Bottom 6
Blake Comeau-Jason Spezza-Tyler Pitlick
For Jason Spezza, it’s becoming a numbers game. Specifically, the numbers regarding his age and his rapidly declining production. Yet with a new head coach comes a new beginning, and hopefully Spezza can work out the kinks on the third line. He isn’t going anywhere yet, so let’s make the best of it.
We could easily look at his contract and project him to start at center over Faksa. But there’s only one year remaining for him and in all likelihood he will be moving on come next July. The hope is that Montgomery doesn’t waste another year of Faksa’s talent trying to appease someone else’s hefty salary.
The addition of Blake Comeau — after Dallas lost Antoine Roussel to free agency — is a pretty evident move meant to bolster the third line with a veteran presence and with a winger who can net some points. He isn’t going to pop 25 goals, but 15 and 20 or 25 assists isn’t out of the question considering he’ll be aided by a still talented Spezza at center. The only question is how much of his previous form can Jason regain.
Pitlick on the right side goes back to the argument for the second line. He’s aggressive and proved last season that he can hit the net during limited time on the ice. We can see Montgomery going with him here to keep the pressure on the opposing defense.
*Of note is that Martin Hanzal is still recovering from surgery and is not expected back until November/December.
Roope Hintz-Devin Shore-Brett Ritchie
This fourth line is the most difficult to project. Montgomery has stated that he expects every line to perform, and while guys like Shore, Ritchie and Jason Dickinson offered solid moments last year, they also didn’t have overall good seasons.
Ritchie for his part has moved to various spots in the lineup, having scored 16 goals in 2016 before falling off a cliff with 7 last year. Shore put up 32 points, but that minus-30 is an ugly sight for Dallas fans. Remie Elie and Gemel Smith rotated minutes as fourth-liners, though neither one could ever do enough to really distinguish himself from the other.
Each of these players has something that Montgomery could work with, whether it’s speed, tenacity or aggression in pursuit of the puck. But we probably won’t know much for a good while. Shore and Ritchie seem locked in to play at least somewhere in this lineup, as they’ve both been given ample time to hone their skills in the NHL.
Shore is also set with a $4 million contract spread over the next two seasons, so don’t expect him to get bumped. Though Smith recently signed a one-year deal ($720,000), the spot at left wing is likely up for grabs. Hintz is coming off a 20 goal season in the AHL while helping his club to the Calder Cup with 12 points in 22 games. His name could make an appearance soon.
General Manager Jim Nill’s statements on player development give insight as well into the idea that certain spots will see competition, and that competition could come from players who have been marinating a long while in the minors. If Hintz can come in and have a strong showing in camp and the preseason, look for him to get a shot on opening night. In the least, he could turn this into a three or four-man rotation until Dallas figures out what to do with the final spot.