Bruce Boudreau Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 There has been lots of discussions it seems like since the last 5 plus years on the Canucks 4th line being expensive, lacking an identity, not being tough enough etc. So looking around the league for those who follow any of the the other 31 NHL teams more closely, what are some examples of good modern day 4th lines that the Canucks can take parts from and emulate? Do they need more younger,speedy, energetic guys who might actually contribute offence or play a shutdown checking agitating role or maybe tough hardened cagey veterans who know their roles and what they have to do to keep steady NHL employment? 2 of my current favorites: New York Rangers and New York Islanders. Blais-Goodrow-Reaves Big fast physical 4th line with tons of cup and playoffs experience will be an even bigger factor in the playoffs when the hitting starts for the Rangers. Martin-Czikas-Clutterbuck An old fashioned 4th line who has guys who can hit and fight, agitate and even score. A true energy line. Thoughts on some other good 4th line players or potential pieces... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJockitch Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Depends on the three lines above it. If you have a classic shutdown third line including some PKers, often a more offensive 4th line is used. If not then it is often filled with your PKers and is more of a shutdown line. I think in the salary cap era there is not a set formula and it kind of depends on how you populate the top 3 lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kloubek Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Motte Motte Motte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighOnHockey Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 2 hours ago, Chip Kelly said: There has been lots of discussions it seems like since the last 5 plus years on the Canucks 4th line being expensive, lacking an identity, not being tough enough etc. So looking around the league for those who follow any of the the other 31 NHL teams more closely, what are some examples of good modern day 4th lines that the Canucks can take parts from and emulate? Do they need more younger,speedy, energetic guys who might actually contribute offence or play a shutdown checking agitating role or maybe tough hardened cagey veterans who know their roles and what they have to do to keep steady NHL employment? 2 of my current favorites: New York Rangers and New York Islanders. Blais-Goodrow-Reaves Big fast physical 4th line with tons of cup and playoffs experience will be an even bigger factor in the playoffs when the hitting starts for the Rangers. Martin-Czikas-Clutterbuck An old fashioned 4th line who has guys who can hit and fight, agitate and even score. A true energy line. Thoughts on some other good 4th line players or potential pieces... Yeah the Isles' 4th line has been the prototype and the best 4th line in the league for years now. But much more important than the things you mentioned - hit, fight, agitate - is the way they control the low cycle. The NHL is a zone possession game, has been for the past decade now. That Isles' 4th line isn't all that interested in scoring, but have the size, hockey IQ and just enough skill that they can pin any opposing line in their own zone for long stretches, nullifying the potential for offence going the other way and also wearing down opponents. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklehead44 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 (edited) I really like energy 4th lines. A 4th line that has one young fast player who can play with an edge, a physical energy player with speed. and a defensive specialist (usually a centre who can win faceoffs) is probably the best combo. I don't watch enough of other teams, but these are some of the best 4th lines the Canucks have had in recent years that fit the profile: Horvat + Hansen + Dorsett/Kenins Chubarov + Letowski + Cooke Sutter (when he returns) with Podkolzin and Motte would be our best 4th line given the lineup we have. Given freedom to skate hard and hit is huge, and having a defensive specialist is important. Faceoffs are also big so they don't get hemmed in the zone on a DZO. Edited December 15, 2021 by canucklehead44 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86Viking Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 What has Tampa had on their 4th line? Size and grit with Maroon, Pacquette was decent at faceoffs and had alright size and whoever was the other player on the back to back cup winners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nux_win Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 It's the same as any other line, to be successful you have to score more goals than you let in. And so if you can't score a ton of goals that means that you better make sure that the other team doesn't score. There are many different ways to achieve that. People get way too specific about what each line has to do and where each player has to fit into their program. Sure some players have different strengths and weaknesses than others and coaches have to be aware of that, but hockey is hockey, and there are many different ways to play the game. And it's all good, as long as one scores more goals than you let in. GCG! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 As others have said, I think it depends. For this current Canucks team, I'd say we have 3 scoring lines and a 4th line. I'd prefer our 4th line to just be able to create momentum. Hard forechecking with speed and grit. If they can pop in a goal every few games, that's a huge bonus. Once Highmore is healthy, I'd like to see what he could do on the 4th line with Motte and Lammikko. Would have been nice to have had Gadjovich on the 4th line... just sayin... but Green and his love affair for Chiasson... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 1 hour ago, canucklehead44 said: I really like energy 4th lines. A 4th line that has one young fast player who can play with an edge, a physical energy player with speed. and a defensive specialist (usually a centre who can win faceoffs) is probably the best combo. I don't watch enough of other teams, but these are some of the best 4th lines the Canucks have had in recent years that fit the profile: Horvat + Hansen + Dorsett/Kenins Chubarov + Letowski + Cooke Sutter (when he returns) with Podkolzin and Motte would be our best 4th line given the lineup we have. Given freedom to skate hard and hit is huge, and having a defensive specialist is important. Faceoffs are also big so they don't get hemmed in the zone on a DZO. Podz and Garland need to stay together... heck, Podz Petey and Garland need to stay together... lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 2 hours ago, canucklehead44 said: I really like energy 4th lines. A 4th line that has one young fast player who can play with an edge, a physical energy player with speed. and a defensive specialist (usually a centre who can win faceoffs) is probably the best combo. I don't watch enough of other teams, but these are some of the best 4th lines the Canucks have had in recent years that fit the profile: Horvat + Hansen + Dorsett/Kenins Chubarov + Letowski + Cooke Sutter (when he returns) with Podkolzin and Motte would be our best 4th line given the lineup we have. Given freedom to skate hard and hit is huge, and having a defensive specialist is important. Faceoffs are also big so they don't get hemmed in the zone on a DZO. Good post. I always thought the 4th line should be used for developing a young player (or a rookie) being groomed for 2-way role. Kind of like Horvat in 2015, when he was surrounded by veterans on the 4th line. Podkolzin has quite a bit of scoring prowess that 4th line might be a bit of a waste for him but it's a nice spot for maybe Lockwood or when we had them, Lind or Gadjovich. Motte-Sutter-Lockwood would be a decent 4th line at this point with speed. Until Sutter's back it will be Lammiko, who is playing better since the coaching change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownUndaCanuck Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 I think in today's NHL you basically need 3 top scoring lines who can all produce offence, one of those lines has to sacrifice a bit of offence for defence to be able to shutdown top lines, and the 4th line should be reserved for grinders who log heavy PK minutes and are good at faceoffs. I think ideally you want a couple of possible center/faceoff men as well because you want the 4th line to be able to win possession in their D zone or on the PK and not get hemmed in defensively. Honestly a 4th line of Motte - Sutter - Lammikko would be up there as one of the better ones. Good combination of faceoff expertise, could use a bit more size but great toughness/grit and very good defensive awareness and PK ability. You see some teams with rookies or scorers on their 4th line and they just get victimized defensively, plus they don't end up playing enough minutes to be useful (for example, you're not going to have skilled PP guys on your 4th line or you're in trouble). However, if you've got guys on the 4th line who go out crashing and banging but mainly just defending/shutting down opposing team's 2nd and 3rd lines for a good 6-10 minutes, then can also play 0-3 minutes of PK ice time, you've got a perfect 4th line. If they chip the odd goal in here or there that's great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kragar Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Boudreau Posted December 15, 2021 Author Share Posted December 15, 2021 4 hours ago, HKSR said: As others have said, I think it depends. For this current Canucks team, I'd say we have 3 scoring lines and a 4th line. I'd prefer our 4th line to just be able to create momentum. Hard forechecking with speed and grit. If they can pop in a goal every few games, that's a huge bonus. Once Highmore is healthy, I'd like to see what he could do on the 4th line with Motte and Lammikko. Would have been nice to have had Gadjovich on the 4th line... just sayin... but Green and his love affair for Chiasson... I liked Justin Bailey's raw size and speed combo but seems to lack hockey IQ on where to position himself on the forecheck and in the d zone and doesn't play with enough of an edge. Maybe he is a better fit for Boudreau's agressive forecheck compared to Green's sit back in the neutral zone approach. Personally I would like all NHL teams to have 3 balanced scoring lines. The 4th line would be more of what the classic third line used to be that was full of agitators and checkers. I think Of Draper,Maltby, and Lapointe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyGaudette Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 4th line should be a rock em sock em line that is responsible defensively. Smart money is on stacking the first three lines. Don't waste money on the fourth. Fine some big guys that are smart defensively and can lay some hits, turn the momentum and don't get scored on. I'd be happy if they didn't score a single goal all year. But make the other teams players pay the price every shift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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