If everyone agrees that Walt is better on the wing, why not have him on wing and put Oshie, a center, at center? Same for Backes (a winger) at wing, and McDonald (a center) at center?

Kariya - McDonald - Boyes
Oshie - Berglund - Perron
Backes - Tkachuk - Winchester
Steen - McClement - Crombeen

Blues have enough depth now for 3 lines, you can almost mix and match them anyway you want. Big question is how much will the starting 6 on defense improve, and who will be that starting 6?……..I don’t think Yan Stastny will stick around too long. Thanks

I’d love to see you take a shot at the D pairings, considering there are some big question marks there.

I think JR has Walt and Backes at center because he’s thinking like Andy Murray, not like a fan. It’s pretty obvious that Murray prefers bigger centers in his system. Also, Oshie can play anywhere, and we are thinner at RW than C.

Mcdonald was dominant in playoffs and why break up the kid line?

Backes-Mcdonanld-Boyes
Perron-Berglund-Oshie
Kariya-Tkachuk-Steen
Crombeen-Mcclement-Winchester

Against a skill based team (Detroit) I would expect:
Kariya-McDonald-Boyes
Berglund-Oshie-Perron
Steen-Backes-Tkachuk
Winchester-McClement-Crombeen

Against a tougher team (last season’s Ducks) I would say:
Kariya-Oshie-Tkachuk
Backes-Berglund-Boyes
Perron-McClement-McDonald
Crombeen/Stastny-Steen-Janssen

But of course after the first 5 minutes Murray will switch them up so who cares…hah…

Switch Boyes with McDonald so it will be Kariya-Backes-McDonald and then Boyes-Berglund-Perron for the top 2 lines…… reunite the kid line if things don’t work

I think Karyia, Mcdonald, boyes would be a great line…Have alot of speed, it would be hard for people to run with that line

PAUL KARIYA - ANDY McDONALD - DAVID BACKES

DAVID PERRON - PATRICK BERGLUND - T.J. OSHIE

PAUL KARIYA - KEITH TKACHUK - BRAD BOYES

B.J. CROMBEEN - JAY McCLEMENT - D.J. KING