Sometimes players just click. Even on a team that isn't doing well overall, there are usually a few players who play their best together. Who's that this season?
Requirements
Written option: Who plays on the league's most effective line or defence pairing (or both), and what contributes to their success? Must include 150 words.
Graphic options: Make a graphic showing the stats of your team's most effective line in a creative way.
(ty good_ole_kimmy for this pt concept)
Payout
4 TPE for doing the thing. (Just one of the things, not both.)
Only S49 SMJHL Rookies (S50 SHL Rookies) are eligible for this PT.
Do not claim this TPE until a post is made in the claim thread.
When talking about great SMJHL pairings, look no further than Anchorage's Baby Oil Line - Gabe Johnson (@Gwdjohnson) and Darnell Johnson (@frithjofr).
On the ice, their effectiveness comes from the fact that they're like water and baby oil. Gabe pursues offensive dominance to an irresponsible degree, and Darnell compulsively hangs back to maintain zone security. Both players are so hyper-focused on the aspect of their game that they enjoy, that with any other defensive pairing they would seem like an ineffective player. But playing together, it just works.
Off the ice, the two veteran defensemen are just as inseparable. They "write" and produce a podcast together - a medium that allows them to directly beam their unfiltered thoughts into the world with seemingly no editing or foresight. It has gotten the two of them into trouble more than once as a meandering tangent led one of them to claim that Hitler is a legend, or STHS simulations output consistent results, or other such nonsense that they don't really believe.
Additionally, there are rumours that Gabe and Darnell are actively trying to forge as many Eskimo brother links to each other as they can - a strategy that has no direct on-ice impact but further illustrates their commitment to each other.
I wanted to write about a different team for this one, but I have to go with a homer pick. Montreal’s top line of Gaspard Boone, Alexei Rykov, and Herry Morris IV has been incredible this season. Boone and Morris are both veterans in the SMJHL, but Rykov is a rookie this season. This line accounts for a combined 48 goals on the season, which is nearly 1.3 per game. Having a line that you can count on for a goal in pretty much every game is a huge boon to the coaching staff. Both Boone and Morris are each a +17 this season, which is in large part due to the amount of offense they put up, but also suggests that they aren’t terrible defensively. Rykov has to be the biggest surprise though. The rookie is shooting at slightly better than 20%, which is the 5th highest in the entire league.He’s also the 4th highest scoring rookie. Two proven veterans with a rookie playing well above expectations makes for one of the best forward lines in the league.
Being unbiased, I think St.Louis has the best complete three player top line. The line of Nicolaj Muller - Mika Kandinsky - Barret Blackwood are all in top 10 for both scoring, and plus/minus so I think it's an easy choice. All of them are capped for TPE in the SMJHL and have great builds. Both wingers, Muller and Blackwood, have 80 defense covering Kandinsky who has 77. Nothing has really changed for the duo of Muller and Kandinsky, they were first and second in the league last season for scoring with their previous line mate coming in 4th. This year's trio all have a shot percentage on the higher end of what could be called "fair" with 14.XX% but when you look at their builds they all have 80 scoring. As of now they only get 35% of the Scarecrow's ice time, you would think the coach would throw this line out as much as he could but I'll assume they stick with these minutes to keep themselves more rested over the regular season and ready to play 50% ice time come playoffs.
I'm gonna have to go with Montreal's top line of Gaspard Boone, Alexei Rykov, and Herry Morris IV. This line is a combination of seasoned veterans and a rookie with a bright future ahead. Boone and Morris are the one-two combo no team can seem to stop. They are both top 5 in the league for goals and Boone even puts himself on top 10 for assist, mainly by setting up his high scoring linemates. The success of this line can be counted in part due to their incredible finish, Boone shoots at 17.92% and Rykov shoots an outstanding 20.75%. If you are wondering where Morris gets his points from despite not shooting at a high percentage, it's the number of shots he takes. Morris leads the league in shots taken at 135, shooters shoot I guess. Morris also has the ability to lay the body finding himself solidly in the top 10 for hits in the entire league. Overall this line uses their incredible offensive ability to overpower other teams in the league and cement themselves as one of the top lines.
08-26-2019, 01:02 AM(This post was last modified: 08-26-2019, 01:03 AM by RaginCajun.)
The defensive pairing of Kaspars Claude and Egor Kucherov for the Vancouver Whalers is extremely impressive. Already this season they have stopped a combined 97 shots with Claude blocking 49 and Kucherov blocking 48. Claude also had 2 game tying goals and has played a whopping 838 minutes so far this season. Between the two dmen you have a combined 32 points with Claude counting for 21 and Kucherov 11. They also have a combined point total on the power play of 15 with 7 going to Claude and Kucherov bringing in 8. The pairing also has a combined 72 hits with Claude accounting for 29 and Kucherov a whopping 43. While it has been a somewhat rough season for the Whalers this defensive pairing have continued to provide a solid defense that most other teams could only dream of and while they are not an offensive powerhouse their ability to convert on the power play which makes up a good amount of their points is impressive. The massive amounts of shots blocked and the ability to stack on the hits makes them a dominant pairing that will only grow stronger as the rest of their lines fill out.
I checked the stats and I have to say, that offensive there is just one line you can say, it’s the top of the league. From the Montreal Militia with Gaspard Boone, Alexei Rykov and Herry Moris IV. Gaspard Boone at the 1st and Herry Morris on 4th Place in Scooring is just one thing. I thinks the chemistry of these three players is great. A Rookie, Alexei Rykov that brings some cheekyness to this line and two Veterans, who knows the league, a good mix that looks to work. The shooting of all these three players are excellent, so I would find the success in this point, also the ability to skate and work with quick hands should be named as a attribute in this line that makes these three players to the best offensive line in the entire junior league. Interesting to follow the Militia the rest of the season to see how this line will win games for the team.
The league its most effective offensive pairing can’t be any other than the second line of the Detroit Falcons. The trio consisting of Josh Driver, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Raino Kyllonen all have a plus/minus rating of atleast 20. The effectiveness of their line shows in the standings as the Detroit Falcons have a comfortable lead over the Kelowna Knights and are currently the big favourites to take the Four Star Cup this year.
Surprisingly they are not even the teams best scorers, Raino Kyllonen is in third in team scoring with 34 points, Khabib Nurmagomedov follows as sixth with 30 points and Josh Driver only has 17 points this far which is good for the 13th place in team scoring.
The real reason why they are the most effective pairing is their ability to shutdown the enemies offense, giving the offensive stars of the Detroit Falcons a chance to win it all. Offensive gets people to the games, but defense wins championships, and that is exactly what this trio is trying to proof.
Look, the best key line pie in the league is clearly the Scarecrows top line of Nicolaj Muller, Mika Kandinsky, and Barrett Blackwood, and it isn't really debatable.
God, this line is dominant. Each member of this line is in the Top 10 for SMJHL scoring, putting up a combined 119 points in a combined 117 games. Furthermore, this line isn't just focused on pure offensive output, but they dominate in their own zone as well. Each member of this line is in the Top 5 of the league's +/-, coming in at a combined +58.
This line is able to put up ridiculous stats by each being capped out, as well as having player builds that feed off each other. Each member of this line has roughly 70 passing, and 80 scoring, meaning each member of the line is a threat to score. Additionally, with about 80 defence, each player is consistently in the right place at the right time, enhancing their own scoring opportunities, and shutting down the oppositions.
In conclusion, this line is unstoppable, and should only see their numbers go up if they see an increase in play time in the postseason.
Johnson and Johnson, nicknamed the “Baby Oil Line”, are the dynamic duo of the Armada and the backbone of the team. Not only are they the leaders of the team, but they also set the standard on work ethic and training during practice. Often, you’ll see both of them mentoring the rookies such as Augustus Wang or Samuel Michaud who look to be the future stars of the Armada defense. During games though, it becomes apparent that they thrive off each other’s playstyles to create an unstoppable top-pairing defense that is solid on both ends of the ice. Gabriel Johnson is the offensive mastermind of this deadly duo as he drives the play and has been deadly at creating scoring chances as he is currently tied 7th in league in scoring for a defenceman. Meanwhile, Darnell serves as the defensive pillar that makes this duo so dangerous as they can punish you from anywhere on the ice. Darnell is currently tied for 7th in shots blocked with 51. The Baby Oil Line serves as the catalyst to the Armada’s overall success as they set the gold standard for how to be successful in this league.
I am going to be honest with myself. The best line in the league is not on Vancouver, my team. Not yet. The best line in the league is Montreal’s top line of Gaspard Boone, Alexei Rykov, and Herry Morris IV. Boone and Morris are experienced veterans with great goal-scoring ability. However, Alexei Rykov is a rookie. A rookie who is 4th in rookie goal-scoring. A rookie who has one of the highest shooting percentages in the league. There are 3 great big weapons on this line, and perform acts of terror to whoever is up on the ice against them. And it's not like they are one trick ponies either. Gaspard Boone and Herry Morris are extremely talented defensively. Montreal's managers can put them out there at anytime, in any situation. Powerplay, penalty kill, needing a goal with 1 minute left. Need to defend a lead? They got it covered as well. This line is almost unstoppable. We will have to see if they can survive the playoffs.
So in a shocking turn of events the most productive defensive line for the Armada might in fact be the new rookie line of Michaud and Wang. Offensively they are producing at a similar level to their teammates with less ice time which is a shocker for everyone in the organization. What really makes these guys tick is their ability to not give a rats ass about what some of their other rookie teammates think about the way they play the game. These guys just go out there and know what each person is going to do on each and every shift. Additionally what is working for these guys is balance. You have the offensive style of play from Wang that mixes very well with the stay at home mentality of his teammate, that really helps solidify this line. Their teammates ability to trust the two rookies together on a line has really helped the Armada over the last few games and with the success of these young men, appears to come success for the team as a whole.
Add me to the list of people touting Montreal's stellar 1st line of Gaspard Boone, Alexei Rykov, Herry Morris IV. This trio is creating havoc for every team in the SMJHL this season. With 103 points and a combined +29 among the group this year the line is leading the pack and bringing in 42% of Montreal's total goals this season. There are a ton of great things to say about each of them. Gaspard Boone seems to be unstoppable, rookie Alexei Rykov is tied for 3rd place in rookie points, and Herry Morris IV is playing an extremely physical 200 foot game (80 hits and 34 minutes in the box). However, it seems the line is the most effective when on opposing ice. With a 12-7-1 record on the road compared to a 6-9-4 at home, the trifecta of talent appears to thrive on the pressure of being on the road. With this group Montreal is an offensive force to be reckoned with.
As the old saying goes, defense wins championships.
I'm going to go with my home team, Defense line #1 - FR Finn-Rhys and Taisei-Tiikeri Wawazat. These two are on the ice for a ton of minutes, consistently playing over 40% of the game, more often it is closer to 50%. They are both capped at 350 which gives us a really solid top paring and their strong numbers in defense and puck handling (80 / 73.5, 77 / 74) respectively give them very strong possession, and the ability to drive offence from the point.
A lot of our offensive possession is driven by recovering turnovers and heavy passing. Although they can score goals, both of their focus is in passing - it is a strength for each of them. If you look through some old game film, you will see the common goal play starts with our defense recovering a lose puck, and getting it up to one of the forwards who can try to finish it off Alternatively we will cycle it back to the point to reset the zone and they will work it around to find an opening. There is a lot of quick and tight passes that can catch the other teams defense out of position.
Aside from on ice performance, both players have a strong presence in the locker room. Finn-Rhys is more of a vocal leader and willing to help out everyone from the rookies get accustomed to the league, or a center-man who is having trouble on the face-offs with a classic Finn-Rhys motivational speech. Wawazat is a more quiet guy, but you can always count on him to be a show and not tell type of player. His quiet consistent performance leads him to be a reliable anchor on the ice (in a good way!) and everyone knows that we can count on him.
Having these 2 players leading the way from our D inspires confidence in the rest of the team to win, and that's why they are the Key Line Pie of the SJHL.
Jenny![[Image: thistidalwave.gif]](http://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/thistidalwave.gif)
Rich![[Image: jrousseau.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/jrousseau.gif)
![[Image: j7ebBxQ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/j7ebBxQ.png)
![[Image: FbT2Pb1.png]](https://i.imgur.com/FbT2Pb1.png)
![[Image: 4bGW0Vw.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4bGW0Vw.png)
![[Image: 59270_s.gif]](https://signavatar.com/59270_s.gif)
![[Image: jcjcF7J.png]](http://i.imgur.com/jcjcF7J.png)
![[Image: nHs4nH0.png]](http://i.imgur.com/nHs4nH0.png)
![[Image: sBbbJmN.png]](https://i.imgur.com/sBbbJmN.png)
![[Image: 431fb2-1569327124.png]](https://www.bilder-upload.eu/upload/431fb2-1569327124.png)
![[Image: m38.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/m38.gif)
![[Image: fishyshl.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/fishyshl.gif)
![[Image: czechpp.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/537644128066994197/593617273575440433/czechpp.png)
![[Image: czechup.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/537644128066994197/593618761756704779/czechup.png)
![[Image: image.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/526497228731187242/1042150145250308238/image.png)
![[Image: dankestmemes69420.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/dankestmemes69420.gif)
![[Image: vhY18i8.png]](http://i.imgur.com/vhY18i8.png)
![[Image: gs89eGV.png]](http://i.imgur.com/gs89eGV.png)
![[Image: nBgNUTY.png]](http://i.imgur.com/nBgNUTY.png)
![[Image: thiefofcheese.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/thiefofcheese.gif)
![[Image: Yztckjo.png]](https://i.imgur.com/Yztckjo.png)
Defense line #1 - FR Finn-Rhys and Taisei-Tiikeri Wawazat. These two are on the ice for a ton of minutes, consistently playing over 40% of the game, more often it is closer to 50%. They are both capped at 350 which gives us a really solid top paring and their strong numbers in defense and puck handling (80 / 73.5, 77 / 74) respectively give them very strong possession, and the ability to drive offence from the point.![[Image: krash.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/krash.gif)
![[Image: kLRJavo.png]](https://i.imgur.com/kLRJavo.png)
![[Image: ZjgHcNL.png]](https://i.imgur.com/ZjgHcNL.png)
![[Image: s9JOf1N.png]](https://i.imgur.com/s9JOf1N.png)
![[Image: wW0VNnL.png]](https://i.imgur.com/wW0VNnL.png)
![[Image: EsVSFns.png]](https://i.imgur.com/EsVSFns.png)
![[Image: uzmDXiJ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/uzmDXiJ.png)
![[Image: RichSHL.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/RichSHL.gif)
![[Image: mpcR8M0.png]](https://i.imgur.com/mpcR8M0.png)
![[Image: AwDqhTW.png]](https://i.imgur.com/AwDqhTW.png)
