Make up your lines

[TR50]

Jason Blake/Mats Sundin/Darcy Tucker -----Skill, Speed, Grit
Alexander Steen/Kyle Wellwood/Matt Stajan-----Young, Versatile, Similar levels
Alex Ponikarovsky/Mark Bell/Nik Antropov----Big Bashers, Decent Skill, Hard to Handle
Bates Battaglia/Chad Kilger/Boyd Devereaux ----- Veterans, Responsible, Good Skaters
Extras: John Pohl/Wade Belak


Bryan McCabe/ Carlo Colaiacovo
Tomas Kaberle/ Pavel Kubina
Hal Gill/ Ian White
Extras: Andy Wozniewski

Goalie Vesa Toskala
Goalie Andrew Raycroft (until he's traded)

that 2nd line would get run over, i don't think stajan has deserved a 2nd line spot too....i would move poni/bell up, maybe even tucker down to 2nd and poni to 1st....i wouldnt be too comfortable with a steen/wellwood/stajan line...

[npw001]

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that 2nd line would get run over, i don't think stajan has deserved a 2nd line spot too....i would move poni/bell up, maybe even tucker down to 2nd and poni to 1st....i wouldnt be too comfortable with a steen/wellwood/stajan line...

I think in the new NHL this is the type of line that can be successful.

[TR50]

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I think in the new NHL this is the type of line that can be successful.

i would still rather have stajan as a 3rd liner and stick pony/bell in

[npw001]

^^^ I don't put a lot of stock in whether you call it a third line or second line. I'm more concerned with productivity and chemistry. I think we have a chance to a top line, 2 moderately productive lines and a grinder line.

[MAS]

Ok here's what I got

Line 1: Ponikarosky/Sundin/Blake

We got Blake to play with Sundin, otherwise that was a waste of money in my opinion. The reason why Poni is still on this line is because you need someone to go in the corners and try and win that puck for you, we are not paying Blake and Sundin to take abuse in the corners. Poni is good at that.

Line 2: Bell/Wellwood/Tucker

This line is similar to the top line, but may be a little tougher cause of Tucker's ability to agitate and score. Bell is there to go in the corners and free up the puck for Welly and Tucker cause both of them have tremendous trouble doing it. Meanwhile Wellwood still has two reasonably talented forwards to pass the puck to.

Line 3: Antropov/Steen/Stajan (or Kilger)

Antropov's size and intimidation makes him a suitable line mate for guys like Steen and Stajan cause he hasn't been afraid to rough people up in recent years. Steen is fairly obvious, I think I'd like to see him have his own line where he's the play maker. Now I'm kinda torn with Stajan and Kilger because it depends if your going for speed or toughness. If you want more speed you go with Stajan cause he has good chemistry with Steen. If you want toughness and grit you go with Kilger because he's someone else who can go in the corners and be a good defensive player.

Line 4: Battaglia/Pohl/Kilger (Stajan)

This is basically who's left. This would be a shutdown line who are capable of playing on most lines.

Here are my defensive tandoms:

Kaberle-Kubina
McCabe-Coliacovo
White-Gill

(i'll explain later)

[Crowned]

I think that's probably the more accurate lineup, and we'll likely see Poni with Mats and Blake this upcoming season.

[juucer]

Mine is pretty similar to MAS... I think his has been the most accurate and logical linup thus far. A few minor changes though:

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Forward Lines:

Line 1: Ponikarosky/Sundin/Blake

See what MAS wrote. Couldn't agree more.

Line 2: Steen/Wellwood/Tucker

I think Steen and Tucker are fairly underrated for their gritty "fight in the corners" play, and Steen's hockey sense is much higher than Bell's, making it more logical to play him with the wizard of Wellwood because Steen will know where to be to accept that improbable Wellwood pass. I'm a firm believer that the "smartest" players should be paired with Wellwood.

Line 3: Bell/Antropov/Kilger

The big line. These guys hand out the punishment, but won't be bogged down because Bell and Kilger are great skaters for bigger men. They also have some scoring power as well.

Line 4: Battaglia/Stajan/Deveraux

Defensive shutdown line.

Defence Pairings:

Kaberle/Kubina
McCabe/Colaiacovo
White/Gill