In regards to Sven, how did he play scoringwise, in the exhibition games he played in as I only saw the last game. I thought I read that he lead the comeback in his first game in Edmonton, led the offensive game in Saskatoon, did alright playing in Regina and supposedly didn't do too well in the games back in Calgary.
What was the difference in his linemates in these games? Was he played with offensive players in the first 3 games and less offensive players in the last 2 games? Did he do OK when he played with Monahan and/or Backlund? If so maybe it is a factor that better offensively skilled players need to be put into offensive situations. At the game last night he made some nice plays that didn't get finished well but then playing with Knight and Bouma could be a factor also.
I have always been a believer that offensive guys need to play with players who have a good offensive IQ for the game or it seems like they are going through the motions. If the other players aren't thinking the game at the same pace then the offensively gifted ones can seem to be lingering around, but what they are actually doing is waiting to make the play they see developing but the less offensively talented guys don't make the same read. An example of this is finding a guy to play with the Sedins in Vancouver. It took forever but the team finally found a player in Burrows (hate the guy) who understood what they needed and fit right in.
Maybe Sven needs to play with high IQ guys, like Monahan or Cammalleri, who read the play well and we would all see a more high level of play. If not then send him down and make him understand the dump and chase game that the NHL has become.
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