3rd Line

Richard Peverley (18-23-41 -17  $1.325M) - Peverley came over in the deal that sent Mark Stuart and Blake Wheeler to the team formerly known as the Thrashers and he must have been pumped.  Going from one of the worst franchises in the league to one of the most historic and ultimately the Stanley Cup Champions (that will NEVER get old).  His biggest assets are is his speed and versatility.  I could be wrong since he was skating next to Ryder, but he at least appeared to add some much needed speed to the team.  His versatility was on display in the playoffs after Horton went down with the concussion (I think I can only watch this because we won).  He filled in as the top line winger and ended up scoring two goals his first game there.  With a full training camp and preseason with the team now, I'm curious to see how Peverley plays this year.  I'd like to see him score 20 goals and used on one of the power play units (most likely 2nd) as a sniper.

Here's an all around great play he made during the season, defense to offense, coast to coast.


Chris Kelly (14-14-28 -13 $2.125M) - After spending 6 and a half years above the border in Ottawa, Kelly got traded to the Bruins for a 2nd round draft pick.  Ottawa was having a liquidation sale this year with all the players they were giving away.  I could've shown up with my pre-rookie McQuaid card and received Alfredsson and a pick.  Like Peverley, this deal didn't blow me away, but it was another piece to the puzzle.  Another depth player that had a very good playoffs (6th on the team in scoring).  I'm interested to see how he'll play with a full preseason and training camp under his belt as well.  Both Kelly and Peverley were over 50% in the face-off dot, which is obviously nice.  You have one of the best face-off men in the league in Bergeron and then to have two more solid face-off men on the 3rd line is a nice bonus.

Sorry Chris Kelly fans, but there isn't really a moment that sticks out in my mind, maybe besides his black eyes.  But I give you this Chris Kelly highlight.... or a Jack Edwards highlight?  You tell me: video.


Jordan Caron - I'm giving Caron (2009 1st round draft pick, 25th overall) the edge of Pouliot for 3rd line duties.  Is it because I like Caron?  Yes.  Is it because Pouilot is a former Hab?  Also yes.  Caron won a spot on the team at the beginning of last season (at the expense of Paille).  He played fairly well, but then seemed to hit a wall and was sent back down to Providence.  I didn't get to go see him play in Providence, but after he snapped out of his little funk, I read that he played extremely well.  He seemed motivated to move back up with the big boys, which is exactly what you want to read about young studs.  Caron was even mentioned in this article at SI.com about top 24 rookies to keep an eye on.  Caron should come into camp a little more comfortable and motivated.  Hopefully he's been watching some Recchi film because he needs to be that guy on this line.  Crash the net and get those dirty goals.

I want to see a whole lot of these.

OUTLOOK: This line as a whole is the biggest question mark going into the season.  Peverley and Kelly will put up average offensive numbers while I'm banking on Caron making the next step and being a mainstay with the big boys.  A whole year with the Bruins should improve Peverley and Kelly's +/-, but it was slightly concerning that for the last quarter of the season they were with the B's, they were both a -1.  We should see some solid puck possession out of this line, since they win a majority of the face-offs and hopefully the making of a solid young player in Caron.