Armchair GM Thread 2024-25

[Guilt Trip]

Why is it unfathomable to try the core 4 over 3 lines and see how it goes?

Here are the pairs I would like to see over 3 lines:

Matthews-Domi
Tavares-Nylander
Kampf-Marner

I am not convinced they need help up front without trying the core 4 over 3. We're halfway through the season, let's try. I believe Kampf is underutilized.

Kampf and Marner are great at PKing. Kampf doesn't have the offensive chops to play with Marner.

 

[Andy007]

Kampf and Marner are great at PKing. Kampf doesn't have the offensive chops to play with Marner.

Furthermore, I'd also think you'd want to mix the better defensive players along those lines. Domi with Matthews works, but Nylander-Tavares is a mess in the defensive zone. Putting Marner with Tavares and Nylander with Kampf imo would work alot better

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Why is it unfathomable to try the core 4 over 3 lines and see how it goes?

Here are the pairs I would like to see over 3 lines:

Matthews-Domi
Tavares-Nylander
Kampf-Marner

I am not convinced they need help up front without trying the core 4 over 3. We're halfway through the season, let's try. I believe Kampf is underutilized.

Marner's 4th in the league in points. You can't play him with a 4th line centre who's on pace for 15 points this season, you just can't.

I'm all for wanting to spread things out over 4 lines, but I think the team still needs an additional piece somewhere to make that work.

 

[cabber24]

Marner's 4th in the league in points. You can't play him with a 4th line centre who's on pace for 15 points this season, you just can't.

I'm all for wanting to spread things out over 4 lines, but I think the team still needs an additional piece somewhere to make that work.

Except maybe he's not a 4th line center. It's all they ever asked of him. He usually puts up points internationally when given more of an opportunity and it's not about how many points any one player gets, it's about winning a Stanley Cup.

I don't give a shit about how many regular season points a Marner gets. I really mean this, who cares about how many points the core gets, let's win!

 

[herman]

Furthermore, I'd also think you'd want to mix the better defensive players along those lines. Domi with Matthews works, but Nylander-Tavares is a mess in the defensive zone. Putting Marner with Tavares and Nylander with Kampf imo would work alot better

Kampf is underrated offensively, but this is absolutely correct. Marner can drive play but he needs a finisher (or at least a credible threat that opens up Marner's own shot). Kampf complements Nylander's complete offensive skillset more readily (just break a cycle and scoot the puck to the middle of the NZ for Nylander to swoop through).

I think McMann-x-Nylander can succeed in a playoff softer matchup, as long as the centre is fast enough and not a complete defensive liability.
Tavares-Marner is a very credible shutdown duo (as long as the opposing forward line is not MacKinnon/McDavid fast).
Knies-Matthews-Domi is a bit of a wildcard defensively, but should be able to cook in the OZ.