What to do with the lines?
Now that there are 14 forwards around and everyone seems to have played with everyone else at some point this season, it seems apropos to revisit the line combinations that we would like to see.
They weren't going to keep at their pace no matter what with one line producing and two that weren't, eventually someone was gonna come in and stop the 1st line, so it made sense to me for Tortorella to break up the top line. It appears right now he's trying to get Higgins, Drury and Callahan jump started, trying to combine them with different players to see what clicks. I understand that they can't keep playing musical chairs with the line spots...but they're not going to win with one line either.
So here's my opinion on what they should stick with:
Lisin-Prospal-Gaborik
Lisin's speed and offensive skill are a perfect match for Gaborik, and Marian is good enough in his own end to cover up some of Lisin's defensive mistakes. I think with the way Prospal and Gaborik are playing, anyone could really get on this line and produce. Higgins and Avery are obviously ok choices as well (moreso the latter) but neither is as talented offensively as Lisin.
Avery-Dubinsky-Callahan
All energy, all the time. This is a good two-way line with enough offensive skill to get 50 pts apiece. Obviously Cally is behind pace for that mark but he will get going, his shooting% is in the toilet right now.
Higgins-Drury-Parenteau
Defensive line that eventually should generate some offense to go with it, eventually. Having PA with the two underachievers would hopefully generate a spark to get them going. The Higgins-PA line combo did produce a goal even if HIggy didn't get an assist.
Boyle-Anisimov-Kotalik.
Left overs really, these are the 3 best remaining forwards and fortunately they don't really share positions since Boyle can play wing. There's enough talent to generate offense but they're somewhat deficient players at ES thus far. Well, Anisimov has been good actually and if you could swap Drury and Anisimov here, you would, but you can't, at least not yet. Cutting the $7m captain's ice time to 5 min + SH time per game is going to be difficult to justify.
Brashear-Voros
Take them and ship them to outer Mongolia. Going by the assumption that someone gets traded here, Voros might want to start looking for a real estate agent.
That would be my plan. Have at it.
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i like the first two lines, just not the last two.
i dont think we can throw p.a. in there because he hd a good game. when gabs comes back i think someone gets sent down and p.a. hopefully plays well and stays. but one game isnt enough.
id like to see anisimov on the third. i like kotalikon the 4th line because he plays the PP. but if we dont get many PP chances move him up.
id acutally put higgins on the 4th line. it seems a this point neothing can get him to score, its its coming to a point.
id like to see a third line of.
anisimov-drury-kotalik
and a fourth line of.
higgins-boyle-parenteau
i think anisimov has a lot of talent and shouldnt be on the 4th line. he could put up good numbers with some skilled players
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
this team scores like 4 goals a night, and when they dont they lose.
they are 8-4-1. i like that ratio of wins-losses. by year end they have around 50 wins… 100 points= playoff team.
they just need to play better defensively. aggressively forecheck and create turnovers in the offensive zone and score, or draw penalties to get that strong power play on.
the subtraction of gaborik hurts alot of these things, but if they cant win without him, then they dont deserve to be a playoff team. this isnt the NBA where one player can carry a team to the championship.
Lines
I agree with the first two lines, but put Kotalik with Drury and Higgins…he can finish!!!

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