Article: The Wild Are Recycling Their Top Line... For Now

[Tony Abbott]

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[Citizen Strife]

I get why they are doing this, but it better work.  Kap/Ek/Boldy was so freaking good.

First time I see Kap and Zuccarello overpass and get poke checked or run out of scoring room, I'll be clamoring for Boldy.

[Will D. Ness]

Wow.  Tony and I are 100% in agreement.  Strange start to the season.

[Sam]

Kudos for the Breaking Bad reference. I agree that changing the lines and success they had last year seems dumb, but Hartzy and Zuccy need the benefit of playing with Kap more than Boldy and Ek. I think they will be just fine, it will help spread the wealth around.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

Hartman, Zucc and Kap just isn't a NHL first line anymore. They can't keep up on both ends of the ice and forcing Kap to carry his entire line doesn't convince him to stay.

[Lovehockey]

Tony great article 

[Burnt Toast]

I’m not sure what to expect from having Hartman Zuc and Kap reunited on what will be without question our first line. I’d define first line as any combination that includes Kap. To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect from this line the first go around so who knows. Last year this team looked disjointed and out of sync. Maybe it was the injuries, I just want to see the Wild competing all through the lineup as a team again. If that’s the case I think different line combinations can definitely work. 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

37 minutes ago, Burnt Toast said:

Last year this team looked disjointed and out of sync. Maybe it was the injuries, I just want to see the Wild competing all through the lineup as a team again. If that’s the case I think different line combinations can definitely work. 

Neither Hartman nor Kaprizov were 100% in camp last year, and Zuccarello got banged up early in the year. It made sense to go away from it last year, but if they are all in shape and fully healthy, I could see them having success again.

If not, it would be easy enough to switch it up. They want to try a bunch of different lines in preseason and see what they like, as well as giving guys a chance to gain familiarity with each other since penalties, injuries, or coaching whim may result in shuffling of lines during games anyway.

[Patrick]

Zuccarello is not a first line player anymore. I would argue he isn't even a 2nd line player.  With Zucc, Kaprizov has to spend WAY too much energy battling in the defensive zone, neutral zone and offensive corners.  At best Zucc is a power play specialist playing sheltered 3rd line minutes.  Boldy and Kaprizov both took off when they were paired with Ek and not coincidentally so did the Wild. Evason got fired for the same stupid thinking Hynes is displaying. Hopefully our season isn't over before Hynes changes his mind.