Comments on: Flynn’s Take: What Will Lineup Look Like When Nichushkin Returns (+)

By: Glendon Gulliver

Glendon Gulliver — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 13:51:03 +0000

I think you need to give the Drouin-Mittelstadt-Lehkonen line a chance to see what they can do. They had a great first game, now they need to continue playing well. I think that Nichushkin will play on a line with MacKinnon and Rantanen. Those are the top 6 players when everyone is healthy. That will move Colton to the 3rd line.

Just as keeping the “new” 2nd line together because they played well, that will be the case with the line of Kiviranta-Kelly-O’Connor. Colton playing with Parssinen and Ivan will have more of an offensive potential, but they need to show it. Either way, the team will still really have 2 4th lines, unless the Colton line can score like a good 3rd line. Nichushkin may start in the bottom 6 to give him limited minutes to start, but will move to your lineup quickly. They will stay only as long as the lines play well together.

I do not include Landeskog because I do not think he will be back in the regular season or even play, if he returns during the playoffs. The Avs could still use a real bottom 6 center or a scoring winger to fill out the offense. When Wood returns, he is goes to the bottom 6. Which line depends on injuries or who is not playing well. If the top 7 stays healthy, the offense just needs one good player and the focus will be on who the Avs can add to defense for the playoff run.

By: Brad Jacobs

Brad Jacobs — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:24:55 +0000

In reply to Joe Cerwinske.

Agree 100% with those lines. After waiting 25 games for Casey to get going again, after a 10 point night, no way JB doesn’t keep them together until they falter. Colton on the 3rd makes that line strong enough they only need a deadline pickup for a wing if Wood isn’t available.

By: Dave North

Dave North — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 07:37:26 +0000

In reply to Joe Cerwinske.

I like these lines better than the ones proposed by Colleen. As long as the second line plays like they did against Dallas, keep them together. Also, Rants and Mac are better together. The only reason to separate them is to spread the wealth, and if we can get 10 point games from the second line, why change it?

The third and fourth lines look interchangeable, so not sure which one is third and which is fourth.

By: Matt Briggle

Matt Briggle — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:02:30 +0000

The beauty of this top 6 (7 if you include Colton) is that they’re all well versed in playing in any combination you put them in, and can change them up mid game if they need a spark. Even when you get in a position where they want to try and hard match against an opponent this gives them options. Personally, I like MacK between Lehky and Dru while Mitts centers Mikko and Val. I do think the Kelley line will likely slide into more of the traditional 4th line role but with some elevated ice time with Colton leading the third line probably with Parssinen and Ivan for the time being likely to be bolstered by the trade deadline. .If Landy can come back, he’ll probably slide into that line and push Ivan to the 13th forward role/Eagles.

By: Joe Cerwinske

Joe Cerwinske — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 02:43:24 +0000

I’d really prefer to keep the 2nd line as we saw it against Dallas. Mikko and Val have played on the same line before, and obviously share time on the power play. I think the two of them flanking MacKinnon would be a terrifying line to play against: lots of speed, size, and finishing ability, along with Nichushkin bringing the defensive snarl and forechecking. So, while I don’t think these will be the lines right away as Val is eased back into the lineup, I think our ultimate best line combinations would be as follows:

Nichushkin – MacKinnon – Rantanen
Drouin – Mittelstadt – Lehkonen
Colton – Parssinen – Ivan/Wood/Landeskog
Kiviranta – Kelly – O’Connor

I believe Bednar when he says he’d like to keep the current 3rd line together and that he sees them more as a 4th line. Having Colton on that 3rd line elevates it, even if his line mates don’t look like 3rd liners with the roster as currently constructed. In any case, I think the ultimate goal would be to have the 1st and 2nd and then the 3rd and 4th lines all get roughly the same amount of minutes as each other – so roughly 20+ minutes for each of the top six, and 12+ minutes for the bottom six. With Colton on the nominal 3rd line – whether at center or wing – it makes that split possible.