Should be:
Tlusty - Staal - Semin
Skinner - Staal - Dwyer/Bowman
Jokinen - Nash - Dwyer/Bowman
LaRose - Brent - Wallace

2/28/2013 12:15:47 PM

Ah yes, legendary 9 goals 9 assists in 86 games Drayson Bowman and 25 goals 25 assists in 242 games Pat Dwyer. The Chad LaRose hate has gotten so ridiculously over the top. LaRose has had a tough start to the season but he's a good fit for that line.

[Edited on February 28, 2013 at 12:19 PM. Reason : .]

2/28/2013 12:18:25 PM

Ah yes, legendary since it's now popular to hate on Chad "look how fast my legs move I must be moving really fast" LaRose, better start defending him. You need guys like him in the locker room, but what does he bring to that line? Dwyer at least adds some defensive responsibility and forechecking to open J.Staal up offensively, Bowman brings... ehh... speed?

The most frustrating thing for me with LaRose is he's usually in pretty solid position (offensively) but lacks the skill to finish just about anything. Also needs to hit up Gordon Bombay to learn how to pass.

[Edited on February 28, 2013 at 12:44 PM. Reason : .]

2/28/2013 12:41:36 PM

His shooting percentage last season was 9.5%, tied with Jeff Skinner and in between Brandon Sutter (9.9%) and Eric Staal (9.2%).

People get so up in arms about coaches constantly playing LaRose on the first line that they exaggerate how bad of a player he is. LaRose plays a similar role to Dwyer but is just a flat out more talented player.

2/28/2013 1:48:55 PM

I've been hating on LaRose since 2007, but it's silly to say he doesn't have ANY skill. I won't bother looking up the numbers, but blah-blah-blah OHL he's got some hands.

2/28/2013 2:07:35 PM

Dancing Granny passed away

2/28/2013 2:15:52 PM

Ah yes, because LaRose hasn't played a lot more minutes in a lot more games (and on lines with better talent) than Dwyer/Bowman. Those guys (especially Dwyer) have spent most of their time playing on checking lines while LaRose has spent most of his on scoring lines (and a good bit on the powerplay), which would likely have a big affect on his numbers. See also: Tlusty, Jiri.

Quote :

"The most frustrating thing for me with LaRose is he's usually in pretty solid position (offensively) but lacks the skill to finish just about anything. "

This.

2/28/2013 2:20:54 PM

Pat Dwyer played more minutes last season than Chad LaRose. Are people really arguing that Pat Dwyer has some offensive upside? He has consistently played on checking lines because he is a checking line player, and that is all he will ever be in the NHL. LaRose has played a lot on scoring lines because we have consistently had shit depth at forward and someone had to play there. Obviously neither of them should be in the top 6 ideally, but someone has to be, and LaRose has an offensive upside to his game that Dwyer has never displayed at any point in his professional career.

As for Bowman, there's more of an argument to be made there. He's got a great shot and is still young, so there's still some hope that he could pull a Tlusty. So far this season he hasn't shown it, though. He's gotten ample time in the top 6 (more than LaRose) and just hasn't really done anything with it.

2/28/2013 2:44:50 PM

Slacking on page pics.



[Edited on February 28, 2013 at 2:58 PM. Reason : F]

2/28/2013 2:56:17 PM

page red x

2/28/2013 2:57:42 PM

When we're debating if Dwyer OR LaRose is more/less deserving of a top 6 role, that speaks to a top 6 problem, not a "who's better" discussion

2/28/2013 3:03:33 PM

Very true, but that might not be a problem if any of the following things were true:

1) If Ruutu wasn't injured
2) If we had an actual 3rd line center
3) If Jokinen was not playing like utter shit this season

Plus, many coaches prefer to spread the offense out across three lines.

2/28/2013 3:10:04 PM

Point me to where anyone claims Dwyer is some offensive juggernaut? I told you the role he'd play on that line and you spit out some shit about shooting %? I guess Brent and Stewart were our best offensive players last year.

Dwyer is not a top 6 forward on any team, but I'll take him over LaRose on that line

[Edited on February 28, 2013 at 3:21 PM. Reason : .]

2/28/2013 3:21:16 PM

2/28/2013 3:42:42 PM

You said Chad LaRose "lacks the skill to finish just about anything" even though he scores a decent amount of goals and has a comparable shooting percentage to star players.

2/28/2013 3:45:15 PM

Quote :

"Pat Dwyer played more minutes last season than Chad LaRose."

False. 73 games @ 15:22 per is actually (very) slightly less than 67 games @ 16:46 per.

Quote :

"You said Chad LaRose "lacks the skill to finish just about anything" even though he scores a decent amount of goals and has a comparable shooting percentage to star players."

I'll give you the decent amount of goals, but "comparable shooting percentage to star players"? Come on. Here are some career numbers:
Semin: 13.8%
Brent: 13.1%
Jokinen: 12.9%
J. Staal: 12.9%
Skinner: 12%
Tlusty: 12%
E. Staal: 11.2%
Dalpe: 9.1%
LaRose: 8.6%
Wallace: 7.4%
Dwyer: 7.2%
Bowman: 5.7%
Westgarth: 2.8% (lol)

Quote :

"When we're debating if Dwyer OR LaRose is more/less deserving of a top 6 role, that speaks to a top 6 problem, not a "who's better" discussion"

Very true. Please come back soon, Ruutu.

2/28/2013 4:53:51 PM

Well that's what I get for taking the lazy way out and using last season's numbers

2/28/2013 5:15:53 PM

Agree to disagree, sir.

On the plus side, at least we're to the point we can argue the 2nd line and no longer have to worry about the 1st (until they put LaRose up there again).

[Edited on February 28, 2013 at 7:00 PM. Reason : .]

2/28/2013 6:55:18 PM

Quote :

"You said Chad LaRose "lacks the skill to finish just about anything" even though he scores a decent amount of goals and has a comparable shooting percentage to star players."

9.5% shooting huh... Impressive. Makes you think that every ten times he rips one, he gets a goal.

...Until you remember that completely missing the net is not factored in there.

2/28/2013 6:58:11 PM

2/28/2013 8:42:58 PM

I like when my favorite hockey team is healthy and firing on all cylinders

I especially like the 1st line

2/28/2013 8:43:17 PM

Tlustyyyyyyyyyy

2/28/2013 8:54:56 PM

RIP http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/02/28/2715665/dancin-granny-a-fan-favorite-at.html

2/28/2013 9:39:54 PM

Pens have one of the best power play units in the country?

thanks, Chantel

2/28/2013 9:41:51 PM

Wish there was better/more complete video of Harrison laying out Bortuzzo

[Edited on February 28, 2013 at 10:42 PM. Reason : a]

2/28/2013 10:42:13 PM

Hooray for winning the REXHEART team signed stick!

2/28/2013 10:55:41 PM

Damn, that 1st line is killing it

3/1/2013 12:23:30 AM

my buddies said they got a pretty good "fleurrry fleurrry you suck" chant going tonite in the lower level haha

3/1/2013 4:04:08 AM

Quote :

"Hooray for winning the REXHEART team signed stick!"

nice! I've been trying to win one all season

3/1/2013 8:10:09 AM

Man that was a fun game to watch. When that first line is clicking, wow... I'll admit I don't follow hockey that closely, but if there's a better first line in hockey, I'd be surprised.

Semin's shot is lethal, but he's becoming a hell of a playmaker. It's almost like he's taking all the negative things people said about him and doing the exact opposite. I love watching that guy.



[Edited on March 1, 2013 at 9:57 AM. Reason : ]

3/1/2013 9:56:42 AM

Kane/Toews/Sharp are pretty decent

3/1/2013 10:56:34 AM

^too bad they don't play on the same line most of the time. Toews plays w/Hossa and Saad. Sharp and Kane play w/Bolland.

Also, the only line combo w/more goals this year than Semin/E. Staal/Tlusy is Vanek/Hodgson/Pominville http://www.leftwinglock.com/line-production/index.php?season=2012&gametype=ALL&leform=lesent#A

3/1/2013 11:06:04 AM

Whoa cool site. I was gonna suggest Marleau-Thornton-Pavelski but it looks like they haven't been together as much as I thought.

3/1/2013 11:09:18 AM

^^ Ah, didn't know that. I actually haven't seen the Blackhawks (or very many Western Conference teams at all) play this year, so I was basing that on last year. Obviously their line combinations are working out for them. Weren't they on the same line most of last year though? I definitely thought they were when they played us, at least.

3/1/2013 2:24:15 PM

Pitkanen back. Sanguinetti (and Westgarth) supposedly scratched. Line-up otherwise the same as Pens game, according to Chip.

Florida seems to be in a bit of the same situation as we were a week or so ago, although not involving as many quality players. Versteeg, Santorelli, Weaver, Jovanvoski, Bergenheim all out (although some of those guys have been/will be out for a while). Kovalev is apparently about to be released, although he's been scratched recently anyway. Theodore supposed to start.

3/2/2013 2:16:40 PM

10 minutes in, up 3-0.

So there's that.

3/2/2013 7:30:53 PM

Looking good tonight. Riley Nash with his first goal.

3/2/2013 8:32:24 PM

LOL, Weiss.

3/2/2013 9:11:37 PM

We love Semin

3/2/2013 9:24:43 PM

Faulk has drawn four of Florida's six penalties.

3/2/2013 9:29:04 PM

Glad to finally hear Forslund piped in after the goals. 4/6..I'll take it!

Fun hockey all around. Hope Joni is okay, was excited to see him back, hate seeing that he's gone again. Didn't think Faulk was the type of guy to throw down, but it was nice seeing him get the better end of that fight.

Let's build on this and do it again in Florida tomorrow.

3/2/2013 10:50:04 PM

Yeah, meant to have that back in sooner, but it's back to stay now.

3/3/2013 1:41:13 AM

OH NO! LAROSE IS OUT!

3/3/2013 3:24:59 PM

Some will argue addition by subtraction..

What happened to Nodl and Dalpe? Heard both have significant injuries, did it happen while with the Checkers?

3/3/2013 3:52:10 PM

http://gocheckers.com/news/checkers/?article_id=1401

Both got hurt Friday. Nodl likely done for the year; sounds like Dalpe will be out for six weeks or so.

3/3/2013 4:28:55 PM

Tripp talking about a colonoscopy on Hurricanes live...

3/3/2013 5:53:57 PM

Classic Tripp

3/3/2013 5:55:11 PM

Ward

3/3/2013 7:27:44 PM

On the upside, looked like a groin injury instead of a knee.

3/3/2013 7:37:08 PM

Hopefully not as bad as Theodore's, if so. Apparently he may be done for the season.

3/3/2013 7:38:51 PM