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NHL Scratches & Line Changes

Paul Postma(D)|
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Meech and Postma, playing similar, offensive styles, can’t both stay, can they? Postma, not on Wednesday’s roster, likely has the agonizing chore of waiting for Friday to get his last chance.

Postma scored 12 goals and 45 points last season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, earning a one-game tryout with the big club. He's proved himself ready for the NHL but it remains uncertain whether he will receive a chance with the Jets this season.

Source:
Winnipeg Sun 2011-09-28T15:18:40.000Z
Paul Postma
Derek Meech(D)|INA
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“It looks like a smart signing for us,” the coach said. “Where he lands, he’ll show us. He looks like an NHL player. Can he be an every day, top-six? He’s still young and looks good. We’re happy with what we’ve got.”

Meech played all of last season in the AHL but broke out offensively with 10 goals and 37 points. If he makes the team, he could show that potential at the AHL level but would need extensive injuries to his defensive counterparts in order to get offensive minutes.

Source:
Winnipeg Sun 2018-07-18T17:53:17.337Z
Jason Gregoire(LW)|
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Winnipegger Jason Gregoire survived the first round of Jets cuts on Tuesday and now has two pre-season games left to try to earn spot with the big club.

With no professional experience Gregoire likely fails to make the cut due to the numbers game. Last season the University of North Dakota standout managed to pot 25 goals in 35 games. With some added seasoning, the left winger could become a hometown hero.

Source:
Jetstream 2011-09-28T15:11:39.000Z
Jason Gregoire
Brendan Smith(D)|FA
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Smith, however, will be recalled only when he can be in the Red Wings’ lineup. The club isn’t going to bring him up just to be a healthy scratch as the seventh defenseman.

As the team's top prospect, Smith will continue to play as much as possible. Last season, as a first year pro, the Mimico, ONT native produced 12 goals and 32 points through 63 games for the Grand Rapid Griffins. Look for him to continue developing his game at the AHL level, gaining a callup with any significant injuries.

Source:
Mlive.com 2011-09-28T15:01:22.000Z
Brendan Smith
Dan Hamhuis(LD)|INA
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Dan Hamhuis will play for the first time since Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final tonight in Anaheim

Hamhuis was limited to 64 games last season but hopes to stay on the ice more this season. Last year he managed to score six goals and 23 points while maintaining a healthy plus-29 rating. Expect him to put up similar numbers if he remains on the top defensive pairing.

Source:
The White Towel 2011-09-28T14:55:07.000Z
Dan Hamhuis
Jerome Samson(RW)|INA
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Samson won't like it. He hopes to be on the Canes' opening-day NHL roster. But if it happens, it happens, and the forward will accept it and continue to do what he has done with the Canes' AHL affiliates, whether in Albany or Charlotte -- work hard, score goals, wait for a callup to the big club and try again.

Samson scored over a point-per-game pace at the AHL level for two seasons now which would indicate he is NHL ready. If the team finds a vacancy in a scoring role, look for Samson to either enter the lineup from the press box or the AHL. At 24, the right wing has close to nothing left to prove at that level.

Source:
Canes Now 2018-07-18T17:53:21.058Z
Matt Read(RW)|FA
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A dark horse to make the roster could be 25-year-old rookie right wing Matt Read, who signed in March after finishing four years at Bemidji State University. He had 7 goals and 13 points in 11 AHL games after signing, and has a goal and 3 assists in his first three preseason games.

Read has made quite the impression in the City of Brotherly Love. Expect him to see some time on the fourth line by the end of the season.

Source:
NHL.com 2011-09-28T13:33:58.000Z
Matt Read
Sean Couturier(C)|PHI
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Couturier also could be an option after scoring 96 points in back-to-back seasons with Drummondville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He's excellent defensively and strong on faceoffs. With Giroux, Briere and Blair Betts locked into center spots, Couturier and Schenn could be competing for the final spot in the middle. Couturier, at 6-foot-3 and 197 pounds is big enough to play on the wing if he sticks.

Couturier has almost nothing left to prove in the QMJHL and could make the team as a third-line winger. The injury to Brayden Schenn also helps open a roster spot for the 8th overall pick.

Source:
NHL.com 2011-09-28T13:32:30.000Z
Sean Couturier
Roman Hamrlik(D)|INA
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Hamrlik’s presence on the power play adds a different look for a team that has long lacked a left-handed defenseman comfortable playing the point with the man advantage.

Hamrlik will probably man the point on PP2 with Mike Green and Alex Ovechkin expected to quarterback the top unit. Last season, Hamrlik scored five goals and 34 points in 79 games for the Montreal Canadiens with 15 coming via PP. Expect him to approach those totals this season with the Caps.

Source:
Capitals Insider 2018-07-18T17:53:30.368Z
Maxime Macenauer(C)|INA
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Fast-forward to the present in Anaheim and he finds himself on the brink of the NHL life once again. After another round of cuts yesterday, the roster for the Ducks currently stands at 30 players. With just two more exhibition games left at home and a Saturday team flight for Europe scheduled, time is closing in on those last few reassignments. Macenauer is hoping for a different fate this time around.

Macenauer could fit on the fourth, or even third line, after training camp. The 22-year-old scored 13 goals and 32 points in 79 games with the Syracuse Crunch last season. With the Ducks notoriously injury-prone look for this youngster to get a few looks over the course of the season.

Source:
AnaheimDucks.com 2018-07-18T17:53:26.433Z
Marcus Kruger(C)|FA
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Kruger and Smith appear to be the favorites after playing significant roles for the Hawks down the stretch last season. Kruger is in his first full training camp after leaving Europe last season to join the Hawks. Both can play in the middle and that will help their cases.

Kruger was expected to step up when Patrick Sharp went down but hasn't dominated over his competition. Last season, the Stockholm, Sweden native was held scoreless over seven games. He probably doesn't hold too much offensive value at this point in his development.

Source:
Chicago Tribune 2011-09-28T12:47:58.000Z
Marcus Kruger
Brandon Pirri(C)|FA
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Pirri's ability as a pure center and a strong camp has put him in the picture.

The former second round pick has put himself in good position to make the team as the third line center. Last season, the Toronto native scored 12 goals and 43 points over 70 games for the Rockland IceHogs of the AHL. He should be capable of handling a checking role for the Blackhawks and should see time in their sweater at some point this season.

Source:
Chicago Tribune 2011-09-28T12:53:36.000Z
Brandon Pirri
Ben Smith(RW)|
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Kruger and Smith appear to be the favorites after playing significant roles for the Hawks down the stretch last season. Smith was a postseason hero with three goals in the seven-game Western Conference quarterfinals against the Canucks.

Smith likely makes the team but will compete for a scoring-line role. The winger scored a goal in six regular season games before becoming a postseason hero for the Blackhawks. With a healthy supporting cast, he could have to earn his minutes from the ground up.

Source:
Chicago Tribune 2011-09-28T12:46:15.000Z
Ben Smith
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins(C)|EDM
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If Red Deer Rebels’ coach Jesse Wallin was holding to a faint hope that Nugent-Hopkins could be back in his No. 9 sweater with the Western Hockey League junior team, he can probably forget it, at least for the start of the Oilers season with Sam Gagner out with a sprained ankle.

Nugent-Hopkins could stick for longer than nine games if Gagner fails to return by then. If so, expect a similar rookie season to Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle -- somewhere around 15-20 goals and 40-45 points -- while playing on one of the top two lines.

Source:
Edmonton Journal 2011-09-28T12:42:21.000Z
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Patrick O'Sullivan(C)|INA
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“I need to have a good year in the NHL this year. I’m well aware of that,” said O’Sullivan, who signed a one-year, two-way contract with Phoenix in the off-season.

With various departures in Phoenix, O'Sullivan could earn a spot if he can prove reliable at both ends of the ice. Last season the enigmatic forward only scored two goals and eight points in 31 games, split between the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild. The left wing did however prove he was too good for the AHL as he potted 19 goals and 48 points in 36 games with the Houston Aeros.

Source:
Edmonton Journal 2018-07-18T17:53:28.954Z
Slava Voynov(D)|
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Voynov will get his third preseason game tonight, and Terry Murray recently said he believed Voynov to be “ahead’’ of Thomas Hickey in terms of readiness to grab an NHL spot.

Voynov impressed so far and should be on everyone's shortlist. Last season the Russian import scored 15 goals and 51 points for the Manchester Monarchs. He could easily be used in place of Drew Doughty should the latter continue his now infamous holdout.

Source:
LA Kings Insider 2011-09-27T16:16:51.000Z
Slava Voynov
Marco Sturm(LW)|INA
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Second line has Hodgson centring Sturm and Samuelsson.

Sturm on the second line could be a decent fit as he struggled previously in a checking role. Last season, the German winger scored five goals and 16 points in an injury-marred season. Should he stick on the second line, look for him to approach 20 goals for the seventh time in his career.

Source:
Hosea Cheung 2018-07-18T17:53:24.751Z
Brooks Laich(C)|
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There's plenty to talk about with Brooks Laich, but whatever minor injury caused him to leave practice Sunday and miss it altogether Monday is not one of them, according the Capitals forward.

Laich should be fully healthy but his place in the lineup is debatable. Last season the versatile forward scored 16 goals and 48 points while rotating between the second and third lines. If he is featured in a scoring role, Laich could come near 60 points.

Source:
Capitals Watch 2011-09-27T15:41:31.000Z
Brooks Laich

NHL Line Changes

NHL line changes are essential in keeping a team’s players fresh on the ice over the course of a hard-fought 60-minute matchup. With shift changes occurring rapidly throughout any given game, we are here to provide you with everything you need to know regarding line changes.

Making sure a team is efficiently making line changes can be essential to their success within a matchup, as it ensures that the players needed on the ice to gain the upper hand are ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. For NHL daily fantasy hockey players, knowing how to track line changes can be important as you look to keep tabs on the players you’ve drafted to your lineup and their production.

On The Fly

Unlike other sports where play must come to a stop in order to make a player substitution, in hockey, players can switch in-and-out of play on the fly. This helps in keeping the breakneck pace of the contest going, increasing the amount of action from whistle-to-whistle and avoiding any unnecessary stoppages.

On the fly changes are generally done when a team is in possession of the puck and are looking to make a transition play from their own end to their opponent’s side of the rink. Players must be aware of the action around them when making an on the fly substitution as a poorly timed switch could leave themselves vulnerable to an odd-man rush on the other end.

In order to make successful line changes on the fly it is up to the team coaching staff to keep players informed on when their line matchups are due to hit the ice. Generally, with both forwards and defensive pairings, line changes go from the first line trickling its way down to the fourth. Depending on the situation of the game, coaches may opt to give a particular line more playing time, increasing the amount of shifts they receive.

Play Stoppages

NHL line changes can also be made during stoppage of play, with both sides being given the chance to put fresh bodies on the ice ahead of the upcoming faceoff. Examples of a play stoppage that would allow teams to make line changes are after minor or major penalties, offsides, icing, and puck out of play calls. These line changes are often much more calculated as each coach has time to survey the other team and decide what would be the most advantageous line combination that will provide them with a competitive advantage.

Bench Configuration

It may seem like a confusing and unorganized area of the game, but in hockey there is a fair amount of strategy put into the bench configuration within a matchup. With both benches positioned in the neutral zone, making sure that players can quickly hop the boards and get into the game is key to making successful line changes. Benches are generally set so that players entering into the game on the fly are in the best possible position on the ice to fulfill their role.

Generally, a bench in hockey will have the forwards positioned closest to the attacking zone, whereas the defenceman will be situated closest to their defensive zone. This separates the forward lines and defence pairings from on another on each end of the bench so that groups can easily stay together. From here the rested forwards ready to enter into the game will be placed in the centre of the bench, positioned near the coaches so they can easily receive instruction before hitting the ice. This is also advantageous as players coming off the ice for a line change will often enter from the opposite side they came onto the ice from, preventing any unnecessary traffic or confusion when making a change. While each team may have their own preferences on how to configure their bench, these are the most common ways they are run.

Line Change Rules

Understanding the rules of NHL line changes in hockey is an understated part of the game and when used correctly can swing the tide of a matchup in your favour. Without in-depth understanding of line changes in hockey, this can cause costly mistakes that can result in minor penalties, lengthy shifts, or mismatches off a faceoff.

Last Line Change

The last line change rule exists so that the home team is able to make an adjustment to whatever lineup the visiting team decides to roll out after a stoppage in play. This rule was designed to make NHL line changes efficient, as well as provide both sides with the chance to strategically place their players based on the lines sent out by their opponents.

For example, after the whistle, the home team’s coach can elect to make a line change to the personnel on the ice. After that, the visiting coach will send out any new players into the game off of a line change. Thanks to the last line change rule, the home team coach is now granted the opportunity to make one last line change before play resumes to counter whatever line changes were made by the opposing team.

For daily fantasy sports bettors this is where having ample knowledge of each NHL team can come in handy. You can envision how each team may look to gain a competitive advantage over their opponent during a possession, drafting players who are set up for success within a matchup.

Penalties & Infractions

While NHL line changes are meant to be an efficient and simple way to keep the game being played at a fast-pace with minimal interruptions, there is still room for serious error during these substitutions. It’s not uncommon to see teams assessed for a penalty due to a botched line change, resulting in a power play opportunity for the opposing team.

A common penalty called as a result of a poorly executed line change is “too many men on the ice”. This penalty results when the offending team has six or more skaters (including the goaltender) on the ice at any given time and comes in physical contact with the puck. While players entering in the game during a shift change are eligible to hop the boards and get in on the action once their teammate is within five feet of the bench, they must time this correctly or they could be hit with a premature substitution infraction. When a bench minor penalty such as too many men on the ice is assessed, it is up to the team’s head coach to decide who serves the penalty based on the players currently on the ice at the time of the penalty.

Another line change infraction to be aware of is in the case of an icing call. Icing is called when a team plays a puck from their own side of the red centre line across the red goal line in their opponents end. When icing is called, a faceoff will be taken from the end of the team that committed the infraction. During an icing call the team that was called for icing is not able to make any line changes, meaning they are forced to keep all players who were on the ice at the time of the infraction in the contest. Their opponents however are allowed to make any line change they desire, making this an incredibly beneficial call if they can strategize correctly.

How Line Changes Impact Fantasy Hockey

NHL line changes can come fast and suddenly so it can be challenging to keep track of certain players over the course of a matchup. This can make it difficult for avid fantasy hockey managers and sports bettors to know when the players they’ve wagered on are on the ice. Some broadcasts now incorporate various display mechanics that allow for you to see who is on the ice at any given time, making shift change tracking much simpler than ever before. Be sure to stay up-to-date on the jersey numbers of any players on your fantasy roster or that you bet on as a failsafe so that you can find them quickly while watching the action unfold.

Knowing how long a typical shift for a player entering into a matchup is can be an advantageous piece of knowledge for fantasy managers and bettors alike. The longer a player’s shift lasts, the higher their chances of registering a point or other statistical milestone which can help you in winning your fantasy matchups and/or bets placed on a game.