Leaf lines when healthy

[sheps88]

What do you guys think the lines will be when healthy.

Obviously the top 2 lines are

Grabovski Kulemin MacArthur
Connolly Kessel Lupul

but the 3rd and 4th line could be quite intriging.

what do you think of a

Lombardi Kadri Armstrong

4th line of
Dupuis/Zigomanis Orr Brown


this leaves Bozak possibly for trade or play him on line 4 and scrap out Zigomanis and Dupuis.

Phaneuf Aulie
Schenn Liles
Komisarek Franson

not sure what happens if you toss Gardiner in the mix. Could make someone like Gunnarsson and Aulie avail although I would rather keep Aulie. Maybe Komisarek on waivers but I highly doubt Burke does this route.

[McJoe]

Joffrey Lupul - Tim Connolly - Phil Kessel
Nikoali Kulemin - Mikhail Grabovski - Clarke MacArthur
Nazem Kadri/Matt Frattin - Matthew Lombardi - Colby Armstrong
Mike Brown - Tyler Bozak - Darryl Boyce/Colton Orr

That's what the lines will be. Lupul is interchangable with Kadri/Frattin IMO and Bozak could really end up on any line.

[Halladay]

I really don't see Orr getting many games in this year. I think the better player, Rosehill, starts seeing regular shifts. Way more useful and tough as nails.

[BranWingss]

When healthy? Hmmm. I'm assuming this is in November, and that no one is injured.

Kadri - Connolly - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - MacArthur
Lupul - Lombardi - Armstrong
Brown - Bozak - Frattin


I was going back and fourth on Kadri on the 1st A/B line, or the 3rd. I felt like the first would be a better fit due to his overall skill level. Connolly and Kessel are both skilled players, and they'll be able to bring out Nazem's offensive game. Lupul's speed, and grit is perfect to go with Colby, and Lombardi.

When Lombardi is 100% healthy, and is back on his game, I'd expect him to rotate with Connolly. Lombardi was awesome in PHX during his last NHL season. Connolly's style is better to pair up with though for Phil Kessel.

[mikeysnow14]

Lupul - Connolly - Kessel
MacArthur - Grabovski - Kulemin
Kadri - Lombardi - Armstrong
Rosehill - Bozak - Brown

I believe that is the best line-up we can put forward. I would be open to switching around the LW's too. Kadri and MacArthur deserve a chance to be up top with Connolly and Kessel once in a while when we need a shake up. I'm not convinced that Lupul deserves to be on that line because of his skating abilities but that's the way she goes. It's going to be exciting to see what changes happen over the season. But I bet this is what Ronny Wilson has written down in his book, in pencil of course.

[Gup]

Kulemin - Grabovski - MacArthur
Lupul - Connolly - Kessel
Kadri - Lombardi - Armstrong
Brown - Bozak - Orr

Phaneuf - Gardiner (Gardiner made the team over Aulie, today)
Schenn - Liles
Gunnarsson - Franson

[pacman16]

^ i like Aulie, he's shown he can be a great stay at home d'man.
He's big with a long reach and uses his body well. I think gunnarsson should have been the odd man out. with gardiner and lisles making the team, the team could use aulies size and style.

[HT9Canada]

Kulemin - Grabovski - MacArthur
Lupul - Connolly - Kessel
Kadri - Lombardi - Armstrong
Brown - Bozak - Orr

Phaneuf - Gardiner (Gardiner made the team over Aulie, today)
Schenn - Liles
Gunnarsson - Franson

I like that you have these guys up on line 1. They are our best line but if we plan on making the playoffs that line 2 better play damn good.

I could also see Gardiner and Liles switch spots.

I also think Frattin is going to prove his worth and his goal scoring ability he showed in college and could play some games with Connlly and Kessel

[ghost dog]

Nikoali Kulemin - Mikhail Grabovski - Clarke MacArthur
Joffrey Lupul - Tim Connolly - Phil Kessel
Nazem Kadri- Matthew Lombardi - Matt Frattin
Philippe Dupuis - Tyler Bozak - Darryl Boyce
Colton Orr

Phaneuf - Liles
Schenn - Gardiner
Franson - Gunnarsson
Aulie

Ben Scrivens ( preseason he was the best)
Jonas Gustavsson

[HT9Canada]

just to look back at the roster on day 1 the lines looked like this.

Versteeg-Bozak-Kessel
MacArthur-Grabs-Kulemin
Sjostrom - Brent - Armstrong
Brown - Zigomanis - Orr

Bolded are people that aren't here or switched spots. And all of those positions that are bolded I feel have an upgrade. Not to mention our defense which is improved and is younger.

[McJoe]

^^I'm actually more disappointed than I thought I would be with the lack of upgrades. Versteeg is a better player than Lupul. No doubt in my mind. Steeger is more complete and has intangibles that Lupul just doesn't have. 3rd line is where the team is upgraded from day 1 last season. Really the only spot on the offence.

The defence on the other hand is completely different with Kaberle, Beauchemin, and Lebda out and Gardiner and Liles in. Will look more different if Komisarek is out and Franson is in but that doesn't look very likely.

[Johann]

^^I'm actually more disappointed than I thought I would be with the lack of upgrades. Versteeg is a better player than Lupul. No doubt in my mind. Steeger is more complete and has intangibles that Lupul just doesn't have. 3rd line is where the team is upgraded from day 1 last season. Really the only spot on the offence.

The defence on the other hand is completely different with Kaberle, Beauchemin, and Lebda out and Gardiner and Liles in. Will look more different if Komisarek is out and Franson is in but that doesn't look very likely.

But Lupul isn't the ***** that Versteeg is

[ghost dog]

Kulemin- Grabovski -Macarthur
Lombardi-Connolly- Kessel
Lupul -Kadri- Frattin
Armstrong- Steckel- Brown
Rosehill-Dupuis

Phaneuf - Liles
Schenn - Gardiner
Franson - Gunnarsson
Aulie

[pacman16]

^ bosak???

[LuckyLuke2]

Yeah actually looking at last year's lineup, it's a lot more improved.
When healthy though, should look like this.

MaCarthur - Grabovski - Kulemin

Lupul - Connolly - Kessel

Kadri - Lombardi - Armstrong

Brown - Bozak - Frattin

Extras: Dupuis, Orr, Rosehill

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf

Schenn - Liles

Franson - Komisarek

Extras: Gardiner

Reimer, Gustavsson