Good chance this coach is gonna be fired by the end of the year. I would try to move Panarin as well he’s such a fucking mental midget he’s almost impossible for anybody to play with.
I am just not sure this team is good enough, and certainly we lack depth IMO. We have some top heavy star players, but overall lack after the top 6, PP or not Lafreniere and Kakko have not yet become the players you'd expect from the # 1 and # 2 picks in their drafts - doesn't mean they can't or won't, just haven't yet - put it on the players or coaches or both - the point is they just haven't gotten there yet. The D is a very good 5, and then many question marks. This is a top heavy, depth lacking team, and that usually isn't a good recipe for success in the NHL. To me I put Lafreniere at LW, he is much better there and that is where he should play. I put him with Chytil, who he seems very comfortable with. That gives you a good 3rd line. And 5/6 spots filled on the other top two lines. Then you decide who is best suited for the other RW spot. Personally, I would give Kravtsov a few game look when healthy, if he can stay healthy, and until then I think I'd go Vesey. Then I'd put Gauthier with Laf and Chytil, and Blais/Goodrow/Reaves or Carpenter. That's how I would go to give us depth and balance upfront, and also put Lafreniere at his natural LW spot.
They were a “good” team last year who got hit in the playoffs although they brought everything to game 7s like they always do
I agree they were a good team last year, but doing so with lower expectations into the season last year, and career years from Kreider and Igor is different than into this season with high expectations to be a cup winning level team. And the playoff version of the Rangers is way better than we are now with Copp, Vatrano, Motte, and Braun all gone, and Trocheck in for Strome. Very different team. I think there is no real way to debate it, if this team wants to be a cup level team Lafreniere and Kakko need to be big contributors, and Chytil needs to play a large role as well. Otherwise we'll have no where near enough depth of scoring to be a top level team. And I'll say this about Lafreniere and Kakko, I am not just talking about the # of points and goals they actually score, those numbers will be depressed a bit if not getting much PP time, I am talking about 5 on 5 impact. That is where we need it being a poor 5 on 5 team again this year so far. You won't always score 5 on 5, but control the puck, make plays, create chances. I don't see a lot of that either. That is not just about give them PP1 time and their points will grow, it is much more than that IMO. As mentioned, one very obvious move is Lafreniere on LW. It is where he needs to be right now. That is crystal clear. Make the change now Gallant. Balance the team out a bit. We all knew Kreider was coming back down to earth this year, I'd say 30-35 goals +/-, still very good but not 50+. We need others to step up 5 on 5. We need Trocheck to finish his many chances. Panarin to shoot more. The PP to shoot more. And the team to man up and be more physical. If Gallant tweaks the lines correctly, the talent is there to get us in, and then we add depth at the trade DL like last season, but if we stay top heavy, and play guys in the wrong spot, trouble will continue IMO.
If these are the lines tonight, I like it. Shows Gallant gets it at least on this issue. Lafreniere on LW, and need to balance out for depth (like the 4th line): Panarin – Zibanejad – Kakko Lafrenière – Trocheck – Vesey Kreider – Chytil – Kravtsov Blais – Goodrow – Reaves
