Monday, March 24th, 2008 by Adam Wagner
Dupuis, Crosby, Hossa line?
The Penguins are evidently considering putting Sidney Crosby on a line with Pascal Dupuis and Marion Hossa, the two players acquired from Atlanta in last month’s blockbuster trade. Hossa was initially the important player in the trade, but in their time with the Penguins, it is Dupuis who has proven to be a new fan favorite.
The line would have one of the best passers in the NHL in Crosby, who may finally allow Hossa to do what he was brought in to do, namely score goals. Hossa has unfortunately served as more of an intimidating presence on the ice than a scorer, as he seems to be drawing more defenders towards him, thereby creating space for everyone else on his line, than actually scoring. If Crosby and Hossa were on a line together, teams would have no option but to pick their poison.
Dupuis is the surprise element of the line, but also the most interesting. The winger has proven to be a physical presence since coming over from Atlanta, but has also shown a knack for scoring that he had not to this point in his career. Dupuis could be the interior havoc-wreaker that is absolutely necessary on a line that has two ridiculously talented skill players like Crosby and Hossa, if not to protect them than to create opportunities for them.
The other advantage to having Dupuis on this line is that it allows Jordan Staal to have his own line, leaving the Penguins as a team that is ridiculously strong down the middle, something that could prove vital to playoff success.
If Michelle Therrien actually does follow through with this experiment, it will be an interesting one to follow. If it is unsuccessful, particularly the Dupuis part, it would prove to be very, very bad for his job security, but anything less than a goal or two a game out of that line would need to be deemed unsuccessful.
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