i like stacking the top line personally and my top line doesn't have Bert on it
Nylander-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Knies-Domi-Bertuzzi
I don't think we're getting nearly enough contribution from the rest of the lineup to stack personally. But I'm just following the data really.
- Bertuzzi's territorial impacts have been great this year, even though his counting stats haven't been. A lot of that is probably his forechecking presence.
- Tavares has done nothing at 5v5 this season to deserve a slot on an offensive line ahead of Domi, and if you want a more traditional 3rd line, Tavares is the pretty obvious choice to centre it if you ignore the name on the back of the jersey and the paycheck. He's had good defensive impacts this season, he's already trusted with defensive zone faceoffs, and traditionally plays well with checking forwards on his line. Basically, stop hamstringing your offensively skilled wingers by trying to get them to create with Tavares. This isn't even a "mindz hates Tavares thing" it's just a straight up and down meritocracy when the team fucking needs it thing.
5v5:
Domi: 540 minutes, 21 points, most common linemates: Jarnkrok & Robertson (32%), Kampf & Knies (9%), Holmberg & Jarnkrok (6%)
Tavares: 678 minutes, 17 points, most common linemates: Nylander & Bertuzzi (45%), Marner & Bertuzzi (17%)
Domi has out produced him while playing with significantly lesser linemates. I'm just suggesting that we lean into that. Domi is a better 5v5 producer, give him linemates to produce with. Tavares is a better 5v5 suppressor, give him linemates to suppress with.