3rd line appreciation

[mathonwy]

Introducing our 3rd line:

Jannik "I talk like a girl but I hit like a truck" Hansen, Chris "Puck Retrieving Wolverine" Higgins and ....*drumroll*... your one, your only and your latest awesome GMMG acquisition... Saaaaaaaaami "I love me some Shutdown hockey" Pahlsson!!




A very good article by the National Post on our 3rd line.
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/03/ ... t-it-done/

Pahlsson has been a defensive rock for us. The guy is cool and calm (like Tanev), the guy is consistent (like Hamhuis) and the guy doesn't back down from anyone. He adds an amazing amount of stability to our bottom 6 and kudos once again to GMMG for picking him up for a song.



AV, leave the 3rd line as is. Let Hank, Kes, Bur, MayRay, Zackian and Booth figure it out themselves. Don't mess with a good thing.

[Hockey Widow]

As good as that line has been we may need to re-unite the Amex line if we want scoring in the playoffs. Burrows was fine on the third line before Higgins. Although that begs the question who plays with the Sedins?

Too bad the Panthers didn't bite on Samuelsson for Raymond on deadline day.

[donlever]

...we can bat this back and forth all we want but the fact is that the Sedins, Burr, Kes, Booth and even Raymond are fully capable of scoring goals.

The elevator man may need to move up to 2nd line duties again but we are going in circles worrying about it now.

We'll see what happens starting mid April.


...and to get your thread back on track math yes the 3rd line is performing heroicly at this time.

Very nice to see the immediate chemistry between the 3, all are extremely hard working guys which clearly has something to do with their success.

[Arachnid]

As good as that line has been we may need to re-unite the Amex line if we want scoring in the playoffs. Burrows was fine on the third line before Higgins. Although that begs the question who plays with the Sedins?

Too bad the Panthers didn't bite on Samuelsson for Raymond on deadline day.

put kickassian on the sedan (<see wot) line, to quote an retrosexual 'you could put a fire hydrant with them and they would score 40 goals...'

[Mr.Miyagi]

Although that begs the question who plays with the Sedins? D

I am wondering if putting Kassian on the 1st line down the stretch is an audition/warm up or just an effort to give him a feel for Henrik? It would be a perfect fit in the playoffs if he can put up the points. He should create some space for the twins and he also provides a little muscle if other teams wish to take liberties on our stars. He doesn't play PP or PK so I can't see his lack of fitness being a HUGE issue as we can also slot in Burrows, Raymond or Hansen in the third period/overtime if need be.

Raymond could be effective on the third line IMO. He's played with Hansen a ton over the years, he's defensively responsible, and the small offensive threat that he brings may deter the other teams top lines from running and gunning every chance they get. As we all know, Raymond's biggest asset is his speed. This could be a big factor on the back check and when the other teams turn over the puck and we go the other way with it.

What a great problem to have.

[coco_canuck]

I am wondering if putting Kassian on the 1st line down the stretch is an audition/warm up or just an effort to give him a feel for Henrik? It would be a perfect fit in the playoffs if he can put up the points. He should create some space for the twins and he also provides a little muscle if other teams wish to take liberties on our stars. He doesn't play PP or PK so I can't see his lack of fitness being a HUGE issue as we can also slot in Burrows, Raymond or Hansen in the third period/overtime if need be.

First on his fitness, I saw somewhere that AV said Kassian and Grags were RIGHT at the acceptable fitness levels...which means they just passed the tests, so there's a lot of room for improvement, but you're right, it shouldn't be a HUGE concern.

I think we'll see Kassian get some shifts with the twins in the playoffs, but how many he gets will be dictated by a few things.

First, Kassian's positioning still needs some work. He's a rookie in a new system that has once again been adjusted the last couple of weeks, so gaining familiarity and fully grasping how the team and his teammates play is still a work in progress.

The uncertainty over his positing sometimes leads him to look confused or just stand still in one spot, and he has to have better awareness and faster reactions when a defenceman pinches and he has react to fill the open gap.

Then it's just finding the physical consistency and bringing the same type of game and edge on a nightly basis.

I've likes what I've seen from Kassian, and I'm very high on him, but he's still got some work to do, and I wouldn't be surprised if he has some ups and downs in the playoffs which might lead to an occasional scratch. Hopefully, if that happens, fans will realize that the kid is still a rookie that has junior eligibility left, and development comes with its challenges...there's no challenge greater than performing in the playoffs.

[donlever]

...and I wouldn't be surprised if he has some ups and downs in the playoffs which might lead to an occasional scratch. Hopefully, if that happens, fans will realize that the kid is still a rookie that has junior eligibility left, and development comes with its challenges...there's no challenge greater than performing in the playoffs.

L O F L

Good luck with that.

[coco_canuck]

L O F L

Good luck with that.

Yeah, I don't even know why I bothered.

Can you imagine if Cody scores an OT winner for Buffalo on a night when Kassian is a healthy scratch?

The Canucks PSA's will be for naught...

[wafflecombine]

I tend to agree with you on most of your points Coco.

However, I would like to see Kassian spend more time planted in front of the goalie being a supreme pain in the ass and drawing defenders to him. Playing the cycle game is hard. If it wasn't, everyone would do it with ease. But being a big frackin brick wall and pissing off the goalie is a much different story.

In theory, if Kassian did this and fought for position the way Kesler would fight for position last year in the play offs.... he'd draw defenders to him.... which in theory might open some ice up for that cycle.

Just tossing it out there.

[ESQ]

As good as that line has been we may need to re-unite the Amex line if we want scoring in the playoffs.

One of the guys on the Team was saying yesterday that every line Higgins has played on this year, he has turned into the team's best line.

I think his style compliments Kesler/Booth perfectly, and also Pahlsson/Hansen. For a $2 million forward, he is one of the most valuable players on the team.

[donlever]

...and thankfully for another season as well.

2 years 3.8 million?

An absolute steal.

[coco_canuck]

Playing the cycle game is hard. If it wasn't, everyone would do it with ease. But being a big frackin brick wall and pissing off the goalie is a much different story.

Agreed.

He has gone to the net on occasion, and it has resulted in a few goals, and it's something he has to do more.

Kassian likes to play along the boards, he's got the hands to protect and pass the puck well, and he uses his body well to maintain possession. But you're right, he can't be too predictable by staying alongside the boards.

In theory, if Kassian did this and fought for position the way Kesler would fight for position last year in the play offs.... he'd draw defenders to him.... which in theory might open some ice up for that cycle.

Kassian has that potential, but I'm not sure how close he is to realizing it.

I can see how it can be frustrating to watch a player who has the tools and the size to make an impact disappear for shifts on end.

But he's a very young player who has joined a cup contending Canadian team in a demanding market. In terms of experience and physical preparedness, he's miles behind his new teammates. Kassian still needs to build up his confidence and intensity in order to become a more physical and assertive player on the ice. The first few games adrenaline took over, and then after that Kassian has to learn how to bring himself up to that level of intensity and then maintain it more consistently.

Personally, I'm pretty confident we'll see some solid contributions, mixed in with learning experiences, from Kassian in the playoffs because the Canucks are most certainly working with him closely in practise and off the ice.

[Madcombinepilot]

Kassian is young, the learning curve in playoff games will be steep, but he'll learn.

[wafflecombine]

I completely agree with you Coco & combine. Kassian is young and will learn. If I were Kassian I'd love the along the boards play too. Exciting, very physical and when you are moving brick wall you got a distinct advantage.

I simply see the net pressence thing as a "low hanging fruit" issue. Could be an easy way for Kassian to have a nice impact right away without a big learning curve. The other stuff will come for sure so its more a "what can I do now" sort of issue.

Gonna be good.

[Todd Bersnoozi]

I really liked Coho and was disappointed to see him go, but I gotta admit that 3rd line is playing really well. Higgy is on a hot streak and seems to have great chemistry with his 2 linemates. Hopefully this line will become an elite checking line for us and pay some huge dividends for us in the playoffs.