It has been a busy offseason for the new general manager Steve Staios. He has brought in some help in help for all positions, but notable forwards he brought in are David Perron, Michael Amadio, and Noah Gregor. Here we will have a look at what the projected forward lines for 2024-25 are as of now with most of the trades being done for the offseason and most of the free agents being signed.
After looking at the depth charts for the left-wing, right-wing, and center positions, here are the projected lines:
Tkachuk – Stutzle – Giroux
Reuniting the top line from last year, having Tim Stutzle center Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux makes the most sense. Tkachuk is an elite power forward, Stutzle is a high-end playmaker, and Giroux’s two-way play makes for a very balanced top line.
Tkachuk and Stutzle are the two anchors of the forward group. Having them both taking big steps offensively over the past few seasons has really helped the team, and despite Stutzle’s down season due to injuries, there is a very good chance he will bounce back to his 90-point self we saw two seasons ago. His skating, playmaking, and vision of the ice are hard to argue with, and as for his goal-scoring abilities, he had 39 goals in 2022-23, but after dealing with a wrist injury for all of last season, it was a clear and significant step back.
Tkachuk has been improving every season, and the key for him this year should be to stay out of the penalty box more. Tkachuk is most effective when he is playing his physical, high-volume shot game, which often translates to strong offense from him. With a career-high of 37 goals last year, he will look to get a few more and hit the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career, while still being effective everywhere else on the ice and picking up rebounds from Stutzle and Giroux.
Giroux took a step back in terms of point totals last season and could do the same again this season, but with Giroux’s playstyle, he isn’t dependent on the points to be effective. His defensive presence is the best in the projected top-six, and he is the glue that holds the top line together. His leadership, on top of the other assets he brings, makes for a mature line that is held accountable. There has been multiple occasions that the broadcast has shown Giroux telling Stutzle and Tkachuk how to make a better play and be more responsible.
Norris – Pinto – Batherson
The second line is a wildcard as of now, but with full health, this is likely how it shapes…
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