Questions

[dhsux]

There's a thread on the HF Board asking posters about lines for the upcoming season. Some questions for opinions from ya'll on what we should expect in the coming 1st half of the season on a few players.

Mailloux - About 99% have Mailloux on the third pairing with Tucker. I was surprised to see this huge majority, thinking Mailoux could/would get time on second pairing if for nothing else protection. Is Tucker - Mailoux the right combo ...is it truly the only combo.....and how many minutes can they handle defensively? Will Mailloux get a shot on the PP?

Snugger - Again, a ton almost all have him on the first line. I know Monty really likes him but I don't see him starting off on that line. I guess they can try it and see but it's asking an awful lot of him and I don't see Monty putting him there to start off the year. Some of this question might be determined by his off season conditioning so there's that.

DD - I've thought all along DD would likely start at wing. If he makes the team and with the off season moves in mind, do you think this is highly likely?

[Backesdraft]

Specifically as it relates to Snuggy - ya have to play him with RT in my opinion. You have a natural passer and a natural sniper. Makes sense. Yes, Snuggy is young but he can be first line and still play sheltered minutes. No PK, no late game minutes if the game is on the line, etc. But, it also looked apparent to me (and it’s just my opinion) from the small sample size we saw last year that he may not need the sort of seasoning other guys do. He looked pretty darn comfortable in a tough first round match up.

[seattleblue]

It does seem a little contradictory that Mailloux is assumed 3d pair but Snuggerud is assumed "1st line" on the surface of it, but Snuggy with Thomas is just the natural instinct to pair an elite applemaker with an elite shooter, and having seen it look good, and the balance of not pairing Kyrou with Thomas. If Snuggy is on the "1st line" it mostly means he's on a scoring line and it balances better this way. He'll get PP time too.

The contradiction is if he only has 14 games why install him there and not install 8 game Mailloux with major defensive issues in a top 4? But that one is much easier to understand due to how defensemen develop. I completely agree with Mailloux on 3d pair with Tucker and Tucker moving over into the left side where Suter played last year. I do expect Mailloux to get PP time to take advantage of his upside.

[Backesdraft]

It does seem a little contradictory that Mailloux is assumed 3d pair but Snuggerud is assumed "1st line" on the surface of it, but Snuggy with Thomas is just the natural instinct to pair an elite applemaker with an elite shooter, and having seen it look good, and the balance of not pairing Kyrou with Thomas. If Snuggy is on the "1st line" it mostly means he's on a scoring line and it balances better this way. He'll get PP time too.

The contradiction is if he only has 14 games why install him there and not install 8 game Mailloux with major defensive issues in a top 4? But that one is much easier to understand due to how defensemen develop. I completely agree with Mailloux on 3d pair with Tucker and Tucker moving over into the left side where Suter played last year. I do expect Mailloux to get PP time to take advantage of his upside.

I really like the idea of Tucker and LM…in 2 or 3 seasons. Love the upside and Tucker seems like a keeper but man alive, that’s a young and inexperienced pairing. Talk about sheltered minutes.

[netboy65]

I put LM with Fowler (assuming he’s back) then put Broberg with Parayko. Maybe not the entire game but I think LM would benefit from a vet partner

[Frank Underwood]

There's a thread on the HF Board asking posters about lines for the upcoming season. Some questions for opinions from ya'll on what we should expect in the coming 1st half of the season on a few players.

Mailloux - About 99% have Mailloux on the third pairing with Tucker. I was surprised to see this huge majority, thinking Mailoux could/would get time on second pairing if for nothing else protection. Is Tucker - Mailoux the right combo ...is it truly the only combo.....and how many minutes can they handle defensively? Will Mailloux get a shot on the PP?

Snugger - Again, a ton almost all have him on the first line. I know Monty really likes him but I don't see him starting off on that line. I guess they can try it and see but it's asking an awful lot of him and I don't see Monty putting him there to start off the year. Some of this question might be determined by his off season conditioning so there's that.

DD - I've thought all along DD would likely start at wing. If he makes the team and with the off season moves in mind, do you think this is highly likely?

A buddy of mine ran into Jamie Rivers last night and talked to him for a while. Rivers said Mailloux will be the second pairing RHD by Christmas. Now some of you probably think Rivers is a clown while others think he’s great. I’m just passing along his comment. Sounds like netboy65 might have a pretty good idea with the pairings.

[dhsux]

There's a thread on the HF Board asking posters about lines for the upcoming season. Some questions for opinions from ya'll on what we should expect in the coming 1st half of the season on a few players.

Mailloux - About 99% have Mailloux on the third pairing with Tucker. I was surprised to see this huge majority, thinking Mailoux could/would get time on second pairing if for nothing else protection. Is Tucker - Mailoux the right combo ...is it truly the only combo.....and how many minutes can they handle defensively? Will Mailloux get a shot on the PP?

Snugger - Again, a ton almost all have him on the first line. I know Monty really likes him but I don't see him starting off on that line. I guess they can try it and see but it's asking an awful lot of him and I don't see Monty putting him there to start off the year. Some of this question might be determined by his off season conditioning so there's that.

DD - I've thought all along DD would likely start at wing. If he makes the team and with the off season moves in mind, do you think this is highly likely?

A buddy of mine ran into Jamie Rivers last night and talked to him for a while. Rivers said Mailloux will be the second pairing RHD by Christmas. Now some of you probably think Rivers is a clown while others think he’s great. I’m just passing along his comment. Sounds like netboy65 might have a pretty good idea with the pairings.

I just don't see a whole lot of Tucker/Mailloux happening. But I might be underestimating Tucker or both of them. I think there will be a lot of mix and match going on to accommodate JM's learning curve.

I have high hopes for him, would be thrilled to see him progress to that 2nd pairing by Christmas.

[DawgDad]

Camp questions.

1. Snuggerud is the 1RW until he isn't. Lines will get juggled, it isn't likely the only spot he plays.

2.Dvorsky has a shot. I am leaning to them sending him down for some 1C work until they are sure they don't have to cover any major Snuggerud deficiencies, until he's settled in comfortably. Then, Dvorsky if he's playing well. They could keep DD out of camp, seems risky, or they could park him in Springfield all season (seems very unlikely).

3. I do not see Tucker-Mailloux as an ideal pairing. That doesn't mean it won't happen. Mailloux is the guy they need to groom, and of course he has to do his part. If all he can pull is 3RD minutes with Tucker one of them might be better off in the A for a while longer. Better Mailloux pairs with a steady veteran. That is Tucker's challenge, play like a steady seasoned veteran or perhaps lose your job.

We really don't know what Mailloux will be in the short term. Longer term he eats Faulk minutes or there is a problem.

[STL fan in MN]

Mailloux has 8 games of NHL experience. I’d be shocked if he started out in our top-4. That said, a pairing of Tucker-Mailloux is very inexperienced and not sure that’s going to work either. So maybe Mailloux does spend a good chunk of 5 on 5 time with one of Broberg/Fowler but my guess is he ends up 5th or 6th in terms of ATOI on average.

Snuggerud on the 1st line…pretty much just as inexperienced as Mailloux but makes a little more sense as we’re talking a winger which is much less defensively important than a top-4 d-man. That said, he’s going to have to really bring it to stick there. Otherwise, I expect Buchy to move back to the right side and for Snuggy to play 3RW instead, with someone like Neighbours playing 1LW with Thomas-Buchy. All sorts of combos on the top-9 are possible. But Holloway-Kyrou need to stay on the same line IMO.

With the trade if Bolduc, there's 1 winger spot open IMO and Dvorsky has a legit shot to take it. That said, odds are more likely that one of Bjugstad, Sunny, Joseph or Texier grab it and Dvorsky starts in Springfield. Makes absolutely no sense to keep Dvorsky unless he’s going to play regularly.

[zamadoo]

Mailloux mentioned in the Strick interview that he knew Tucker, so there could be some familiarity/chemistry right off the bat. I don't see that as a real issue as a 3rd pairing, because it's 3rd pairing. Especially for the regular season, it's more important to get playing time for development rather than worry about some mistakes that might happen along the way. That said, I wouldn't start Mailloux in the top-4 but would have him play some special teams to get more minutes. I also wouldn't rule out what Rivers said. Certainly by next season the expectation should be for Mailloux to be in the top-4, so at some point this season we may get a glimpse. Hell, all it takes is Faulk to get hurt.

[DawgDad]

Snuggerud is too inexperienced at the NHL level to expect he won't make some mistakes. That said, if he makes too many then going back to college was a mistake. I'm not even sure his famous former linemates are first line guys but they are likely capable.

He has some traits working in his favor. He's poised, he's not timid, he's aggressive and somewhat creative offensively, and he can flat out shoot the puck at a 1RW level. Did see some mishaps in the playoffs but he seemed to stay poised and not let them drag his game down.

The young man is going to take an absolute pounding, hope he's up for it. Haven't really seen him shy from contact but it didn't seem like physical aggression was a part of his game, either.

[Harry York 37]

There's a thread on the HF Board asking posters about lines for the upcoming season. Some questions for opinions from ya'll on what we should expect in the coming 1st half of the season on a few players.

Mailloux - About 99% have Mailloux on the third pairing with Tucker. I was surprised to see this huge majority, thinking Mailoux could/would get time on second pairing if for nothing else protection. Is Tucker - Mailoux the right combo ...is it truly the only combo.....and how many minutes can they handle defensively? Will Mailloux get a shot on the PP?

Snugger - Again, a ton almost all have him on the first line. I know Monty really likes him but I don't see him starting off on that line. I guess they can try it and see but it's asking an awful lot of him and I don't see Monty putting him there to start off the year. Some of this question might be determined by his off season conditioning so there's that.

DD - I've thought all along DD would likely start at wing. If he makes the team and with the off season moves in mind, do you think this is highly likely?

A buddy of mine ran into Jamie Rivers last night and talked to him for a while. Rivers said Mailloux will be the second pairing RHD by Christmas. Now some of you probably think Rivers is a clown while others think he’s great. I’m just passing along his comment. Sounds like netboy65 might have a pretty good idea with the pairings.

I predicted a while ago that Mailloux jerseys could be a top seller by Christmas. Good to see Rivers is on my side.

[HighStick]

We already know Thomas/Kyrou doesn't work together so Snuggarud will have to play 1st line. I hope they keep the Holloway/Schenn/Kyrou line together. That line was dynamic and dangerous.

Mailloux will probably start on 3rd pairing with Tucker and have to work his way up. I don't see him beating Faulk out of the 2nd pairing spot until maybe later in the season.

[Frank Barone]

A lot will depend on whether they feel Broberg is ready for 1st pair responsibilities. He seems like the type of athlete that can handle a lot of minutes, so that may be the target. If so, they could go with:

Broberg Parayko
Fowler Mailloux
Tucker Faulk

The idea would be to have the veterans Fowler and Faulk each play with an inexperienced partner for normal 5v5 time. You can always send out Fowler and Faulk together if the situation warrants it.

[Section315]

We get hung up in line numbers and pairing numbers way too much.

[TAFKAP]

Snuggerud is too inexperienced at the NHL level to expect he won't make some mistakes. That said, if he makes too many then going back to college was a mistake. I'm not even sure his famous former linemates are first line guys but they are likely capable.

He has some traits working in his favor. He's poised, he's not timid, he's aggressive and somewhat creative offensively, and he can flat out shoot the puck at a 1RW level. Did see some mishaps in the playoffs but he seemed to stay poised and not let them drag his game down.

The young man is going to take an absolute pounding, hope he's up for it. Haven't really seen him shy from contact but it didn't seem like physical aggression was a part of his game, either.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, I caught most of the playoffs at work, on the radio, but it sure didn't sound like he had issues playing first line minutes, in a 7 game series against the President's Trophy winners. From what I saw, it was Winnipeg who was shying away from contact by the end. I think 1RW is his spot to lose. A 7 game playoff series is a hell of an audition. IMHO anyway.