Travis Yost: Guessing the Forwards

Yost, you forgetting about Chaisson?

Yost, you forgetting about Chaisson?
- SENSation87

Yes, actually. He's in now.

(This team has too many forwards.)

Here's the problem with Both of these lineups regarding the 2nd line

there is no playmaker on either of them

Legwand, Zibby, Chiasson, Michalek.. non of these guys makes plays

Stone seems like he would be ideal on Line 2, since he's the only guy not on the first line, and not named Karlsson/Wiercioch, who actually has vision



No matter what happens, I think the best line we could put together aside from Line 1 would be:

Hoffman-Zibanejad-Stone

those 3 would rip it up on line 2 or 3

Travis Yost: Guessing the Forwards
- Travis Yost

The Smith, Greening and Neil combination has to go. Far too often last year, PMac would put this line on after we had scored a goal and they would literally be momentum killers for us. I like Smith as a fourth line centre. Neil's days are numbered and I was never a big fan of the Greening extension. An extension given due to his "career" year with Spezza and some decent play in a playoff series. For the fastest player on the team, he looks unbelievably slow at times. I think this has more to do with an ability to think the game. Greening is taking away playing time for others in the system. I wonder if he falters at the beginning, if the Sens would put him on waivers or does the budget come into play. In the end, that trio scares me.

Here's the problem with Both of these lineups regarding the 2nd line

there is no playmaker on either of them

Legwand, Zibby, Chiasson, Michalek.. non of these guys makes plays

Stone seems like he would be ideal on Line 2, since he's the only guy not on the first line, and not named Karlsson/Wiercioch, who actually has vision



No matter what happens, I think the best line we could put together aside from Line 1 would be:

Hoffman-Zibanejad-Stone

those 3 would rip it up on line 2 or 3
- conor_smythe

This line has a nice combination of everything: youth, playmaking, scoring, speed and defensive zone coverage. It has potential.

This line has a nice combination of everything: youth, playmaking, scoring, speed and defensive zone coverage. It has potential.
- van halen

AND its super obvious... But I doubt Maclean sees it

It would be disappointing to see any lineup configuration that didn't acknowledge that the development of Turris and Zibanejad is the priority for this team's centre ice situation, and that Legwand is there to support that development by picking up whatever tough minutes they can't handle. Whether that means he or Zibanejad winds up playing more of a 2nd line role isn't the point - the real point is that if Smith is stealing minutes from any of those 3 players, it's a bad decision.

The other big question is how to resolve the 14-forward situation... there's been no end of debate on here about who might be the odd-man out of such a numbers game, and I found it interesting that both of these proposed lines have Chiasson on the 2nd line (which I personally agree with)... but of course that's speculation until we see who looks best at training camp.

Hopefully those Chicago rumours persist about their interest in some of our checking line depth... because otherwise one of the team's good young players is going to get caught without a chair when the music stops.

It would be disappointing to see any lineup configuration that didn't acknowledge that the development of Turris and Zibanejad is the priority for this team's centre ice situation, and that Legwand is there to support that development by picking up whatever tough minutes they can't handle. Whether that means he or Zibanejad winds up playing more of a 2nd line role isn't the point - the real point is that if Smith is stealing minutes from any of those 3 players, it's a bad decision.

The other big question is how to resolve the 14-forward situation... there's been no end of debate on here about who might be the odd-man out of such a numbers game, and I found it interesting that both of these proposed lines have Chiasson on the 2nd line (which I personally agree with)... but of course that's speculation until we see who looks best at training camp.

Hopefully those Chicago rumours persist about their interest in some of our checking line depth... because otherwise one of the team's good young players is going to get caught without a chair when the music stops.
- khawk

Turris is 25... development time is pretty much over for him.

MacArthur - Turris - Ryan
Michalek - Zibby - Stone
Chiasson - Legwand - Lazar
Hoffman - Smith - Neil
(Condra)

I think Greening gets traded. For what I don't know. Or care.

Turris is 25... development time is pretty much over for him.
- DoubleDown

Not when you're about to be a top line centre for the first time in your career it isn't. Call it an adjustment period if you prefer, but there's a major step involved in transitioning from a good second line player to a player that's expected to produce every night against the other team's best players. Personally, I think Turris can handle it, but it doesn't mean that it will happen right away, or that having Legwand around to help take care of some of the tougher assignments isn't important.

Not when you're about to be a top line centre for the first time in your career it isn't. Call it an adjustment period if you prefer, but there's a major step involved in transitioning from a good second line player to a player that's expected to produce every night against the other team's best players. Personally, I think Turris can handle it, but it doesn't mean that it will happen right away, or that having Legwand around to help take care of some of the tougher assignments isn't important.
- khawk

What if he can't handle it?

The second line up grouping works significantly better. I feel considering the way Melnyk has created a ceiling on this teams potential we have to focus on the younger guys. Zibanejad, stone and Hoffman (maybe Lazar too) need to be put in positions to be successful. Greening has been put in that position the last few years and hasn't excelled. He is not a top 6 winger, end of story. Maybe Greening can have a redemption year but let him do that with limited minutes.

I think scoring could potentially be rough this season. It's a lot of what ifs. I don't think one sens fan is worried about the first line. I also don't think one sens fan is confident about any second line though. I see legwand and zibanejad will battle for that 2nd line C slot but it will come down to who gels with Michalek. I feel that could easily be either centre.

The bottom 6 I'm not worried about as it will either be filled with the mediocre Neil, condra, greening or feature young guys who will need to learn a lot. So really the focus on any combination of lines will focus on the RW slot behind Bobby Ryan. Who could gel with Michalek and legwand/zibanejad is it Chaisson or stone?

I see Chiasson having a great season this year but maybe Michalek playing with zibanejad and stone is the best way to go this season. I think sens are strong down the middle so all lines should be okay. But ok won't make the playoffs. With all that said here are the lines I hope to see

MacArthur-turris-Ryan
Michalek-zibanejad-stone
Hoffman-legwand-chaisson
Greening-smith-Neil/condra
(Lazar cracking the line up could make condra expendable)

Not when you're about to be a top line centre for the first time in your career it isn't. Call it an adjustment period if you prefer, but there's a major step involved in transitioning from a good second line player to a player that's expected to produce every night against the other team's best players. Personally, I think Turris can handle it, but it doesn't mean that it will happen right away, or that having Legwand around to help take care of some of the tougher assignments isn't important.
- khawk

Love Turris. He is the kind of player that gets evaluated as much for what he does in his own end as he does on the score sheet. Even though Bergeron is the 2nd leading center on the Bruins behind Krecji everyone knows which player is the more valuable to the team.

Kane Zibanejad Ryan

MacArthur Turris Stone

Michalek Legwand Chiasson

Greening Smith Condra

I think you have to put Zbad on the second line. Legwand was a great signing for the sens and I can understand them wanting his experience and leadership in a more prominent role but the facts are that he is better suited as a great 3rd liner and Zbad needs his ice to help him develop now. I am glad you didnt try to fit stone or hoffman on the 1st and make an argument that either belong there, not sure what some sens fans are smoking but this was a little refreshing

What if he can't handle it?
- ClarksonDavid

It's certainly not a guarantee that he will - and frankly, the answer could wind up being some kind of 2A/2B/2C lineup configuration for the coming year... just like shortly after the Yashin trade they had that Bonk/White/Fisher thing going on for while, until Spezza eventually took the reins. That said, the Bonk/White/Fisher thing was enough to win a President's Trophy and nearly make the Stanley Cup Finals... so it's not like all hope is necessarily lost if Turris doesn't immediately succeed in that role.

In fact, I get the sense that the team is actually hoping that Zibanejad will be the one to step into the top line role eventually - which is in part based on comments that Murray has made about both players. If this is legitimately the case, then I don't really see how they could possibly have Zibanejad centring the 4th line - as opposed to kind of a 2B role with Legwand, where he gets a good number of offensive zone looks and PP time, but have Turris and Legwand deal with some of the harder two-way responsibilities.

It's certainly not a guarantee that he will - and frankly, the answer could wind up being some kind of 2A/2B/2C lineup configuration for the coming year... just like shortly after the Yashin trade they had that Bonk/White/Fisher thing going on for while, until Spezza eventually took the reins. That said, the Bonk/White/Fisher thing was enough to win a President's Trophy and nearly make the Stanley Cup Finals... so it's not like all hope is necessarily lost if Turris doesn't immediately succeed in that role.

In fact, I get the sense that the team is actually hoping that Zibanejad will be the one to step into the top line role eventually - which is in part based on comments that Murray has made about both players. If this is legitimately the case, then I don't really see how they could possibly have Zibanejad centring the 4th line - as opposed to kind of a 2B role with Legwand, where he gets a good number of offensive zone looks and PP time, but have Turris and Legwand deal with some of the harder two-way responsibilities.
- khawk

Murray when asked if he thought Turris would succeed Spezza in the role of #1 center, he said "no." He thought Zibanejad would take up that role. But that cannot happen unless Murray adds another top 6 forward. He needs a Kane or a Sharp or comparable available player to expand the top 6. Zibanejad can handle the defensive responsibilities very well. Can he produce like a top first line center?

What if he can't handle it?
- ClarksonDavid

Then we drink.

What if he can't handle it?
- ClarksonDavid

then mcdavid can

Zibanejad can handle the defensive responsibilities very well. Can he produce like a top first line center?
- spatso

I'm not nearly as confident that Zibanejad is ready for that significant a role - he had sheltered minutes last year, took less than 1/3 of the faceoffs of any of the other 3 regular centres, and had the 3rd worst +/- on the team. If anything, I actually have more faith in his ability to improve his offensive numbers this year with more ice time and power play opportunity than I do in his ability to suddenly triple his number of faceoffs taken, and line-up effectively every night against the other teams' best players.

Turris, MacArthur, Michalek, Ryan, Legwand, Smith, Chaisson, Stone, Zibanejad, Greening, Hoffman, Neil, Condra

That's the order of average ice time last year. I see Chaisson/Stone either playing on the 2nd/3rd lines. Legwand likely 2nd line center (at least opening night)

MacArthur - Turris - Ryan
Michalek - Legwand - Chiasson / Stone
Condra - Zibanejad - Stone / Chiasson
Greening - Smith - Neil

Anderson better have a dream season or it will be a long winter in Kanata...

Anderson better have a dream season or it will be a long winter in Kanata...
- fidopro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QeYIsG2CjY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmcYudNNy5A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsWi_SKR8Ao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usA4A9FsSDc

This is a solid 4-line team, minus Neil and Greening.
It can most definitely make the Playoffs.

mac-turris-ryan
milo-leggy-zib
hoff-laz-chess/stone
green-smith-neil/con