Best 1-2 center combo in the NHL

[McCabe24 0]

Stajan needs to have a huge year, more minutes and playing center should help but if he isn't a solid two way player who puts up points then we are finished.

[willc7786 0]

As far as using injurys to get guys off the cap, teams are already abusing it. The Islanders are trying to get Snow off the cap by claiming his knees would have forced him to retire regardless. I doubt it, but then again anyone who saw the game (I was there) where he injuries both knees on the same play, and the subsequint horrendous season he had after that, might not disagree.

Anyways, I think the majority says Thornton/Marleau for 1-2 centers, and I don't many would disagree with Pronger/Niedermayer for 1-2 defenseman...so who is the best 1-2 combo on the wing?

[TBLfan 25]

It's ok, TBL. I made excuses for the Rangers for 7 years.

lol... you bastard! :P

[Eazy_b97 1]

Anyways, I think the majority says Thornton/Marleau for 1-2 centers, and I don't many would disagree with Pronger/Niedermayer for 1-2 defenseman...so who is the best 1-2 combo on the wing?

Same lines or split up?

Same lines: Heatley/Alfie

Different lines: Kovalchuk/Hossa

[willc7786 0]

I left it open because I couldn't decide which :lol:

I agree with both of yours, though I'd pick Ovechkin and whoever, if the whoever was even halfway decent

[kosydar 0]

Thats the idea I am getting from Maurice's hints. It's looking like similar lines to last season for the start of camp. Roughly:

Antro - Sundin - Poni

Tucker - Welly - Kilger

Steen - Stajan - O'Neil

Belak - Peca - Ondrus/Williams/Newburry

The Steen and Welly line are like semi 2nd lines or semi 3rd lins. Peca used as checking, the other 3 as scoring. Maurice has hinted the first unit will start the same as it ended. He appears to like Belak as a checker and Peca isn't much more so I fired them together.

I think this season's forward lines are all dependent upon O'Neill. If he shows up in good shape, has a good camp, and shows the team that he wants to be the 30+ goal scorer he used to be, he'll be on Sundin's line. If he decides to do the opposite, he'll be on the third line.

My problem with your line up is Peca. Now that I've changed my mind and am excited for him to be on our team I think we need to utilize him properly. The forward line up we have now is not one that can roll 3 scoring lines deep. We cannot expect Peca to score a lot of points for us, and until he proves otherwise, same goes for Antropov. Put those two with Stajan on the third line to play against the other team's top line. That line has lots of speed, some size, and is very good defensively. Having Peca play on the 4th line is basically worthless seeing as how I've read multiple articles discussing how he will probably roll 3 main lines.

My other issue is Stajan. Ideally I'd like to have him play center, but I can't see how that will work. Sundin and Peca are locks for center, and I think Wellwood is better up the middle than Stajan. He has too much offense and potential to play on the 4th line. Stajan's size shouldn't be as much of a problem for him on the wing, seeing as hes gained 20 pounds this off season. Stajan will benefit greatly from playing with Peca, and hopefully he can pick up his style of play.

So for me that leaves...

Steen-Sundin-O'Neill

Tucker-Welly-Poni

Stajan-Peca-Antropov

Kilger-Pohl-Batagla/Ondrus/Belak

[Eazy_b97 1]

My idea lines would be closer to yours, I'm just stating what Maurice has hinted. I want to see

the same first 2 lines, then

Kilger - Peca - Pohl

Antropov - Stajan - Battaglia/Williams/Westrum

Stajan plays much better as a Center than as a winger. Rumours of him for Erat to give us another winger though.

[kosydar 0]

You're right in that Stajan is a much better center than wing, which is a problem. I don't see him getting quality time at center in the near future on anything above the third line. I heard that Erat rumor as well. I don't know how I feel about it though. It makes sense for both teams; Toronto has too many centers, Nashville has too many wingers. I'd hate to give up Stajan, but I'd rather let him go than Welly or Steen. I'd love to package Antropov and Telly for Erat, but A. I don't see Nashville biting on that one and B. it doesn't solve our 4 centers for 3 line problem.

[mack 44]

This has morphed into a discussion about Toronto and they don't have a good 1-2 anything, let alone something close to dominant.

[Meathead 0]

Best contre combos in NHL (sort of in order):

Thornton - Marleau

Richards - Lecavalier

Zetterberg - Datsyuk (when Zetts plays C)

Drury - Briere

Staal - Brind-Amour

Crosby - Malkin

Modano - Lindros

Legwand - Arnott

Forsberg - Carter/Richards/Primeau

Sedin - Morrison

Bergeron - Savard

Spezza - Fisher

Koivu - Ribiero

Sundin - Peca

[mack 44]

Best contre combos in NHL (sort of in order):

Crosby - Malkin

Modano - Lindros

Legwand - Arnott

Spezza - Fisher

Koivu - Ribiero

F-

[Meathead 0]

Best contre combos in NHL (sort of in order):

Crosby - Malkin

Modano - Lindros

Legwand - Arnott

Spezza - Fisher

Koivu - Ribiero

F-

What would that make Sutherby and Beech?

[mack 44]

Not that those guys are Fs, just the order you had them in. I mean come on...Legwand? He doesn't belong on anything with the word "best" in it.

[stick9 891]

Obviously Thornton/Marleau get the top spot.

I'd go with Brindy/Staal as my second choice. With Vinny/Richards as my third.

Until Malkin puts up some NHL points I can't rank him anywhere near the rest of the pack. Vermette/Spezza could be a decent duo down the road.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Who has better speed, Malkin or Crosby?  I'm pretty sure it's Malkin, but not sure.  Point is, I think the faster should be at the wing so they can make a break for it if they get the chance.

From what I saw during the olympics of Malkin and what I saw of the season in Pittsburgh, Crosby is faster/quicker

Believe me, Malkin is faster, he just seems slower because he's so tall.

[slaw 1]

Thats the idea I am getting from Maurice's hints. It's looking like similar lines to last season for the start of camp. Roughly:

Antro - Sundin - Poni

Tucker - Welly - Kilger

Steen - Stajan - O'Neil

Belak - Peca - Ondrus/Williams/Newburry

The Steen and Welly line are like semi 2nd lines or semi 3rd lins. Peca used as checking, the other 3 as scoring. Maurice has hinted the first unit will start the same as it ended. He appears to like Belak as a checker and Peca isn't much more so I fired them together.

I'm not a Leafs fan but living in Southern Ontario 45 minutes from the ACC they're naturally a favourite and if Maurice shafts Peca all the way to 4th with the likes of Belak....I'm just gonna leave it at that. Belaks a scary guy i'll give him that but Peca has skill when he works.......I;m hoping it's

Antro-sundin-Tucker

Steen-Peca-Ondrus

O'neils a waste of money so I dont want to carry this on any further...didn't Sundin and Tucker play together and produce not to long ago?

[Eazy_b97 1]

Sundin produced much better with Antro and Poni than he did with Tucker and Steen/Kilger.

Peca's effective, but only in a checking role. His greatest value will be on the PK. I'd like to see him on a pure checking line, but not sure what that will look like right now. At this point I essentially kept the lines from last seasons 12-1-0 run (which has been hinted) and tossed together some new guys.

O'Neill bummed up his shoulder in game #1 and was in the dog house for reasons I don't really understand from then on in. I expect him to have a bounceback year being healthy. He had a good start to the season and a good camp last year, then as the season wore on his shoulder got worse.

[kosydar 0]

You could have put you and me out with Sundin during the 12-1 run and he'd still have produced the same. The fact of the matter is that Sundin was the best player in the NHL during that period of time and he made Antro and Poni better. I have no problem putting those three on a line together during camp and preseason and seeing how things are. But I think there are two important actions that need to be taken this year. First off, Antro and Poni need to become individuals. Their chemistry isn't as great as everyone says it is, and the tandem needs to be broken up if it comes down to it. Poni showed great offensive improvement last year and I think he is a solid candidate for the first line. But Antro shouldn't be an automatic lock on whatever line Poni's on. Secondly I think this year the focus needs to be on turning Antro into a defensive minded player. It sucks that such a high draft pick hasn't turned into a 30 goal scorer, but he is still a great defensive player. I can see him becoming a Kilger-like player if he wasn't expected to score.

[McCabe24 0]

I read today that they would try Poni and Steen with Sundin off the bat and go from there. Antropov is fine as a third or fourth line player, depending on what they do with the abundance of natural centers.

[shute 4]

You could have put you and me out with Sundin during the 12-1 run and he'd still have produced the same. The fact of the matter is that Sundin was the best player in the NHL during that period of time and he made Antro and Poni better. I have no problem putting those three on a line together during camp and preseason and seeing how things are. But I think there are two important actions that need to be taken this year. First off, Antro and Poni need to become individuals. Their chemistry isn't as great as everyone says it is, and the tandem needs to be broken up if it comes down to it. Poni showed great offensive improvement last year and I think he is a solid candidate for the first line. But Antro shouldn't be an automatic lock on whatever line Poni's on. Secondly I think this year the focus needs to be on turning Antro into a defensive minded player. It sucks that such a high draft pick hasn't turned into a 30 goal scorer, but he is still a great defensive player. I can see him becoming a Kilger-like player if he wasn't expected to score.

i'm SO sick of your leafs fans... STOP forcing the rest of canada to watch your stupid games! :P

[Chadd 916]

You could have put you and me out with Sundin during the 12-1 run and he'd still have produced the same. The fact of the matter is that Sundin was the best player in the NHL during that period of time and he made Antro and Poni better.

Look at what Kilger did when he played with Mats.

[kosydar 0]

Kilger actually led the team in even strength goals last year. I still don't think he should be on the first line though. Playing him with Mats instead of guys like O'Neill and Steen, guys who you want to contribute offensively, was one of Quinn's downfalls. You could play a Kilger, someone with medicore offensive talent with him and get 20 goals, or you could play an O'Neill, Steen, or Poni and get 30+ goals. Plus Kilger has the defensive side of the game down far better than those three, which makes him more valuable on the 3rd line.

[Chadd 916]

Sorry Kosy, I was just trying to back up the point that Mats can make anyone look good. Kilger is a third line guy, no doubt. I'm just waiting for them to get another first line guy to play with Mats, I'm not sold on O'Neill at all. I'd rather see Mats with kids who might have some touch.

[kosydar 0]

I don't see them getting a good first line winger UFA within the next couple of years strictly because of the amount they tied up on the blueline this off season. The only way it can happen is if they develop one in Steen or Poni. I hate to say it but I think the offense for the season relies on O'Neill. If he can actually return to form and get 30+ goals then we have some kind of depth up front. If not and Antropov and Poni are put on Mats' wings, then we have very little offensive depth. I was never as down on O'Neill as most Leafs fans seemed to be. He usually got 3rd or 4th line minutes and he was even scratched a couple games. Yet he still managed 19 goals. 30 from him playing on the top 2 lines isn't a stretch at all.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I want to see Welly and Steen on Mats Wings. Camp starts today so I'm hoping to get some Line combos in a little bit.