EHM The Blue Line

Well some of you that read my posts may be getting sick of me always posting about the Sharks, but they are the only team I will use yeah I know there is alot of other leagues etc. But the Sharks are all I will ever use.
Anyway my point of this post is to talk about a few Sharks players.

I am a very big fan of Milan Michalek, and he always gets better each year, not just a little better, but alot better, anyone that follows him or Sharks games knows he should shoot more, but he progresses very nicely. I play him on the second line with Marleau and Bernier, and Bell is my first line LW, and his numbers in the first season were very very unexpected, he posted over 100 points...but I find the second Bell doesnt post as many, still good, but not as many, and Michalek posts more from the second line, and the second line PP, but then in my 3rd season Bell so far in 20 games has posted around 39 points, which I am happy about, but I was just wondering, when or if I should promote Michalek to the first line and first line PP, or should I just leave him there to dominate on the second line his whole career? Also if you know the Sharks, they also have a decent prospect skating around in the AHL Lukas Kaspar, who always seems to develop nicely.

Thanks
Tim

Well, if Michaled does a better job than Bell from the 2nd line, try him on the first line. In your next season, put him on your first line in the preseason games and see what happens... If he is bigger than when on the 2nd line, then keep him as your 1st liner for the beginning of the season, to see if his shape runs on. Else, you should switch him back to the 2nd line. If he plays well on your top line, pay also attention to Bell's numbers on the second line! You'd better have a solid one-two punch than just a huge first line that should be shut-down on some crucial games...

Hope that helps

Hey yeah i will try that, thanks and totally agree with 2 solid lines rather than one awesome line.
Bell has been putting up some good numbers very similar to Michaleks numbers, just Milan is more long term than Bell so if i let him settle on the top line, rather than letting him play second line his whole career

Moved

Some of this depends on what your lines look like as in what style/role you have them play. My teams roll even lines two offensive two defensive so there really isn't much difference between first and second lines so it's all about who plays best with whom. If Bell isn't jelling with your first line don't be afraid to give Michalek a shot and see how it goes, though with any move I suggest people ride it out for at least 10 games to get a better read on things.

Yeah i agree, but my first line is Bell Thornton Cheechoo, second line is Michalek Marleau Bernier 3rd is Kaspar Lecavlier Setoguchi 4th is Clowe Goc Grier

with Carle Ehrhoff
Hannan Burns
Mclaren Vlasic

so yeah good mixture there i think, just not sure to do with Joe Patty and Vinny, all star centres, just not quite sure what to do any ideas? Joe tor his ACL and was out for 8 months last season so that ws fine i just put Vinny on first line for the playoofs and won lord stanley but now all 3 r fit and healthy.

Tim

I don't think I could justify keeping Vinny on my roster as a 3rd line center. He's making somewhere around maximum salary. I can totally see wanting him if you were missing Thornton but I he kind of seems like a spare part with Thornton and Marleau around. I'd trade one of the three.

I usually go with a setup similar to what Minstrel uses. My first two lines are offense. My third line is a checking line (I usually like to use line matching and put this line against the other team's top line). My fourth line is either another checking line or just an energy line. I'll use 1 or 2 guys that work hard, skate their butts off, and can hit. Then I'll usually use 1 or 2 younger guys that I'm trying to work into the NHL. I've noticed that even if I try to make 4 lines of all offense, only the top two will really produce the kind of numbers you expect from offensive lines. Then the guys on the other two lines will get low morale because they expect to put up points but they're not doing it quite enough.

Hey yeah, I will trade him when i get the right trade, just cant get a deal that really jumps out at me, although his numbers are not that bad, yeah his salary is rather large lol, and i need to get some quality propsects, i ahve a few, but when its time to sign them i may not be able to fit them under the salary, so yeah im just looking to trade him, just need the right trade, in the mean time, he can stay on the 3rd line and help Kaspar and Setoguchi develop into minny vinnys

lol "minny vinnys"

Well if my "Minny Vinnys" turn out half as good as "Big Vinny" i will be very pleased, but they are coming along nicely, so vinny must be a good teacher, and I shall keep you posted on my "Minny Vinnys"