The Pens have a deep pool to choose from when it comes to forwards this season. Below, I have formulated the lines I would like the see from Mike Johnston and staff. I am sure some of you will agree with these pairings, while others will call me a complete moron. Trust me, either way, my feelings won't be hurt. So without further adieu, what I believe the Pittsburgh Penguins lines should look like come the 2014-15 season.
First Line: Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crosby, Beau Bennett
Now with all that being said, we have to address the elephant in the room that is Beau Bennett. He was the Pens 2010 first round pick. He made his NHL debut during the strike shortened year and became a fan favorite. But he has constantly been plagued by injuries. He has missed time in both of his NHL seasons, with a wrist that kept him out of roughly 75% of the Pens games last season. When he was healthy, he got little playing time; often on the 3rd or 4th lines and only playing about ten to twelve minutes a night.
The Pens need to see what they have in Bennett. He never really had the chemistry with Malkin and Neal that everyone hoped, but he is definitely more suited to play the likes of Crosby and Kunitz. I think it's time to find out once-and-for-all if Beau Bennett is capable of playing in a top six role. Let Bennett at the very least start the season with Crosby and Kunitz. If Bennett isn't the fit, then Dupuis can move back to the top line when he gets back into game form.
Second Line: Kasperi Kapanen, Evgeni Malkin, Patric Hornqvist
Patric Hornqvist is without a doubt joining Evgeni Malkin on the second line. GM Jim Rutherford loves Hornqvist game and since he signed no one else capable of playing with Malkin, it's safe to assume that Hornqvist will join Geno on the second line.
The question from there then was who fills in on the other wing. Jussi Jokinen jumped ship for Florida and Neal brought Hornqvist to us. So who fills that role? I am going with this year's first round pick, Kasperi Kapanen. He had a pretty decent rookie camp, he will be invited to training camp in the fall and he is playing very well in World Juniors for Team Finland as I type this piece. I would have thought he was at least a year or two away, but Rutherford and his staff think he could step in this year. Remember, Kapanen was ranked as the best European prospect in this year's draft class and top fifteen overall. I wouldn't be shocked to see him flanking Malkin come opening night, especially if he has a solid camp in September.
Third Line: Nick Spaling, Brandon Sutter, Pascal Dupuis
Spaling is coming off a career year. However, despite never playing a game in Pittsburgh, the fan base is out for his blood (like with Hornqvist). There are a lot of people out there who say his CORSI isn't good and with Sutter's CORSI it can only spell disaster. A lot of people buy into those numbers, but to me they don't mean a damn thing. They are numbers, they are computer generated. If the game was played on computers then we'd all be playing EA's NHL instead of watching these games. Spaling and Sutter are similar players. They are both defensive forwards with some offensive upside. I think they will play well together. Forget the computers, let their play talk.
Then you have Pascal Dupuis. Like I stated above, he is 35 and coming off a serious knee injury. He is going to need less minutes and to get back in game shape. That being said, he would be a perfect fit alongside Sutter and Spaling. He is also solid defensively, and on the penalty kill. He will be playing with those two guys on the PK, which would make it even better for them to have cohesion when full strength.
If Beau Bennett struggles on the top line, then I think you will see him slide down to this line and Duper back to the top. Either way, Brandon Sutter will be playing with better forwards than he's played with in his time in Pittsburgh. With that, you will definitely see a better third line than in recent years.
Fourth Line: Blake Comeau, Marcel Goc, Steve Downie
Now, who will be flanking him. Steve Downie will be a constant in the lineup as long as he is healthy. He is going to be the much needed grit that the Pens need. He will move up and down the lines, especially if anyone attempts to take liberties with Sid or Geno.
Now, I think Blake Comeau is the other guy who will be on the fourth line. His numbers have gone down in recent years and that saw him get kicked down the Blue Jackets lines as the games went by. In Pittsburgh, I think you will see him in the bottom six and most likely on the fourth line. He will shift in and out of the lineup as well, but for now, I have him starting.
This line won't get a lot of minutes. There is nothing sexy about this line like the others are. Marcel Goc is a great defensive forward, and you will see him play the most time of these guys. But Downie and Comeau will be in there as well, and likely moving up and down the lines depending on the situations.
The Others: Craig Adams, Zach Sill, Adam Payerl, Jayson Megna
It really pains me to say Craig Adams is done, but I think he is done. He really does not provide a lot to the team anymore besides a penalty kill specialist, and at his age (37) he is working on borrowed time. Now, if Kapenen does NOT make the roster, then Adams is the guys I think who will slide into the fourth line with some other shuffling. But I think we may have seen the end of the constant Craig Adams in the Pittsburgh lineup.
Zach Sill made his NHL debut last year and played well in those games. But he is a similar player to Craig Adams. He is good defensively but not much to speak of offensively. The one thing Sill has is grit, and if something happens to Downie I think Sill is his replacement.
Someone who was really turning heads in development camp was Adam Payerl. He is a physical force and a solid player. He had a great year at Wilkes-Barre last year, and he will definitely see some time in Pittsburgh this year. Does he crack the lineup out of camp? Probably not, but you never know what the next two months will bring.
The last guy here is Jayson Megna. He played very well in his rookie year. More importantly in my opinion, he had chemistry with Evgeni Malkin. If there are any problems, Megna could be a short-term solution to slide in there with Geno. I believe he deserves to break camp with the team, but if Kapanen makes it and Dupuis is healthy, I think we see him in Wilkes-Barre to start.