• Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

Sign in to follow this  
Richdg

Question: 2 scoring line/2 checkers or 3 scoring/1 checker?

Rate this topic

Recommended Posts

Ok a question for you all. if you were building a team in todays NHL with a cap, which way would you go? 2 scoring lines and 2 checking lines OR 3 scoring lines and 1 checking line?

if money were no issue I would go with 3 scoring lines. But there is a cap. Scorers cost more than checkers, be it in money/cap/or trades. So saying that, I would go 2 scoring lines and 2 checking lines. This would keep more money freed up to keep your stars on the team and thus allow you to keep a team together longer.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

3 scoring lines thanks.

There needs to a constant stream of young guys taking over as older guys get raises though. Hard to do but at least in the near future we should be able to have 3 scoring lines.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Fortunately, players come in more than two varieties so it's not really an either/or scenario. You want some good scorers (your Datsyuks and Zetterbergs), some secondary scorers (Franzen, Nyquist, Tatar), some complimentary players (basically someone cheap, not necessarily good on their own, but able to play alongside skilled guys and provide decent production - Bert, Cleary, Homer types, in better seasons, Abby), some two-way guys (secondary/tertiary scorer that also provides good defense - Flip, Weiss, possibly Helm, Sheahan), and finish off with some solid checkers (cheap guy, solid defense/PK ability and/or high energy/physicality - Miller, Glenny, Andy). Then try to piece it all together to get a balanced attack with all four lines able to chip in some offense.

Something like:

Good/secondary scorer - Good scorer - Complimentary guy

Secondary scorer - Good scorer - Complimentary guy

Secondary scorer - Two-way guy - Checker

Secondary/Checker - Two-way guy - Checker

Obviously can be shuffled around based on exact personnel and their positions, and player chemistry, and some players might fit in multiple categories. Basically, I think if a team has Cup aspirations they need to get at least decent production from the third line, and occasional production from the 4th. A team like Pittsburgh is going to struggle more often than not in the playoffs, and most teams that try to build that way aren't going to have players as good as Crosby and Malkin, especially trying to build through trades and UFAs.

With Pav and Hank healthy, I think we have the "good scorers" covered, but of course the more the merrier and one more would sure be nice due to injury concerns. Secondary scoring is our biggest strength, along with checkers. Complimentary guys, mostly Bert and Abby this year, could use improvement. Alfie and/or Legwand could fit in those spots if they came cheap enough. Our two-ways are maybe a little weak, but mostly just from injuries.

To afford it all, the checkers and complimentary guys should be pretty cheap and you need a few others on bargain deals (easiest with young players on 1st or 2nd contracts), with the rest ranging from mid-level to high.

Reality complicates all of that. Getting the right guys isn't easy. Sometimes they're just not available, and even if they are someone else might get them first. Then you have to fit them all under the cap and hope they all gel with each other and your coaching staff and philosophy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

there is no question for me 3 scoring lines with one checking line.

I do think we have a perfect lines when everyone is healthy

Zetterberg - Datsuk - Nyquist
Alfredsson - Legwand - Franzen
Tatar - Shaehan - Weiss
Adelkader - Helm - Miller (Andersson)
Jurco is too inexpierenced and I would try Weiss on the wing

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For obvious cap reasons I'd go with 2 scoring and 2 checking lines, so a true top bottom 6 kind of approach. An advantage would be the cheaper third and fourth lines so more money for the top 6 and top pairing. The fourth line would be the energy line, used whenever things are getting out of hand and to produce energy. The third line would be a mixture of grit and youth.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Is Malykin that KHL dude I was asking about last week sometime? That could be an intriguing team.

If we pick up guys like Malykin then Bert Cleary Quincey are definitely going bye bye. No room at all. (Assuming Q will be replaced by D UFA)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this