#1 Line.....seriously this time!

[firefly118]

 I was the one who thought Jake would be gone and that Hitch didn't care for him.  So this really surprises me, but to me it seems more and more likely.

Juice has a lot of talent, and did well setting up Nash, but his lack of scoring production doesn't mesh well on a #1 line.  This has gotten him in Hitch's dog house a little, and after reading comments from Hitch, seeing the transition into a big strong dude who has stepped it up a notch, I can see Jake replacing him.

Filatov is the real kicker here, just not sure whats up!  He has turned it up a little lately, but really hasn't popped on the scene like I thought he would.  I am just not sure where he is going to fit (but I know he is going to fit somewhere).  #1 line, no where close right now, #2 line, not really up to speed as a top 6 guy on this team yet, #3 line, but its a checking line...right?  This is where I am at, what do you think now?

Nash - Brass - Voracek
Ummy - Vermette - Juice
Filatov - Pahlsonn - Chimera  (2 strong checkers with speed and a flashy scorer)
Torres - Dorsett - Picard

Where do Mackenzie, Blunden, Boll, and Mayorov fit in?  Their play have earned some time also.

[CanadianJacketsFan]

Filatov won't get it done on that line.

He needs a player with vision like Voracek or Juice to feed him passes, Chimera has hands of stone, and the most assists Palhson has had in a regular NHL season is 14.

[firefly118]

Filatov on line #1 or #2, over who then???  Are you saying he is better or has earned it over the top 6?

Line 3 is not the optimum line I agree, but you start somewhere (like Jake did).  Adding his scoring threat to a prodominately checking line might just be a big bonus.

You (and I know Tusk will chime in soon for his guy) are commenting more from feelings and what you think could happen, and not from what is actually staring you in the face.  Nik will be a good player and scorer, but he isn't a top 6 guy yet.  I know it is early and we haven't even played the regular season yet, but can you say that Nik is ahead of where Jake was at this time last year.....no way, and Jake only got 10-12 minutes a game from line #3.

[puckhogg]

fly has a point about filatov not earning his spot in the top 6 yet,but then again none of us are there everyday to see what is happening...i think in the back of scotty and hitch's mind there is the fear that if he doesn't make the big club this year out of camp that there is a risk of him going back to mother russia...i'm not saying there has been a threat made,i'm just saying there is a fear of losing this extrodianry offensively gifted player....

if hogg was the coach i would think about rolling out a third scoring line.....

[CHUNKBOX]

i dont see much of a threat of him NOT MAKING the team out of camp... i do howerver see him on line 3 to start... then we shall see what happens... but knocking anyone out of the top 6 would be ultra hard in my thinking... 

[CanadianJacketsFan]

I'd rather see Filatov on a line like this

Filatov-Murray-Mayorov/Dorsett

[King_Voracek93]

I like the sound of....

Nash-Vermette-Voracek
Filatov-Brassard-Huselius
Umberger-Pahlsonn-Chimera
Torres-Dorsett-Mayorov

[CanadianJacketsFan]

i like those lines, but with Murray as 4th line C and Dorsett/Mayorov playing RW

[CBJfan14]

i dont like umberger being down on that third line. he is a guy who can really score and putting him out there with pahlsonn and chimmer takes a lot of that away. i agree with fly when he says that RIGHT NOW Filatov is not in our top 2 lines. that is nothing against him and i think he will be there eventually. He is gonna start off just like jake did and people will be bitching about his lack of minutes. he will be 3rd/4th line and be seeing 12 minutes for a while.

[CanadianJacketsFan]

he might not even start on the 3rd line

[firefly118]

I don't think there is enough credit given to Umberger!  All this guy did was come in and be an immediate leader on/off the ice.  Stood up for all the guys in tough situations, took the hard hits, did what ever needed to be done each night (goals, assist, defense, fight) and showed the most heart.  And this guy should be on a third line getting about 12 minutes a game?????  I can't go along with that one!

[CBJfan14]

thats what i'm sayin!!!   Umberger is one of our best offensive players... like it or not. He is a 1st/2nd line guy on this team. it is Filatov who will start out getting 12 minutes or so.

he belongs out there on the ice a lot to score some goals. and NOT from the blueline Fly  haha.

[firefly118]

But the point of the earlier comments was in the argument of everyone (including myself) about how many good players and how few spots.  Realistically, the best move would be to package about 3 guys and a pick and get an offensive D guy......but will it happen at this point????

All things being equal, Umberger would log more minutes from the defensive spot per game, and his leadership would be very valuable.  And who says a guy from the blueline can't be involved a little more in the scoring.

[CanadianJacketsFan]

Isn't it a great feeling that we are all bickering over the fact that we have to many good players to know what to do with them? hah

[CHUNKBOX]

this is all SCOTT HOWSENS fault... he went and made our team better dammit were not used to it yet... lol