Teuvo on the wing with first line is the best top 6 we can push, and its as strong as anyone if Panarin is anywhere near Teuvo/Kane/Toews/Hossa playmaking ability, as he looks.
I'm willing to wait, but I doubt AA is a playmaker of the Richards level, particularly doubt he has the extra playoff gear that Bickell/Richards had, but a guy needs to be in the playoffs to find out, and we don't need him to be a playmaker. We need him to escort Kane and Panarin, be a vulture of chances in the right spot, and be ready to cover there ass if they push too far or turnover.
For other mystical reasons I miss the Teuvo/Sharp line. While Teuvo is a top 6 player, for similar reasons to why we don't Toews/Hossa/Kane often I prefer Teuvo on that third line even if he is a wing, because he spreads out the playmakers.
Any dunce can score next to Toews and Hossa, I prefer a quick killer type there and think eventually Dano might fit in perfectly even though he doesn't have the size/speed of a typical first liner. He has a quick slap shot and is a finisher. You don't need the poetry of Teuvo/Kane/Toews on the same line. Put them on 3 different lines.
Tuevo gives you another sound defensive player next to Toews and Hossa, but with those two already it might as well be a cherry picker. Thats why Baun/Dano/Panarin make a bit more sense to me by seasons end.
If Kane ever goes on a drought you have to put him on that line too, and quit saddling him with experiments expecting him to play with anybody and any combination.
The ether mist tells me eventual chemistry is going to be...
Panarin-Toews-Hossa
Bickel/Baun-AA-Kane
Teuvo-Shaw-Dano/
Desjardins-Kruger-Garbutt/Tikhonov (since Q likes to play line 4 vs 1, Garbutt/Tikhonov are natural veterans to slot on this line eventually, if you can't Shaw)
It would be so simple if Baun could slot up there, he has the physical talent and can be the power forward that pairs well with them, giving Toews/Hossa a screener could be a good idea, and a physical escort to take some attention off them. Kane seems to like that type of player.
Seems obvious a trade will have to be made, unless they are just waiting for Danult.
