Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper has a lot of tough — but good — lineup decisions to make when it comes to his forwards. [NHL dot com]
If Johnson returns for Opening Night, he certainly will slide into the Bolts’ top nine, most likely in Gourde’s spot on the second line. Gourde slips down to third line right wing, currently occupied by Joseph. And Joseph either finds himself out of the lineup on Opening Night or, most likely, taking either Erne’s or Conacher’s spot on the fourth line.
Forward lines
Miller-Stamkos-Kucherov
Palat-Point-Gourde
Killorn-Cirelli-Joseph
Erne-Paquette-Conacher
Martel-Johnson-Callahan only players in grey jerseys.