With training camp just weeks away all the pieces of the puzzle seem to have fallen into place to set the Bruin's 2009-2010 roster. A busy and exciting off-season has us all anxious to get things going. With the new additions, there almost certainly will be some shifts in the lines for the upcoming season. Clearly, this is all speculation but here is how I see the lines shaking out next year. What is important to understand is how Julien likes to rotate the top 3 lines, so I don't see a huge difference between the 2nd-3rd lines as an argument came be made in either direction. Honestly, I have no idea what PC will do once Sturm returns, so I am not even going to touch that topic yet. Your guess is as good as mine.
1) Wheeler-Savard-Horton
Yea, you heard it right. It was shocking to me as well, but its more out of necessity as opposed to Wheeler being a first line player, and you will see what I mean by this in a moment. Clearly, Horton and Savard have the potential to propel the B's offense back to top of the league. In Savard, Horton finally has an All-Star caliber center to play with after having played in hockey hell for the first portion of his career. Horton is a scorer with a big frame being listed at 6'2 and 229lbs. He can play both as a sniper, setup man and power forward, so his versatility is going to go a long ways in providing Savard both the room to operate and the ability to put points on the board. Where Wheeler falls in is a bit different of a story. While he is listed as a RW, Wheeler has spent the majority of his time on the LW as a Bruin, so he should be plenty comfortable out there. Wheeler also has a large frame at 6'5 and 205lbs but clearly doesn't use his body nearly as much as he should. With that being said, Wheeler has acknowledged a need to become more physical this season, and in doing so, he would fit perfectly on a line that also features another big scorer. Wheeler slumped at times last year, but if he is surrounded by the likes of Savard and Horton he is certainly going to be given more opportunities to score. Let's face it, this is a make or break year for Wheeler... so put him in the spotlight to start and see how he responds. If this line gels, you have viable scoring options on both wings, which may let Savard have more room to operate, freeing him to look for his shot more often.
2) Lucic - Krejci - Seguin
I think this second line has the ability to be crazy good. I was a bit hesitant to put Seguin on the 2nd line, but if he is going to be the offensive threat we all expect him to be, he has to be paired with Krejci. Krejci simply sees things on the ice that other players just don't see. He can sniff out opportunities as he has the ability to envision them developing. At times, its almost magical how he finds an open player or a seam to put the puck into. I seriously debated putting Lucic on the top line, and that most certainly could be the case, but I like him here better and here is why. In Seguin, the Bruins have a young, talented player who is going to be the face of the franchise and needs to be protected like it. With almost 100% certainty I can say that teams will take their shots at Seguin as he is welcomed to the league. Sure, a majority of the time Thornton will be called upon to address the issue, but Thornton will only be on the ice with Seguin rarely if ever. That is why it is important to have someone on the ice that can keep other teams in check. Just the threat of having to answer to Looch should be enough to thwart any would be agitators. In addition to the protection, Looch will help open the ice for both Seguin and Krejci and provide a big body in front to screen the goaltender. The return of Milan Lucic to his 2008-2009 form will go a long way to determine how successful this team can be this year. With the hands and raw skill set Seguin brings, Krejci could have a new best friend for the season.
3) Recchi-Bergeron-Ryder
I love watching Bergeron and Recchi play together. They have grown to compliment each other so well over the past 2 seasons. Bergeron is the team's best 2-way player with Recchi a close second. Together, they are a great on the defensive end but also have the ability to score. Bergeron is deadly in the face off circle, and is really effective on the back check. His offensive numbers returned last year, and if they continue to swell, he will be one of the elite 2-way centers in the league. Recchi continues to play larger then his 5'10 195lb size should allow him to. The image that remains with me is his show down with Pronger in the playoffs. Recchi always seems to find himself in the right place at the right time for rebounds, deflections and loose pucks....which isn't luck but comes with experience. While Bergeron is not the traditional set up center man, he doesn't necessarily need to be on this line as both Recchi and Ryder can put shots on net accurately on their own. Now Ryder's struggles last year have been well documented and discussed, and as bad as he was last year, the upside for him is huge. If Ryder can find his shot again this year, he can easily be a 20+ goal scorer in the league. I also like this combination because Ryder's accuracy combined with Recchi's ability to deflect shots could be an effective and frustrating combination for opposing goalies.
4) Paille - Campbell -Thornton
Don't expect this group to break the bank with excessive point production, but nevertheless, they are an important part of the Bruins overall line combination. Paille has been an integral part of the penalty kill ever since he arrived from Buffalo last year. He is a small, speedy wing but lacks offensive punch. Campbell was also brought in to help on the PK this season as the player to replace Steve Begin. By having both of these players on the 4th line, you can lower their time on ice so that they will be fresher for the PK. Thornton's skill set obviously lies within his hands, and I am not talking about his puck handling ability. Obviously he would like to contribute more offensively, but he is mainly in Boston for one reason: to hand out punishment when necessary. He is one of the best in the game at this, and has thus become a fan favorite in his time here in Boston. Always towards the top of the league in PIM, Thornton should be especially active this season as discussed earlier with the addition of Seguin. Sean was rewarded this season with a nice contract, but its one helluva a way to earn a living. What I do like best about Thornton is that even as an enforcer, he isn't a liability as he plays solid defense, is good with the body, and doesn't take stupid penalties. Paille may see a jump up to the 3rd line throughout the year depending upon how Ryder performs.
Now in terms of lines, you may see Colbourne, Caron, Reich and possibly even Marchand thrown into the mix on the 3rd and 4th lines come opening day. What really will determine that is how the players perform in camp and if there are any injuries, something no one can predict. A young player might also get the chance to play on the wing if Ryder is traded or kept in Providence.
So there you have it. My take on the lines. I am sure there are a ton of different opinions out there, so lets hear them.
Officially 2 weeks to camp.
GO B's
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