I am always surprised at how the wingers take proportionally more heat for the team's lousy defense. For a few years now there has been average at best 2 way centers in the top 6, no 3rd line C who is defensively strong and suits the role that Yelle played, and half of the game on D eaten up by a soft oaf who couldn't clear the crease adequately, and often paire with someone with those same weaknesses. The wingers could backcheck like madmen but those are glaring fundamental weaknesses that would hamstring any team trying to play defensively. The team game was out of control down low. The Flames actually weren't so bad scoring, just couldn't hold off other teams.
Both Iggy and Kipper actually had pretty unceremonious exits while saddled with circumstances beyond their control. I hope that in the not too distant future, Monahan develops to reach his projected potential. if Jankowski pans out, and Colborne and Knight can develop to fit that 3rd line role, this bodes well down the middle. Much better than experimenting with Cammalleri at C and trying Stajan on the 3rd or 4th line.
Burke likes to build from the D out. If Bouw hadn't been shipped out prior to his arrival it would have been hasty, and I don't expect Butler to have a long tenure unless he is paired with a tough player and really finds chemistry.
Did Burke or Feaster say much about Sieloff?
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