They played Torres with Couture and Marleau during the playoffs last season, I bet they'll try to keep that going for now. Hertl is too new and unproven to just be on our top line right away. He'll get time against third line competition so he can establish his NHL game. Throwing him against top competition right away is a recipe for disaster for most rookies.
Yeah, but Torres came up to that line because that fuck face Bieksa speared Havlat, and was doing fine on our 3rd line with Pavelski before his got suspended in the first round last year. I'm pretty sure thats where we wanted him and intend keep him. Limited minutes on the 3rd line.
Hertl is new, but we can't slot Kennedy up there. Kennedy is not someone you want on the 1st or 2nd lines for long periods of time. Hertl might be juggled around, but if we don't give him minutes, we are better off sending him to woosta to get those minutes instead of riding the bench on 3rd or 4th line minutes.
I don't think putting Hertl on 2nd line minutes will hurt him at all. Couture's rookie year we gave him tough minutes because we had Clowe watching him like a baby cub. Hertl is a big kid and won't need protection. I think he'll be fine.
We'll know more in the coming days though once we see the first round of cuts. Cheers!