I don't buy this 4th line style, just do your job, that's all he has to do. Learn how to play defense it just takes (frank)ing heart and effort.
- BetweenTheDots

I can buy that argument.

For me, other factors to consider: whether a player on the 4th line has more to give, what is the defined role of any particular line, and how are minutes allocated.

Not trying to be too snarky here, but FLA is 1-2-1, and NYI are 1-3-0, and in the one game they won, NYI let up 36 shots. Just wondering, are Q and Trotz good or bad coaches.

OK, that’s a lot of snark, but still perspective is important. Let’s all try to have some.

Carolina 5-0 and playing the best hockey I’ve seen in the league this season. Of course, it’s easy to look terrific on a 5 game winning streak.

But they’re playing the way the game should be played - suffocating defense that doesn’t allow much, forecheck and possession game....

Protecting a lead tonite, they allowed only 2 SOG in the 3rd (altho they did give up 2 PP goals earlier).

Teuvo - points in all 5 games.

Exciting team, exciting atmosphere - jealous of the way they play.
- StLBravesFan

doing with 2 castoff goalies and replacing faulk and dehaan with gardner and edmundson....fascinating...

and the sucky duckies of last year are 4-1...

Not trying to be too snarky here, but FLA is 1-2-1, and NYI are 1-3-0, and in the one game they won, NYI let up 36 shots. Just wondering, are Q and Trotz good or bad coaches.

OK, that’s a lot of snark, but still perspective is important. Let’s all try to have some.
- Chunk

Florida has a lot of talent. It is clear that their coach has an ineffective system. Who is the coach down there now, anyway?

Not trying to be too snarky here, but FLA is 1-2-1, and NYI are 1-3-0, and in the one game they won, NYI let up 36 shots. Just wondering, are Q and Trotz good or bad coaches.

OK, that’s a lot of snark, but still perspective is important. Let’s all try to have some.
- Chunk

ans let me add those leafs with the 50 million top 4...still can't play defense

https://www.nhl.com/news/...losing-streak/c-310000742

Foxy, do you think Sikura, Highmore and/or Wedin would help the Hawks PK? That problem remains on the to-do list, imo.
- mohel

Yes, I would think each of them could be good on the PK. Fresh legs, defensively aware, agile, relentless, enough offensive skill to not be one dimensional. And at least in Highmore's case, speed to burn.

doing with 2 castoff goalies and replacing faulk and dehaan with gardner and edmundson....fascinating...

and the sucky duckies of last year are 4-1...
- bogiedoc

Pesce and Hamilton (3 goals I think) round out the defensemen.

Yes, I would think each of them could be good on the PK. Fresh legs, defensively aware, agile, relentless, enough offensive skill to not be one dimensional. And at least in Highmore's case, speed to burn.
- AEL_Fox

Thanks. I don't think they can wait long to try something different on the PK. I'd waive Smith now and send him down (since he won't be claimed).

I don't buy this 4th line style, just do your job, that's all he has to do. Learn how to play defense it just takes (frank)ing heart and effort.
- BetweenTheDots

To be fair, you also need to be able to skate, recognize what the other team is doing and process that fast enough to negate it.

Hawks shoulda traded gust at the draft and got assets for him or traded him buffalo for nylander instead of joki. Plus he not going to get better at d all of sudden. Imo
My lines:
Caggulia towes kane
Dcat strome shaw
Saad kampf kubalik
Carpenter smith Perlini
Nylander x
Keith Murphy
Matta Seabrook
Dehaan koko
Gust
Lenher
Crow
This lineup is for Saturday and if it produces a win then keep the lineup. One question to the panel and Tyler what defensive system is the hawks running?

I can buy that argument.

For me, other factors to consider: whether a player on the 4th line has more to give, what is the defined role of any particular line, and how are minutes allocated.
- AEL_Fox

There is that but there are more minutes to be earned because the 4th line and 3rd line are auditions for 1st or 2nd line contributors, Kubalik was doing well and they wasted no time having him join 19 and 88 and i don't care what line you play on if you play your position well, defensively responsible with offensive contribution, there is more time to be had.

Yes, I would think each of them could be good on the PK. Fresh legs, defensively aware, agile, relentless, enough offensive skill to not be one dimensional. And at least in Highmore's case, speed to burn.
- AEL_Fox

I was pretty impressed with Wedin. He looked like he was somewhere in between 3C-4C in the preseason. Maybe he can make some noise down below and get called up.

To be fair, you also need to be able to skate, recognize what the other team is doing and process that fast enough to negate it.
- Chunk

That's fair it does require those as well but thre problem is he struggles with the first 2, like Gusto does

Not yet, for sure. But, how can they look good on the PK? JC has a system where guys are supposed to let in goals.
- mohel

But that's about overall fatigue control... let in a goal early and you don't have to play pk the full 2 minutes ... it's actually genius level time management.

But that's about overall fatigue control... let in a goal early and you don't have to play pk the full 2 minutes ... it's actually genius level time management.
- SC116

Hawks shoulda traded gust at the draft and got assets for him or traded him buffalo for nylander instead of joki. Plus he not going to get better at d all of sudden. Imo
My lines:
Caggulia towes kane
Dcat strome shaw
Saad kampf kubalik
Carpenter smith Perlini
Nylander x
Keith Murphy
Matta Seabrook
Dehaan koko
Gust
Lenher
Crow
This lineup is for Saturday and if it produces a win then keep the lineup. One question to the panel and Tyler what defensive system is the hawks running?
- Scott1977

Sorry Scott, I don’t think Gus is dropping out of the lineup anytime soon. He’s one of the only true puck movers in the team. Ideally he is stuck with 3rd pair minutes, but he’ll be in there.

There is that but there are more minutes to be earned because the 4th line and 3rd line are auditions for 1st or 2nd line contributors, Kubalik was doing well and they wasted no time having him join 19 and 88 and i don't care what line you play on if you play your position well, defensively responsible with offensive contribution, there is more time to be had.
- BetweenTheDots

Brings up an interesting question. Youth or experience in your bottom lines?

I feel like the 4th lines on a lot of top teams are not usually made up of the types that are auditioning to be top 6 contributors, but rather guys who understand what is needed/expected of them in that role and embrace it.

That’s why, I think sometimes it’s better to have veterans who’ve already realized they’re not gonna be stars in those roles...on the other hand the unbridled youth/enthusiasm of less proven guys can provide a contagious energy that the rest of the team feeds on.

Personally, I think I’d love to see a high energy 4th line made up of Kampf Caggiula and Highmore/Sikura. Smith and to lesser extent Carpenter are over IMO.

It's time to trade Gus for some forward depth and call up Boqvist to pair with de Haan on the third unit.

Winnipeg needs a defenseman terribly... come on Stan, make it happen!

Brings up an interesting question. Youth or experience in your bottom lines?

I feel like the 4th lines on a lot of top teams are not usually made up of the types that are auditioning to be top 6 contributors, but rather guys who understand what is needed/expected of them in that role and embrace it.

That’s why, I think sometimes it’s better to have veterans in those roles who’ve already realized they’re not gonna be stars ...on the other hand the unbridled youth/enthusiasm of less proven guys can provide a contagious energy that the rest of the team feeds on.

Personally, I think I’d love to see a high energy 4th line made up of Kampf Caggiula and Highmore/Sikura. Smith and to lesser extent Carpenter are over IMO.
- Ogilthorpe2

Your description brings to mind Darth's guy. Not Cole, the other one. Frolik has followed that path, imo.

To be fair, you also need to be able to skate, recognize what the other team is doing and process that fast enough to negate it.
- Chunk

At least in the case of Carpenter, I can see that he can do most of what you described but he just seems to be one gear too slow to react effectively. I think he processes the game fine and knows what to do but the legs just don't get him from A to B quick enough to have maximum impact.

At least in the case of Carpenter, I can see that he can do most of what you described but he just seems to be one gear too slow to react effectively. I think he processes the game fine and knows what to do but the legs just don't get him from A to B quick enough to have maximum impact.
- AEL_Fox

If only Carpenter had hands, that puck finds him constantly but once he has it he struggles so much with it.

I was pretty impressed with Wedin. He looked like he was somewhere in between 3C-4C in the preseason. Maybe he can make some noise down below and get called up.
- Chunk

My gut is that Colliton's preferences for first call-ups will be Nilsson and Wedin. I'm with you that Wedin would be a solid call-up choice give how he played in camp and pre-season.

Nilsson, though, just doesn't do it for me. I know he got Hogs MVP last season but he's really not that skilled especially with this year's Rockford roster with more highly touted prospects to replace plugs like Knott and Noel.

Sikura and Highmore can bring more, IMO.

Brings up an interesting question. Youth or experience in your bottom lines?

I feel like the 4th lines on a lot of top teams are not usually made up of the types that are auditioning to be top 6 contributors, but rather guys who understand what is needed/expected of them in that role and embrace it.

That’s why, I think sometimes it’s better to have veterans who’ve already realized they’re not gonna be stars in those roles...on the other hand the unbridled youth/enthusiasm of less proven guys can provide a contagious energy that the rest of the team feeds on.

Personally, I think I’d love to see a high energy 4th line made up of Kampf Caggiula and Highmore/Sikura. Smith and to lesser extent Carpenter are over IMO.
- Ogilthorpe2

Like Rick said, it's just a matter of time the Rockford shuttle starts making its rounds. Honestly i don't think it'll be long we see the kids on the 4th line.

If only Carpenter had hands, that puck finds him constantly but once he has it he struggles so much with it.
- BetweenTheDots

Exactly.

If only Carpenter had hands, that puck finds him constantly but once he has it he struggles so much with it.
- BetweenTheDots

If only my grandmother had balls, she'd have been my grandfather!