Strange/Curious/Silly line combinations for next season

[Wrong Net Paulie]

Well, since we all need more to talk about (apparently) I was thinking about this as I was making some pasta... lets throw together some lines that you think could, against most odds, work. For example...

More than beef:
R2/Vinny/Malone

A combined 619 pounds, you have the finesse and shot from the point in Lecavalier, you have a huge body that will fight for the puck in the corners (and have decent wheels, too!) in R2, and you have Malone who attracts puck to his skull with Jedi Mind tricks. With two guys (6'4, 6'5) towering around/in front of a goaltender, Vinny could be shooting fish in a barrel.

Halpern in training:
Jokinen/Craig/Oulette

I always thought Craig very much looked like Halpern, although obviously not as developed. Has decent hands, was always great in front of the net. If he's healthy, this could be the Halpern line of last year at the start. Ryan at the net, Jokinen being the floater, and Oulette being the shot at the top of the circle.

I'm sure i'll think of some more as I go. Anyone think of something silly that might be crazy enough to work?

[timothy]

Originally Posted by Wrong Net Paulie

Halpern in training:
Jokinen/Craig/Oulette

I always thought Craig very much looked like Halpern, although obviously not as developed. Has decent hands, was always great in front of the net. If he's healthy, this could be the Halpern line of last year at the start. Ryan at the net, Jokinen being the floater, and Oulette being the shot at the top of the circle.

I read a quote from Oren Koules (in DC's blog I think) that said he resigned Ryan Craig because he can play all 12 forward positions, and he gave him a two-year deal because he wanted to get him rolling again.

[CupChamps2004]

Originally Posted by timothy

I read a quote from Oren Koules (in DC's blog I think) that said he resigned Ryan Craig because he can play all 12 forward positions,

LW/C/RW x 4 lines = 12 positions?

[timothy]

Originally Posted by CupChamps2004

LW/C/RW x 4 lines = 12 positions?

Yeah... that's what he said. Here's the quote:

As Koules said, "Ryan Craig can do anything. Ryan Craig can play all 12 forward positions. He can cover guys. He's good at draws. That's a heck of an asset. We signed him for two years because we wanted to get him rolling again."

I'm not taking him literally, and I don't think he meant it literally either. But what I am taking away is that OK/LB believe that Craig has a much bigger role than the 12/13th forward that most are slotting him at. With Halpern out, perhaps they are expecting him to step up and taking a prominent role.

Back on topic for me... one set of line combinations I'd love to see experimented with in camp/exhibitions is:

Prospal - Lecavalier - Vrbata
Malone - Stamkos - St. Louis

I've always like the idea of putting Czech wingers together. There's been a number Czech lines that have had good success and chemistry in the league. And that 2nd line smells of all the good stuff of the Modin-Richards-MSL had with the added physicality and pure finishing touches that Stamkos brings over Richards.

[Hoek]

Yeah I found that a curious quote. First line center? Really? Heheh..

[Kowalski]

Originally Posted by timothy

Yeah... that's what he said. Here's the quote:


I'm not taking him literally, and I don't think he meant it literally either. But what I am taking away is that OK/LB believe that Craig has a much bigger role than the 12/13th forward that most are slotting him at. With Halpern out, perhaps they are expecting him to step up and taking a prominent role.

Back on topic for me... one set of line combinations I'd love to see experimented with in camp/exhibitions is:

Prospal - Lecavalier - Vrbata
Malone - Stamkos - St. Louis

I've always like the idea of putting Czech wingers together. There's been a number Czech lines that have had good success and chemistry in the league. And that 2nd line smells of all the good stuff of the Modin-Richards-MSL had with the added physicality and pure finishing touches that Stamkos brings over Richards.

The second line feels like that, but we all know that Vinny's jump from 30 goals a season to 40-50 is a direct result of having Marty to feed him. Vinny and Marty HAVE to stay together.

[CTLightning26]

I can go either way on this. Marty tends to overpass when he plays with the Vinnys. I'd like him to let it go. On the other end, Stamkos has been known as more of a shooter.
We'll see. I think they have plenty of options.
--
Where did OK and/or Barry say they really like Kuba???