Line matchups?

Good exercise! If the third line is going to be stopper line, then Sully is the wrong guy at center. If Crawford plans to roll three lines with some scoring ability and use his 4th line as the stopper line, then your lines look good.

This could also be a fun exercise to do for the Monarchs lines and defense pairings for the upcoming season.

The only problem with that is that Crawford refuses to play Kopitar with Frolov because they both "need the puck."

This one is going to be tasty.

OFFENSE:

Frolov-Kopitar-Cammalleri
Nagy-Handzus-O'Sullivan
Calder-Willsie-Brown
Thornton-Armstrong-Zeiler/Ivanans

DEFENSE:
(To start the season)

Visnovsky-Stuart
Blake-Johnson
Modry-Pressing

LaBarbera
Bernier (Hey, it's what the kid wants)

Cloutier to Manchester!

Sulli-Kopitar-Cammalleri
Nagy-Handzus-Frolov
Calder-Thornton-Brown
Willsie-Armstrong-Zeiler

If Willsie or Thornton can play center effectively, that would solve a lot of problems.

Why wouldn't you go Stuart-Preissing? they've played together on the Sharks. Wouldn't that make more sense?

Best option is:
Frolov/Kopitar/Cammy
Nagy/Handzus/Brown
Calder/Army/O'Sullivan
Wilsie/Thornton/Zeiler (or Ivanans)

Blake/JMFJ
Lubo/Stuart
Modry/Preissing

I would not rule out Brady Murray making the team and centering the fourth line.

Rich,

Do you think Modry starting as a definite. In the conversations with Lombardi he would like tow kids there. Do they go experience with Modry or perhaps does a Harrold or Piskula step and give them the experience. I am hoping for the latter.

That said:

Frolov-Kopitar-Cammalleri
Nagy-Handzus-O'Sullivan
Calder-Willsie-Brown
Thornton-Armstrong-Zeiler

Blake-Priessing
Lub-Johnson
Stuart-Piskula/Harrold

I think Lubo/Modry would be good so Lubo can save him. Stuart/Preissing would also be good.

I somewhat recall this first line having decent chemistry.

brown/kopi/cammy
nagy/handzus/frolov
calder/armstrong/o'sully
thornton/willsie/ivanans

blake/johnson
visnovsky/stuart
modry or petiot/preissing

labarbera
cloutier

Don't expect Crawford to put Armstrong on the 4th line. He loves the guy, remember? Don't be surprised if Crawford has him as the 2nd center, with Handzus playing the 3rd center.

I would go exactly the same as raL.

Frolov/Kopitar/Camalleri
Nagy/Handzus/Brown
Calder/Armstrong/O'Sullivan
Willsie/Thornton/Ivanans/Zeiler

Except on D I would switch it to:

Blake/Johnson
Lubo/Preissing
Stuart/Modry
Boyle

Labarbara
Cloutier

Frolov/Kopitar/Cammelleri
Nagy/Handzus/Brown
Thornton/Armstrong/Calder
Ivanans/Willsie/Zeiler
O'Sullivan and a rookie or a camp walk-on or other such surprise in the 13th and 14th spots for forward

Blake/Johnson (with Blake in the role of old stay-at-home and Johnson in the role of young Blake)
Visnovsky/Preissling (mobile, but defensively sound)
Modry/Stuart (either scary or they've aged into responsibility)

didn't Zeiler play some center last year? meh. gut feeling says O'Sully doesn't make the team right now. he doesn't fit with this mix very well. maybe we'll dumb willsie to make room for him...that would be nice.

Frolov - Kopitar - Cammalleri
Nagy - Handzus - O'Sullivan
Calder - Armstrong - Brown
Thornton - Zeiler/whoever cracks the roster as 4th line center - Willsie

Blake - Johnson
Visnovsky - Modry
Stuart - Preissing

Labarbera
Cloutier

Brown and Calder would each see time on the PP as big bodies in front of the net. hopefully modry would never see the light of day, as far as special teams goes. Johnson and Blake would exchange time on the power play unless Blake proves he can't handle it any more or if Johnson forces himself into the role.

O'Sullivan-Kopitar-Cammalleri
Nagy-Handzus-Frolov
Calder-Armstrong-Brown
Thornton-Tukonen-Zeiler

Blake-Johnson
Lubo-Stuart
Preissing-Petoit/Piskula

LaBarbera
Cloutier/Bernier

O'Sullivan/Kopitar/Brown
Nagy/Handzus/Calder
Willsie/Marleau/Camalleri
Thornton/Armstrong/Zeiler(Ivanans)

Blake/Johnson
Lubo/Modry
Stuart/Preissing

We are rolling 3 lines with a grinder/energy line.

There is some good stuff here. I get the feeling the Kings have the type of talent now to run Crawford's "Run and Gun" systems. I expect the Kings to roll three scoring lines. The fourth line will be a shut-down/checking line.

Frolov - Kopitar - Cammy
Nagy - Handzus - Sully
Calder - Army - Brown
Thornton - Murray - Wilsie

Preissing - Lubo
Johnson - Blake
Stuart - Piskula/Harrold

LaBarbera
Ersberg

I don't believe Cloutier's contract will be with the Kings come opening day. He'll be move to Manchester to clear salary cap room. If he is called up, he will have to clear waivers. With his salary, that shouldn't be a problem.

Crawford has used Scott Thornton (as well as Willsie) as a checking line center at times. Thornton surprisingly was very strong on faceoffs, so I think it is possible to see him centering the fourth 'energy' unit, leaving Armstrong to center the third line.

Crawford has said that he likes to use pairs of forwards, and then install a winger to round out each line.

The pairs, as I see fit, will be (from C to W):

Kopitar-Cammalleri
Handzus-Nagy
Armstrong-Calder
Thornton-Willsie

The remaining wingers will then be Frolov, Brown, O'Sullivan and one of Zeiler or Ivanans.

Frolov clicks with Cammalleri and worked well early in the season playing with Kopitar and Brown. He's the logical choice to round out the top line.

Now the second scoring unit has some muscle and size in Handzus and a lot of skill in Nagy. Handzus is also a very deft playmaker, but Nagy is also a winger who can distribute the puck. To round out this scoring unit, I think you'll need an aggressive forward who likes to shoot the puck and make a B-line to the front of the net.

Ideally, this role sounds fitting for Dustin Brown, but I think Patrick O'Sullivan may work better as a finisher on this unit.

Derek Armstrong and Kyle Calder will work well together as they excel down low in the trenches and at cycling the puck. I think these two veterans will show a young winger like Dustin Brown how to work the corners. This line will wear down the opposing defensemen and wreak havoc in the offensive zone. They will also form a new A-B-C line!

The fourth line is pure grit. Thornton should be flanking this line with Willsie and either Zeiler or Ivanans, depending on the matchup. This line won't receive much ice time, but they will keep the other players' legs fresh. Their role will be simple, bump and grind and throw the opposition off of their game.

I'll post my thoughts on the defensive pairings in my next post.

Some of you need to get your head examined. O'Sullivan on the top line instead of Brown?
Did some of you forget that he & Kopitar developed a chemistry by seasons end?

Cammy/Kopitar/Brown
Nagy/Handzus/Frolov
Calder/Army/O'Sully
Thornton/Willsie/Zeiler

Stuart/Lubo
Blake/Johnson
Preising/Modry

Labs
Clouts

i think he might be spliting up frolov and kopitar, therefore:

Brown-Kopitar-Cammalleri
Nagy-Handzus-Frolov
Calder-Armstrong-O'Sullivan
Thorton-Zeiler-Willsie/Ivanans

Blake/JMFJ
Visnovsky/Stuart
Preissing/Modry/Harrold

I also think that Boyle will get brought up for some games. They seem really high on him, and probably want to give him a taste on what the NHL level is like.

OFFENSE: Armstrong deserves 3rd line duty over Willise. Not thrilled with O'Sully on the 3rd line, but there's no space. If Brown picks up where he left off last year, he stays on the 2nd line, if he starts slowly he goes to the 3rd, and O'Sully to the 2nd line.

Frolov-Kopitar-Cammalleri
Nagy-Handzus-Brown
Calder-Armstrong-O'Sullivan
Thornton-Willsie-Zeiler/Ivanans

DEFENSE:
Blake MUST play with JMFJ. I think Visnovsky-Stuart & Modry-Pressing would be best overall. But, there is familiarity with Pressing-Stuart from San Jose days, so that might be a good initial pairing.

Visnovsky-Stuart
Blake-Johnson
Modry-Pressing

GOALIE: LaBarbera has earned a roster spot after putting with the B.S. from last year's demotion to the AHL. If Cloutier has healed he gets the edge on "experience", if not let the Sweed have a shot.

LaBarbera
Ersberg
Cloutier

The additions of Preissing and Stuart will give the defensive pairings the right balance of offense and defense.

It has been said all along that Jack Johnson will learn under Rob Blake, much like how Blake learned the ropes with veterans like Larry Robinson, Steve Duchesne, Marty McSorley and Paul Coffey.

Modry and Visnovsky are familiar with each other, and Modry gives Lubo the luxury of returning to his regular spot on the right side. They have worked well together in the past, and Modry knows what he has to do, get the puck to Visnovsky.

Stuart and Preissing are also familiar with one-another from their time with the Sharks. Stuart is a big left hand shot and Preissing is a righty who likes to distribute the puck.

I see Crawford and his staff carrying 8 defensemen on the roster next season, with the spare defensemen being Kevin Dallman and Peter Harrold. There will be nights where the team will dress 7 defensemen or roll Dallman as a forward (as we saw this past season).

So the 13 forwards and 8 defensemen plus 2 goalies round out your 23-man roster for the Los Angeles Kings next season.

If I remember correctly, last year Frolov and Kopitar were not on the same line for too long because of lack of chemisrty, so I would'nt expect them to be on the same line this year. That being said:

Offense

Calder/Kopitar/Cammellari
Frolov/Handzus/Nagy
O'sullivan/Armstrong/Brown
Zeilar/Thornton/Willsie

Defense

Blake/Johnson
Lubo/Stuart
Modry/Preissing

Goal
Labarbera
Cloutier

Cammalleri-Kopitar-Brown
Nagy-Handzus-Frolov
Calder-Armstrong-O'Sullivan

The 4th line would be some combination of Thornton, Willsie, Zeiler, Ivanans, and Giuliano.

Maybe a young guy from Manchester breaks through there. I figure, since there are so many young forwards in Manchester, and with Lombardi wanting them to be as young as possible, that Giuliano makes the team as the ultimate spare part. You stick him in there if a guy isn't playing hard(like O'Sullivan, or anyone), or just to get some energy in from time to time. He might not be able to play 80 games because he's small and the way he has to play to be in the NHL, but as a 13th or 14th forward, he wouldn't be expected to play every game.

Modry-Visnovsky
Stuart-Preissing
Johnson-Blake

Dallman hangs around as the 7th guy.

There aren't any natural offense/defense pairings for the defense. It's going to be based on mobility and puck movement more than anything. Since the Kings haven't proven to be the Red Wings in that regard just yet, it could get them in trouble. Cards your dealt though.

Cammalleri/Kopitar/Brown
Nagy/Handzus/Frolov
Calder/Armstrong/O'Sullivan
Thornton/Willsie/Zeiler
Ivanans

Johnson/Blake
Stuart/Visnovsky
Modry/Preissing

LaBarbera/Cloutier

Regardless of what the forward line-ups to start that first period in London, they'll be completely scrambled by the time they get to the dressing room at the end of it.

That said, I expect Blake and JMFJ to be welded at the hip this season.

..so Fuzzerson you don't see Frolov making the team??

Frolov-Kopitar-Cammalleri
Nagy-Handzus-Willse
Calder-O'Sullivan-Brown
Thornton-Armstrong-Zeiler/Ivanas

Blake-Stuart
Lubo-Modry
Preissing-Johnson

In your dreams! (Marleau?)

First off Crawford likes to play musical chairs with his line combos more than Andy Murray ever did, so don't get too warm and cozy with ANY line-up being set in stone for very long.

But, with that said, let's analyze things before we just play EA's NHL '07 with the lines, shall we ...

Handzus & Nagy were signed together to play together, and Handzus was pegged as the #2 pivot by Lombardi, so you'd expect to see both on the 2nd line.

Frolov and Kopitar play too similar a style of game, the strong puck possession and work down low along the boards. Therefore you need to break them up or switch one of the players style of game, since that may wreck the player, you break them up. Kopitar was anointed the #1 Center and future of this team and I don't see that changing, so Frolov will most likely play with fellow Euros Handzus and Nagy on the 2nd line. Giving the 2nd line its playmaker = Frolov, its sniper = Nagy, and power forward = Handzus, that's a GOOD 2nd line.

Now, Cammalleri {sniper} is the FINISHER that Kopitar {playmaker} needs on the 1st line, the question becomes who do you pair them with, Brown, O'Sullivan or Calder ? I say Brown {power forward} because from the sounds of it Lombardi wants Brown to open up and feel more comfortable, to bring out more of his game, and I think Cammalleri can help facilitate that, also having both played with the Monarchs they should have some chemistry still. Giving the 1st line its playmaker = Kopitar, its sniper = Cammalleri, and power forward = Brown, that's a GOOD 1st line.

Next, as skilled as O'Sullivan is ... the Kings seem to want him to learn the 2-way game more FIRST, before letting him run wild and shoot first play D second, so sounds like he'll get 3rd line duty, BUT it will also be a SCORING 3rd line, I think we'll roll 3 lines that can all score and a 4th 'Energy' line, the 'stopper' line will not be traditional and which ever line is fresh and matches up best against the opponent will be used as such.

Armstrong will center the 3rd line and we saw he can pair well with a guy like Cammalleri so I expect similar results with O'Sullivan. And for a little grit and someone to crash the net you add in Calder. Giving the 3rd line its playmaker = Armstrong, its sniper = O'Sullivan, and power forward = Calder, that's a GOOD 3rd line.

The 4th line will be energy and used to cycle the puck in the opponents end if possible, and play the enforcer roll when needed. So expect some combination of Thornton, Willsie, Zeiler and Ivanans. It's a 4th line don't expect much.

That will give us ...

Brown / Kopitar / Cammalleri
Frolov / Handzus / Nagy
O'Sullivan / Armstrong / Calder
Thornton / Willsie / Zeiler
Ivanans

On Defense Options and Health are going to be key words. We have a ton of options, and will Blake return to the line-up healthy after his surgery ? As far as the D-men line-up looks, how you don’t give Lubo top pairing minutes would be beyond me, and he’ll need someone to hang back and be a defensive defensemen, Stuart is the likely candidate. Blake and Johnson seems to be a given, having Blake ready to hopefully cover for any of Johnson’s rookie mistakes, though I could also see Preissing maybe getting paired with Johnson for that same reason, seeing as Preissing was a +40 last year. But that would be a reason to pair Preissing with Modry as well.

Visnovsky / Stuart
Blake / Johnson
Preissing / Modry
Harrold or Petiot as 7th
{Dallman gets sent down, or is waived}

In Goal ...

Cloutier = 1a
LaBarbera - 1b

Ersberg in Manchester as Call up
Bernier will be back in Jr.’s folks

Looks GOOD on paper, and may have us back in the play-off hunt, as long as we get half way decent goaltending SOMEHOW.

I agree with Brian, I think Murray has a chance to make the team:

Frolov-Kopitar-Cammalleri
Nagy-Handzus-O'Sullivan
Calder-Army-Brown
Thornton-Murray-Zeiler

Wilsie/Tukonen

Lubo Stuart
Blake-JMFJ
Priessing-Modry

Harrold

LaBarbera
Cloutier (to start, then Ersberg if DC doesn't pan out by mid-Nov.)

Whoops, totally forgot about Ivanans. Scratch out Tukonen or from the reserves and add Ivanans.

Looks like GM Fuzzerton just traded Frolov to the Sharks for Marleau. Hmmm...

Ah, the ever popular topic. One that doesn't include those that can make the team this training camp.

So, er... Rich, do you think it's safe to say that we can strike Cammy from our lineups this year? Hmm? Or do you see him being included :D (the better option)

BROWN - KOPITAR - CAMMALLERI

FROLOV - HANDZUS - NAGY

O'SULLIVAN - ARMSTRONG - CALDER

THORNTON - MURRAY - ZEILER
WILLSIE
IVANANS

Stuart - Visnovsky
Johnson - Blake
Modry - Preissing
Dallman

LABARBERA
ERSBERG

"..so Fuzzerson you don't see Frolov making the team??"

No I see him traded to SJ for Marleau.

Frolov-Armstrong-Cammalerri
Brown-Kopitar-O'Sullivan
Nagy-Handzus-Calder
Wilsie-Thornton-Zeiler

ex:Ivanans

We roll three scoring lines. We have enough firepower to seriously tear down teams with no defensive depth.

Blake-Preissing
Visnovsky-Stuart
Johnson-Modry

These pairings pair skill guys with a guy who plays the body. I really like the preissing Blake pairing i think they compliment each other immesely. The same with Lubo and Stuey. Jack is gonna have to carry modry but, this year is for him to learn. If he earns more icetime you switch him and Blake.

LaBarbera/Cloutier

I think Dan in a backup role is going to be good for him and Jason. If these guys can play as a tandem and find their consistancy together we could have a tandem that could get us into the playoffs.

I would really like to see if Frolov and Handzus develop any chemistry together. Both guys are very big men and play a solid two way game.

Cammalleri-Kopitar-Brown
Nagy-Handzus-Frolov
O'Sullivan-Armstrong-Calder
Thornton-Willsie-Zeiler/Ivanans

On defense:

Visnovsky-Blake
Stuart-Johnson
Modry-Preissing

Preissing played with Corvo last year and did well, so I don't think he will have a hard time adjusting to playing with Mo. ;)

I'm gonna have to agree with Chris up there

Come on Rich, you have to know that throwing a question like that out is like throwing the first cream pie in a movie; carnage ensues...

I'm not gonna even try the forwards, since there's too much variation there. But this is the defense I want.

Blake-Jack
(they're both half offense and half defense, and there's the whole mentor thing)
Lubo-Stuart
(Lubo is mostly offense with some defense and Stuart is mostly defense with some offense)
Modry-Preissing
(Modry is nearly all defense and Preissing is nearly all offense)

The first pairing would have nice chemistry, and the other two pairing have guys who compliment each other.

has rich ever confirmed or denied if he was leaving the kings beat for the lakers?

Johnson can learn more from Blake while hes watching him from the bench. Priessing is too dam good of a defenseman to play the 6th man role.

Visnovsky - Preissing
Stuart - Johnson
Blake - Modry

I can't totally agree with Mike, but it does look good on paper.

it's amazing how many of you keep putting kopitar and frolov together. crowford said many times that they do not play well together as they need the puck.

Putting Visnovsky and Preissing together is just asking for bigger forwards to have their way with them.

"I would not rule out Brady Murray making the team and centering the fourth line."

Brian, PLEASE bet me on this. PRETTY PLEASE!

I think its funny 'cause, Rich, you damn well know DL isn't done tinkering!!!

Willsie? Has everyone lost their mind? That guy stinks!

Here's CBGB'S lineup POST TRADE!

Marleau-Kopitar-Brown
Cammy-Handzus-Nagy
Calder-Armstrong-Thornton
Ivanans-O'Sullivan-Zeiler

Willsie is TRADED!

Paper Champions!!!!!!!

I know they were signed together but if there chemistry is so good why were they traded from two teams? If cammy and fro scored 30plus with army think what they'll do with handzus. Kopi needs a sniper with speed like nagy and sully.. sully/kopi/nagy, fro/hand/cammy, brown/army/calder, thorny/murry/zeiler/ivan,

Brown-Kopi-Cammy(A)
Nagy-Handzus-Fro
Calder-Army(A)-Sully
Zeiler/Kanko-Thorton-Ivanans

Blake(C)-Lubo
Preissing-Stuart
Petiot/Ryan-Jack the ripper

Labarbera
Cloutier/Bernier?/Ernsberg

Modry and Willsie get traded for Erik Christensen.

That trade worked in NHL 07.

I guess I'll give the lines a shot.

Frolov-O'Sullivan-Cammalleri
Played well late into the season. Particularly that last game against the Ducks. This may solve the problem of Fro needing the puck. Sully usually gets rid of it quickly, whether it be a shot or a pass.

Calder-Kopitar-Nagy
I agree with the previous posters about Brown coming out of his shell without Anze. He seemed to be doing his own thing rather than waiting for Anze to do all the work. So no Brown, and Willsie isn't good enough to be on line #2, so that leaves Anze with those guys. And it could really work. They're decent scoring wingers, and what they lack, Anze makes up for.

Brown-Handzus-Willsie
Basically our last three scoring forwards. It'd be nice to have another one ahead of Willsie, though. Both Brown and Handzus play power games, so thats an interesting pairing. But thats also another reason Willsie doesn't fit there.

Thornton-Armstrong-Ivanans/Zeiler
And that does it. Armstrong brings some scoring, Thornton brings some scoring and toughness, Ivanans/Zeiler bring toughness.

I like a Johnson-Stuart pairing.

Sorry guys, I may have missed something here... What happened to Aaron Miller? Personally, I'd dress him before I dress Modry. Was he traded? or retired?

its difficult to put together the lines right know, we all have our favorite player and players we dont like that much. we have brought in some good players up front and at defense. defense is the easiest thing to set up. Blake-Johnson, lubo-modry and preissing-stuart all er good players that can play +20 minutes each depending on who we plays and how the games goes. Up front army, fro and cammi had a good chemistry last year and I want to give them a shot this season also. then we have anze-brown-calder/sully and nagy-handzuz-sully/calder and at last thornton-murray/who the f... is willsie-zeiler/raitiz.
what I want this year is that we have regular players on the powerplay who each know what to do on the powerplay. And I want 4 forwards and 1 def. anze-army-brown-cammy and lubo and jmfj-fro-handzuz-nagy and calder. penalty kill: anze-calder/handzuz,stuart-lubo/preissing and blake-jmfj-fro-army/cammi.

He wasn't resigned and Vancouver picked him up.

Cammy/Kopitar/Brown
Nagy/Handzus/Frolov
Calder/Armstrong/O'Sullivan
Zeiler or Tukonen/Thornton/Ivanans

Lubo/Stuart
Blake/Preissing
Johnson/Modry

JLB & Ersberg

Cloutier only makes the team with a strong training camp.

It is really interesting, It all depends whether MC wants two scoring lines or three pairs of winger/center that can score, I think it all depends on who Kopitar would be paired with.
Kopitar/frolov
Nagy/Handzus
Armstrong/Cammy
That would leave Brown O'sullivan and Calder to mix in. The only reason I could see Osullivan playing on the third line is Armstrong/Cammy is made the second line over Handzus', cammy and osullivan as wingers on the same line does not seem like the best idea, but damn it will be interesting to see how the kings roster looks next year.