work well with them.

I don't think Drury or Kesler are necessarily better but they may be a better fit. Kesler I think would help Kane the most and Parise I'm sure would be fine working with him as well.

This is a stark contrast to the initial Swedish depth chart, which had 1st line talent on the 4th line and had depth in mind 100%.

[Guest blueadams]

They don't have to be better. They just have to mesh better. And everytime I saw that line Stastny just didn't fit in. Parise and Kane are amazing and the two best players on the team, excluding Miller, and need to be getting top line minutes. The key is finding a guy who can work well with them.

I don't think Drury or Kesler are necessarily better but they may be a better fit. Kesler I think would help Kane the most and Parise I'm sure would be fine working with him as well.

This is a stark contrast to the initial Swedish depth chart, which had 1st line talent on the 4th line and had depth in mind 100%.

what they need is a tough, physical net-presence. a real effort guy that creates opportunities out of nowhere. is that what you are suggesting kesler is? because that is what i think ryan would be.

[Guest zackmorris]

They both can be that but I figured Ryan would be needed more on the wing somewhere.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

put kesler on the first line. have someone create havoc so parise and kane don't have to do all the work. stastny just stands in front of the net

Parise - Kesler - Kane/Langenbrunner

Malone - Pavelski/Stastny - Kessel/Ryan

Ryan - Stastny/Pavelski - Brown

Langenbrunner - Backes/Drury - Callahan

you can basically put Backes on any line and he's going to be an ******* and hit everyone. i love it

Edited February 19, 2010 by Lidstromboli

[stevkrause 1,247]

everyone in the blueadams line combos game....

DRINK!

:chug: :beerbuddy: :chug: :beerbuddy: :chug: :chug: :beerbuddy:

[Guest blueadams]

i really dont think that stastny is the problem.

[Guest blueadams]

i really dont think that stastny is the problem.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Someone with "Ryan" in their name should work.