How would you line them up?

[LGR4GM]

There isn't enough experience, good enough goaltending, or good enough coaching to be a playoff team. Unless something magical happens, we will miss for the 15th year in a row and come in around 85pts. 

[K-9]

I’d line them up against a wall and give them each a face slap with freshly laundered white gloves. 

[JohnC]

7 minutes ago, K-9 said:

I’d line them up against a wall and give them each a face slap with freshly laundered white gloves. 

Is it unacceptable to slap someone with dirty gloves?

[GASabresIUFAN]

This is one of hardest lineups to slot in a while.  We know who 8 of the top 9 forwards are with Doan and Greenway fighting for the 9th slot. The problem is we have almost no game film on who Norris fits with.  We also have a ton of “scorers” with very limited proven playmakers except Tuch to match them with.  Add Kulich’s limited experience and you have a ton of possibilities without many reference points. I can see an argument for Kulich starting the year as the center on any of the top 3 lines.  

The only thing that’s certain is Tage on the top line.  After that, It’s going to come down to who plays well with whom in camp.    

The defense, besides Dahlin, only seems more settled, but isn’t.  The key is going to be who Kesselring shows chemistry with.  I don’t think Kesselring with Power is a given.  What happens if he meshes with Byram and not Power.  Does Power play with Dahlin or do they try Samuelsson with Dalhin again.  
 

If I had to guess 

Tage Kulich Tuch

Zucker Norris Quinn

Benson McLeod Doan

Danforth Krebs Greenway

Dahlin Power

Byram Kesselring

Samuelsson Timmins 

UPL Lyons
 

 

Edited yesterday at 01:36 PM by GASabresIUFAN

[K-9]

17 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Is it unacceptable to slap someone with dirty gloves?

Absolutely, John. Face slaps depend on proper decorum. 

[JohnC]

24 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Absolutely, John. Face slaps depend on proper decorum. 

Isn’t it acceptable to slap someone with a dirty glove if their face is already dirty? 

Edited Tuesday at 09:48 PM by JohnC

[dudacek]

3 hours ago, pi2000 said:

A 10 goal 30 point winger on the top line? lol

Do you expect Zach Benson to be a 30-point scorer this season?

Do you ever see him developing into a scorer? If so, when and how good?

[pi2000]

4 hours ago, dudacek said:

Do you expect Zach Benson to be a 30-point scorer this season?

Do you ever see him developing into a scorer? If so, when and how good?

If they keep him on the 1st line he'll be somewhere around 40-50 points.

One the third line, where he belongs, maybe 30-40 points.

He's not a scorer, he's an undersized forechecking puck hound.   He's good at it, that's his role.

There is absolutely nothing tangible to suggest he'll ever be anything more than that.

[thewookie1]

1 minute ago, pi2000 said:

If they keep him on the 1st line he'll be somewhere around 40-50 points.

One the third line, where he belongs, maybe 30-40 points.

He's not a scorer, he's an undersized forechecking puck hound.   He's good at it, that's his role.

There is absolutely nothing tangible to suggest he'll ever be anything more than that.

His analytics would say otherwise; plus you can add 10 to 15 pts to his total if guys would just bang in pucks he gets to the front after he digs them out of the boards.

[Broken Ankles]

Zuck Tage Tuch

Benson McLeod Greenway

Kulich Norris Doan

Quinn Krebs Danforth

 Byram/Rasmus

Power/Kesselring

Mr.Glass/Timmins

UPL/Lyon

 

[Weave]

Condensing everyone’s fears into 1 lineup:

Quinn Norris Doan

Benson McLeod Tage

Zucker Krebs Tuch

Malynspelling Danforth Greenway

Dahlin Muel

Power Byram

Timmah! Kessel run

Levi

UPL

Lyons lost to waivers

 

[JohnC]

When you review the various combinations of lines and pairings being suggested what stands out is that they all make sense. Sameulsson is a good example of flexibility. The consensus seems to be that he will be a third pairing defenseman. But it is not out of the realm that he becomes the secondary partner in one of the top two pairs. Benson is another player you can envision on the top line or third line. Lindy is going to have a lot more flexibility when he assembles the lines and when he jumbles the lines. 

[Weave]

18 minutes ago, JohnC said:

When you review the various combinations of lines and pairings being suggested what stands out is that they all make sense. Sameulsson is a good example of flexibility. The consensus seems to be that he will be a third pairing defenseman. But it is not out of the realm that he becomes the secondary partner in one of the top two pairs. Benson is another player you can envision on the top line or third line. Lindy is going to have a lot more flexibility when he assembles the lines and when he jumbles the lines. 

[LGR4GM]

Instead of the concept of Kassian we have the:

Supposition of Samuelsson

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

Condensing everyone’s fears into 1 lineup:

Quinn Norris Doan

Benson McLeod Tage

Zucker Krebs Tuch

Malynspelling Danforth Greenway

Dahlin Muel

Power Byram

Timmah! Kessel run

Levi

UPL

Lyons lost to waivers

Another spin on... what's the worst that could happen? Remember, no LTIR will be used because that would mean you could bring in another player (and his salary), which isn't happening. Note: This "worst that could happen" is feasible, I think, by... December 1st.

Benson - McLeod - Tuch
Zucker - Kulich - Thompson
Krebs - Östlund - Doan
Malenstyn - Danforth - Rosén

IR: Norris (UBI), Greenway (UBI), Quinn (LBI)
Lost to waivers: Kozak

 

Dahlin - Kesselring
Byram - Timmins
Bryson - Johnson

IR: Samuelsson (UBI), Power (LBI)
Lost to waivers: Jones

 

Levi
UPL

Lost to waivers: Lyon

[jsb]

Center Kulich      Wingers  Thompson  Greenway

Center Norris      Wingers  Tuch Quinn

Center McLeod.  Wingers  Zucker Benson

Center Krebs       Wingers  Doan. Malenstyn

Trade next years 1st and 3rd if necessary for Jake Neighbours of St. Louis or someone similar to take Greenways spot

Dahlin/Byram.      Power/Kesselring      Samuelsson/Timmins

This team isn't going anywhere unless 4K finally shows the ability to carry the team. The first 3 lines have size and can play different roles against different teams. 4th line gives you toughness if not a fighting ability

[thewookie1]

45 minutes ago, jsb said:

Center Kulich      Wingers  Thompson  Greenway

Center Norris      Wingers  Tuch Quinn

Center McLeod.  Wingers  Zucker Benson

Center Krebs       Wingers  Doan. Malenstyn

Trade next years 1st and 3rd if necessary for Jake Neighbours of St. Louis or someone similar to take Greenways spot

Dahlin/Byram.      Power/Kesselring      Samuelsson/Timmins

This team isn't going anywhere unless 4K finally shows the ability to carry the team. The first 3 lines have size and can play different roles against different teams. 4th line gives you toughness if not a fighting ability

The 2026 1st isn’t on the table, period.

[jsb]

3 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

The 2026 1st isn’t on the table, period.

Why??? If they make the playoffs it will be 17-25th pick. They’re not making it with this lineup and if they don’t do something to make the playoffs, the fan base may never come back

[LGR4GM]

9 minutes ago, jsb said:

Why??? If they make the playoffs it will be 17-25th pick. They’re not making it with this lineup and if they don’t do something to make the playoffs, the fan base may never come back

To quote Sparta, "if"

[thewookie1]

2 hours ago, jsb said:

Why??? If they make the playoffs it will be 17-25th pick. They’re not making it with this lineup and if they don’t do something to make the playoffs, the fan base may never come back

If we are firmly in a spot at the deadline, go ahead.

Otherwise if they trade it, miss the playoffs and then their pick wins the lottery the city will likely burn.

[Broken Ankles]

2 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

If we are firmly in a spot at the deadline, go ahead.

Otherwise if they trade it, miss the playoffs and then their pick wins the lottery the city will likely burn.

Stop living in fear.  

[jsb]

2 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

If we are firmly in a spot at the deadline, go ahead.

Otherwise if they trade it, miss the playoffs and then their pick wins the lottery the city will likely burn.

After 14 years of missing the playoffs it’s already on fire. As for Sparta IF is more possible with a capable top 6 forward added to the group than what appears to be right now

[LGR4GM]

5 hours ago, jsb said:

After 14 years of missing the playoffs it’s already on fire. As for Sparta IF is more possible with a capable top 6 forward added to the group than what appears to be right now

Not without a new coaching staff and a goalie, imo.

[JohnC]

On 7/30/2025 at 12:04 AM, Broken Ankles said:

Zuck Tage Tuch

Benson McLeod Greenway

Kulich Norris Doan

Quinn Krebs Danforth

 Byram/Rasmus

Power/Kesselring

Mr.Glass/Timmins

UPL/Lyon

 

Your first line with Tage on the middle is very appealing. 

[dudacek]

28 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Your first line with Tage on the middle is very appealing. 

It’s weird how much it transforms the on-paper perception of the lineup.

I think the years condition us to look at that spot first when judging a roster.