Is It Hensiiick's Turn?

by Joe Dunman on Sep 30, 2008 7:11 AM MDT in News Comment 15 comments

[Avalanche coach Tony] Granato believes in the Lansing, Mich., native, however, and an undercurrent of training camp is whether Hensick could unseat Tyler Arnason as the third-line center.

"Is he a quality NHL-caliber player? Yes," Granato said of Hensick. "The question is, where is he going to fit in?"

There's no question that Hensick's eleven points in 31 games last season were a disappointment. But at 21 years old, there aren't many players that can just waltz into the NHL and pile up the points. But there's also no question that the kid is extremely talented. It wouldn't be a giant stretch of the imagination to foresee the Avs' top two centers as Paul Stastny and TJ Hensick in a post-Sakic era.

Even if this isn't Hensick's year, at least Granato is seriously considering removing Tyler Arnason from his current role and replacing him with a more talented player. But, like Dater points out in his article, would playing on the third line with Ian Laperriere and (maybe) Darcy Tucker actually hurt Hensick more than help him? He is, after all, a small, speedy scorer more in the mold of Marek Svatos than a solid, in-your-face playmaker like Peter Forsberg. Hensick is not a power forward.

Not that he has to be, but with Sakic still around and Stastny poised to set points-scoring records, there just isn't a ton of room for Hensick to find a spot.

Regardless, I'd be willing to take the chance. More talent is more talent, and if the potential to score goals is higher with Hensick on the ice than with Arnason, I say go with the former. Besides, neither one of them can really play defense at this point, so what difference does it make?

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He [Hensick] is, after all, a small, speedy scorer more in the mold of Marek Svatos than a solid, in-your-face playmaker like Peter Forsberg. Hensick is not a power forward.

I was going to make a comment along the lines of “Well, Arny is NONE of those things, so at least Hensiiick has that going for him,” but you basically said that in you last sentence.

No go answer some roundtable questions…

by Mike @ MHH on Sep 30, 2008 7:17 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

You’re having some serious letter-exclusion issues today.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 30, 2008 7:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

You right, as usua

by Mike @ MHH on Sep 30, 2008 9:06 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lappy and Tucker?

Why does that have to be the thrid line.. Couldn’t it be Tucker and Jones, or move Svats Machine down and put tucker on the second line and make it Svats and Jones.

Personally I think if the Avs aren’t using a checking line of Guite, Lappy and Ledin/Cody Mc.. Granato’s crazy.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Sep 30, 2008 8:59 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Lappy deserves to play on the 3rd line, wearing the A and all.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 1, 2008 9:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

HOT LINE ACTION!!

I’d like to see the following:
Smytty – Son of Stastny – The Duke
Mutha Tucker – Super Joe – “Little Davey” Jones
The Svats Machine – Hensiiick – Baron von Wolski
Lappy – Ben “Guillotine” Guite – Le Golden Boy

Now some of you will say “That third line has some defensive drawbacks!” To those people I say – Shut up. You don’t have to play defense if you score buckets of goals.

by Mike @ MHH on Sep 30, 2008 9:24 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Ah, the Eastern Conference approach to hockey lines. Considering Wolski’s playmaking combined with Hensick’s and Svatos’ finishing touches, that could be an incredible scoring line. Except that they’d get bullied around and knocked off the puck non-stop. I just don’t see that as a realistic third line in the Western Conference. Not that I don’t freakin’ love it.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 30, 2008 9:34 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Switch Svats and Mutha and I like those lines better. Gotta put a finisher with Super Joe, and more toughness on that 3rd. And the jury is definitely still out on siiiiiiiick. He didn’t work hard enough for me during some of his opportunities last season. Sure, he’s bound to be better than Arny. But who isn’t?

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Sep 30, 2008 10:19 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was going to suggest swapping Tucker and Wolski

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 30, 2008 10:57 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was looking at that, Jones also makes more sense as a third line kind of guy, just because of his tenaciousness/physicality.
BUT, who says you have to have two grinding lines? Three good scoring lines can have it’s advantages as well. And you can’t even think of having Joe as the third line center.
Wolski and Svatos had some good chemistry last season, getting them a better center (like one who can hit the net) might break them out to do some serious damage.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Sep 30, 2008 2:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

pretty close to what i would like. Jones and Hensick have great chemistry, so i’d pop Jones down to the 3rd and play Svatos with Sakic personally. Jones would also help Wolski and Hensick with defense. You could also switch Tucker and and Wolski, depending on where you want your pest. I think there’s been pretty obvious hints that Tucker and Sakic will start the year together though.

by thedoctor on Sep 30, 2008 11:37 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tucker and Sakic

I really think that is Trucker’s best opportunity.

Since I live in T.O., I saw a lot of him, and IMO he was shafted in T.O. by constantly being put on the ice without a strong linemate. He was always used as the third string goon, and he’s a better power forward than that. I think he’s more of a poor man’s Smytty(the properly used one) than a simple pest.

Granted, I could be completely out to lunch with him, but I really think he’ll have a great year if he’s with Sakic.

Also, I actually have a reason to watch the boring ML hockey now that Finger is there. I always liked him.

by Drakenlot on Sep 30, 2008 11:59 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wolski played with Svatos and Arnason most of last season as a third line and they were alright defensively (not great, but alright) Hensiiick can’t be any worse defensively than Arnason, can he?

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Sep 30, 2008 2:04 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs