So now that most of the summer hockey is over, and there are less than 2 months before the first real game, a stab at roster, lines, etc. I'm not really concerned about LD/RD or C vs W, just putting them on the lines based on where I think their skill set belongs. I think I may be missing one transfer...
F
Harper-Greenway-Carpenter
Tkachuk-Bowers-Crone
Amonte-Melanson-Cloonan
Cockerill-Curry-Olsson
Phelps, Chabot, McDermott, Witkowski
D
Hickey-Krys
Fabbro-MacLeod
Farrance-Kotkansalo
Switzer, Diffley
(is Crotty coming this year or next? I've excluded thinking he is next year. If he is 2017, then maybe he bumps MacLeod after getting his feet wet)
G (this one is easy)
Oettinger
Prawdzik
Hotte
Despite the losses of Keller, JFK, and McAvoy, this team has some serious potential. The talent may be more spread out than last year. The 4th line I have above would have been a 3rd line last year. I really don't know what Amonte's talent level is, maybe he and Olsson switch places. If Cloonan struggles to score again, he could end up on the bench.
Think Olsson might be a factor if can stay healthy
Thought Crotty was coming this year. Hard to believe
7 drafted defensemen
Think 3-4 liners and extras will fight for playing time
I could certainly see Nik having a better year than Cloonan if he stays healthy. I was just thinking more in terms of their style. Olsson is a lot more physical, which I think is a better 4th line fit (I could see that 4th line seeing a lot more playing time than recent years). I feel like Cloonan on the 4th line isn't a good fit. Either he starts scoring and is on the 3rd line, or he is on the sidelines.
So now that most of the summer hockey is over, and there are less than 2 months before the first real game, a stab at roster, lines, etc. I'm not really concerned about LD/RD or C vs W, just putting them on the lines based on where I think their skill set belongs. I think I may be missing one transfer...
F
Harper-Greenway-Carpenter
Tkachuk-Bowers-Crone
Amonte-Melanson-Cloonan
Cockerill-Curry-Olsson
Phelps, Chabot, McDermott, Witkowski
D
Hickey-Krys
Fabbro-MacLeod
Farrance-Kotkansalo
Switzer, Diffley
(is Crotty coming this year or next? I've excluded thinking he is next year. If he is 2017, then maybe he bumps MacLeod after getting his feet wet)
G (this one is easy)
Oettinger
Prawdzik
Hotte
Despite the losses of Keller, JFK, and McAvoy, this team has some serious potential. The talent may be more spread out than last year. The 4th line I have above would have been a 3rd line last year. I really don't know what Amonte's talent level is, maybe he and Olsson switch places. If Cloonan struggles to score again, he could end up on the bench.
Skating five newcomers in the top nine—or an all-rookie second line--seems unlikely. Amonte is more likely to be fighting for a spot on the fourth line. A healthy Olsson can play either wing and would help make the third line more productive than last year. My guess:
Greenway- Carpenter -Harper
Tkachuk - Bowers - Curry
Crone-Melanson- Olsson
Phelps- - Cloonan -Chabot
Cockerill-Amonte –Witkowski
Believe that McDermott is playing a season of junior and may return in 2018. I can see Harper taking over Keller's role on the power play. Cockerill's speed, skill on the PK and ability to play the offwing could move him up the chart. Don't know much about Witkowski other than he was a good scorer, playing with Harper at AOF and again last year in the BCHL while playing for a weak team.
On D, does Quinn keep Hickey and Fabbro together or split them up? If they stay together, then Krys-MacLeod. Five guys competing for the last pairing.
On D, does Quinn keep Hickey and Fabbro together or split them up? If they stay together, then Krys-MacLeod. Five guys competing for the last pairing.
Including three second round draft picks, right? There will inevitably be at least one injury, which will give #7 some playing time. But #8 and #9? Are we destined to another season of hearing how one of them is better than Charlie McAvoy?
Also, with his 3 goals last year, I don't agree with Curry being a second liner over Crone. Perhaps, to your point, Curry gets the nod to start the season, but if Crone is as good as Hokie says, he seems like he would move up. Then again, maybe Curry will have a better scoring touch with a year under his belt.
I thought Chabot showed some promise last year as an older freshman
Can players like Curry and Phelps take bigger steps forward. Quinn was very positive on Curry but production was lacking.
Also, with his 3 goals last year, I don't agree with Curry being a second liner over Crone. Perhaps, to your point, Curry gets the nod to start the season, but if Crone is as good as Hokie says, he seems like he would move up. Then again, maybe Curry will have a better scoring touch with a year under his belt.
Curry is solid, but in fairness was a last minute filler pick up. Had aged out and even though crone has two years of juniors left had twice as many points on a d first team
Crone is a top two line skill player. Curry is a depth player
Which is why Quinn would be positive on him and rightly so
You can't have Thorobreds pulling plows and visa versa.
I feel like Cloonan on the 4th line isn't a good fit. Either he starts scoring and is on the 3rd line, or he is on the sidelines.
Agree with this, and I think his style would be mesh well with someone like Olsson who is more physical, but can skate pretty well and has really good hands. But at some point, he has to start putting pucks in the net. You can only go with the snakebitten reasoning for so long before it becomes apparent there's a skill deficiency.
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