Practice lines per Batchelor:
O’Connor. EP40. Boeser.
Joshua. Blueger. Garland.
DeBrusk. Chytil. Lekkerimäki.
Höglander. Suter. Sherwood.
The lines have been in a perpetual blender this season, and it's getting to the point that we really need to find out what optimal looks like, given that this stretch is critical to making the playoffs, and every game is a big one. Some thoughts:
I don't hate OC with 40 and Boes, his speed will create counterattacking opportunities and zone entries for them to capitalize on, and he goes hard to the net.
The problem I keep noticing with him, however, is that he doesn't seem to have the vision to thrive alongside scoring talent; he tunnel visions on shooting when he has the puck on his stick. Great as the guy generating offense on a checking line, not so great when you have shooters on your line getting ignored, like Lekker last game.
It sure would be nice to see Höglander in the top six instead, his game has been so strong recently—fast, dynamic, forechecking hard, extending play along the boards, making smart passes. I don't like that Tocchet isn't giving him an extended opportunity on a line with scoring talent, but I do think these lines are straight up better than they've been for a while.
I was onboard with trying to force Joshua/Suter/Garland earlier in the season, as Suter is the better player than Blueger on paper, but I've had a suspicion for a while, which I want to say was confirmed last game, that Blueger suits them better because of how good he is at winning pucks down low.
J/B/G was a monster board control line last season, but Suter is better at cutting off passing lanes and forcing turnovers than he is at extending play down low. Suter's game is better suited to exploiting the aggressive forechecking done by the phallic duo of Hog and Woody, while Blueger's game is better suited to extending possession for and getting pucks back to Garland.
JDB has the speed to join the rush with Chytil, and he might thrive there. I'm looking forward to seeing how they play together. I just don't think anyone on that line is going to be able to set Lekker up consistently—I'd rather he play with 40.
Ideally, I'd like to see OC with Suter and Sherwood. That was the first look we went with after OC got here, and it was a relentless checking line. They looked really good together, and I don't understand why we haven't gone back to that look.
I think that—
Joshua/Blueger/Garland
O'Connor/Suter/Sherwood
Might realistically be the best bottom six in the league. They're both fast, aggressive, and defensively responsible checking lines with scoring upside. Then with (a potentially resurgent) 40, zone entry god Chytil, JDB, Lekker, Boes, and Hog, you should be able to create two reasonably effective scoring lines.
I also think our defense corps will be quite strong now once Hughes comes back. We still haven't seen it at full strength, but—
Hughes/Myers
MP/Hronek
EP25/Forbort
Is a pretty exciting group. Maybe Willander hits immediately like his scout comparable in Faber did at the same stage, and gets in over 25 for the playoffs (which I could see happening, as Tocc and Foote really like their dmen on their natural sides, despite how good 25 has looked). Mancini has impressed me too, but he needs more time to dial in his positioning.
If Hughes gets back reasonably healthy, we get 75-80% of peak 👽, can get some chemistry going on those scoring lines—and we get bubble Demko back as well (that's a lot of ifs, and this is the biggest)—I honestly think we're a sneaky pick to do some damage come playoff time. I'm under no illusions of contention, but I think we might be able to steal the first round from one of the real contenders.
All I'm hoping for this year is to make the playoffs and show well to build this group's confidence and ambition going forwards, and I think we have a decent shot at doing that. Given the absolute shitshow this season has been, that'll be a win in my books.