Lineup | Arshdeep Bains gets massive opportunity on the top line with Vancouver Canucks

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Maverick Mitchell
October 15, 2024 (2:36 PM)

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The Vancouver Canucks will be kicking off their first road trip of the season with a interesting lineup. Rookie prospect Arshdeep Bains will be getting a huge opportunity to play on the top line alongside J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser when they face off against the Tampa Bay Lighting.

It looks like Arshdeep Bains will play left wing on a line with J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser tonight in Tampa Bay per Sportsnet's Dan Murphy.

The Canucks have lost their first two games of the season in extra time, and the disappointment of not having a stronger start has raised question marks on the lineup. Elias Pettersson has been basically invisible on the ice and now, head coach Rick Tocchet is deciding to shake things up.

Arshdeep Bains to play on top line with J.T. Miller & Brock Boeser

Based on how the Canucks practice on Monday, as well as Tocchet's comments on Tuesday morning, Arshdeep Bains will get into his first game of the season and in a prime position to boot: on the Canucks' top line alongside J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser.

Full Lineup (Per Sportsnet's Dan Murphy)

It may be a little bit surprising that Bains' first game of the season will be on the top line with Miller and Boeser, but Tocchet has given his reasons of whu shaking up the lineup and giving other players opportunities is important at the start of the season.

"Early in the season, you want to try different things," said Tocchet. "I want to get Bains in the lineup, I don't want to see him sit. Young guys shouldn't sit that long and I think he deserves to play tonight."

He also continued to explain that it is not just about opportunity, but about the kind of game Bains plays and how he thinks it will compliment Miller's and Boeser's style of of play. He feels that the line will have lots of chemistry.

"I think Millsy loves guys that get on the forecheck, that help him out. Bains has that kind of identity," said Tocchet. "Plus, you saw the two goals in exhibition - he can score, even on the power play from that flank. And he can make plays under pressure. I think he's a guy that we have our eye on that he's going to push some jobs and hopefully can be consistent."

Do you think this is a good decsion to put Arshdeep Bains on the top line with J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser?