All-Time All-Kings All-Stars: Rosters and Lines for the NHL 11 Challenge (a.k.a. The Bob Miller Cup)

This is part two or three in a series, depending on where you start counting. First we ran a fantasy draft, with GMs me, Rudy and Niesy. Then we posted the results in a pretty chart. Now each GM has chosen lines and pairs, and re-assigned numbers where there was overlap.

The next step will be running some polls to get membership input on how the players should be ranked (calibrated) in terms of speed, strength, intelligence, shooting, passing, checking (etc.), because I will need this data in order to proceed to the ultimate joy: a simulated tournament with these teams in NHL 11.

Team Quisp

Quisp's comments:  I gave Kopitar his number from Team Slovenia, Donnelly his number from MSU, Scuderi his '05-'06 Penguins number, Hutchison his Maple Leaf's number (I know, even though Hutchison wore #4 before Blake). There was no good alternate for Nevin, so I went with 9 times 3 (9 being his original). I gave Millen 12 for no reason other than I don't like high numbers and it's a good number and it's close to Donnelly's 14. I gave Gleason 6 because his Kings' number was 42 and I don't like high numbers, so I went with four plus two.  

As for line combinations, I wanted Kopitar to have a finisher on LW (for some reason!). Deadmarsh is cast in the Dustin Brown role. The third line is a recreation of my favorite kind of third line, the speedy small-fry line. The fourth line is the all "personality" line, one part shut-down, one-part irritant, one-part vaudeville. On defense, the reasoning in pretty self-evident. Hutchison could be swapped in for Gleason, or anywhere really, depending on injuries. Vachon is a no-brainer for starting goalie; also, I don't know if there has been another Kings goalie who has done better coming off the bench than Jamie Storr. There may be someone, but I'm not aware of it. 

Team Quisp will be wearing Kings purple and gold, the throwbacks as rendered by NHL 11.

Team Niesy

Niesy's comments: [Niesy apparently is pleading the 5th at this point. Her comments may be added later.]

Team Niesy will be wearing the Kings' current purple-and-black jerseys.

***

Team Rudy

Robitaille - Dionne - Murphy

Widing - Allison - Palffy

Frolov - Goring - Brown

Rychel - Conroy - Simmonds

(McSorley)

Murphy - Wells

Visnovsky - Miller

Coffey - Robinson

(Huddy)

Hrudey

(Fiset)

Rudy's comments:  My team is the best. Players with the same number were generally decided by seniority, except in Frolov's case because he gets #24 no matter what. I gave Simmonds #9 because he needs a sleek number to go along with his sleek game. Palffy wore #68 once and it looks good on him. Larry Robinson got #4 because that was Jean Beliveau's number (and also Rob Blake can go to Hell).

My team is built similarly to the Kings of today; I have a dominant top line, a solid secondary scoring line, an elite shutdown unit built around puck possession, and a 4th line with a fighter, a solid defensive center and an energy guy. My defense revolves around 3 offensive defensemen with 3 stay-at-home types. No one is out of position except Larry Robinson, but I think the old goat is smart enough to play on the right side. I am going to destroy Quisp and Niesy.

Team Rudy will be wearing the Gretzky-era black-and-silver jerseys.