Long live the King

More scoring is more scoring. Wheeler has at least figured out where to go when he catches up to the play. He's too slow to slot into the 3rd line role and at this point I don't see them moving him out of the line up.

Guentzel-Zib-Wheeler Panarin-Monahan-Laf Kreider-Tro-Kakko Goodrow-Bonino-Vesey

Center is a much bigger problem. Kakko will be back. Can't have Bonino be a long term answer at 3c.

Eh. Tro had an incredible hot streak. Something like 20 of his points came in a 15 game stretch. He's come back to earth. Lindholm is the more skilled player. I think you have to see what he looks like between Panarin and Laf.

Lindholm for sure. If not Lindholm, Monahan and Guentzel.

Good thing he's married to a doctor that majored in neuroscience at Michigan.

One's gonna be in Utah. Been trying to tell you. I'd imagine the other is in the east to keep the conferences equal so the puts Atlanta over Houston.

Cool. Bedard can worry about Fantilli banging his mom next year while Laf makes another deep playoff run.

Zib says shut the fuck up haters.

1. Artemi Panarin 2. Vincent Trocheck 3. Mika Zibanejad +2 4. Chris Kreider 5. Adam Fox 6. Igor Shesterkin 7. Jacob Trouba 8. Alexis Lafrenière 9. Ryan Lindgren 10. Jonathan Quick 11. Blake Wheeler 12. Erik Gustafsson 13. K'Andre Miller 14. Jimmy Vesey 15. Will Cuylle 16. Barclay Goodrow 17. Nick Bonino 18. Braden Schneider 19. Jonny Brodzinski 20. Tyler Pitlick 21. Zac Jones #notanumberonecenter

I never said he was the sole reason. They also played a handful of shitty games since he's been out. Main factor is the 3rd line having Bonino and Brodzinski. I was responding to Kakko being a JAG. He's not. He's sorely missed and, while we all want to see him score more, he makes a big impact defensively.

When you replace Kakko with Brodzinski you lose defensively, and it's not debatable. Do you really think the current 3rd line is better without him? I know you don't like to Lavi credit for anything, but the 3rd line was meant to have a clearly defined role. With Trocheck slotted up and Kakko out, they're unable to play the desired role. This has a huge impact on the team defensively.

Were they ahead and blew the lead? Did they make a come back? Was it a 1 goal game because they allowed a goal with 30 seconds left? Or scored a goal with 30 seconds left? Was it a 1 goal game until an empty netter made it a 2 goal game?

This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.

Bet that cooler is full of mayo.

With Kakko they were 1st in GA. Without Kakko they are 23rd. The team would be much better with Chytil as the second line center and Cuylle-Trocheck-Kakko as the 3rd line.

They gave up half of those 44 goals in 4 games. Outside of those 4 bad games they have 36 GF and 22 GA.

You can easily jump from game to game...

Meh. He gets 70+% DZ starts. Still xGA is 11, but only had 6 scored. And he's been on the ice for 5 GF. With Cuylle and Kakko/Brodzinski his line generates more shots than the opponent.

Yes. Bonino is good on draws. He's 40th in the league in FO%. He's 16th in PKFO%. Can't have too many guys that can win draws. Only reason he doesn't take more draws is Trocheck is so good. Pitlick is the dead weight.

Yea. Apparently they call him Trocho Cinco

I agree they need better 3c, but Bonino isn't coming out of the line up. He wins draws and he's on of the top penalty killers. Pitlick is the odd man out. Trocheck has been real good, but I still like his game on a more Fiesta grinding line like the 3rd. So with that Lindholm for the 2nd line is my first choice. Monahan would be my 2nd choice.

You never know. They've got a long way to go to get in the playoffs. With the down year they could look to move him before the 35+ contract kicks in.