Well one thing to remember is that it's not like our 3rd line gets 3rd line minutes. They're out when the other team's 1st line is out, almost all of the time, so they log a lot of ice, therefore it might be time for the Devils to realize that they are hurting their chances of scoring by not having someone who can actually score a decent amount playing alongside Madden. If our checking line wasn't used so frequently, then I wouldn't have a problem with Pando taking his spot as usual, but they get so much ice that I really feel like that line is one of our main problems when it comes to reasoning for our not scoring goals. Assuming that we get some sort of top 6 offensive player, our lines could look like...
Parise - Elias - Gio
xxxxx - Zajac - Bergfors? (if he makes the team, which I think he will)
Zubrus - Madden - Langenbrunner
crapshoot of players (Vrana? Pelley? Clarkson...)
or...
Elias - xxxxx - Gio
Parise - Zajac - Bergfors
Zubrus - Madden - Langenbrunner
crapshoot of players (Vrana? Pelley? Clarkson...)
or anything, really. I think that if we get somewhat busy with UFA's, bringing in maybe one high caliber offensive player and one support/role guy, we could have a well-formed offense. Preferably, that offensive player would be a center, allowing Elias to go back to the left and putting Parise in a more suitable role of second line winger for now.
Anyways, I'm supposed to be writing a paper for my summer class but No-Hockey Madness got the better of me and I had to play GM for a few minutes.