I would really like to see Butler replaced with Smith at this point.
I don't think Butler is hot garbage, but there is really nothing to his game that is really good. Seems to have low hockey IQ, his first pass is NOT good, he doesn't have offence, and he is not great defensively. He is simply a 'meh' defencemen.
Smith has at least much better composure, and can both skate the puck out of the zone and makes a much better first pass. He isn't much better defensively I think, but he makes a much better pass out of the zone.
Hopefully Breen heals up quick. Really want to see him play a few games (and expecting rust to start with) and see how he starts trending.
I still think trading Sarich away for O'Brien was a bit of a mistake. Initially I didn't like Jones at all either, but he is definitely proving me wrong. I don't see the 'bit mean defencemen' in O'Brien yet, and I bet Breen ends up stealing his job.
Also, people are saying that Monahan's -3 was because he was victimized for being on the ice with O'Brien and Butler. However, both those defencemen finished at even. Don't get me wrong, Monahan was pretty good defensively I thought, but seems a bit disingenuous to blame O'Brien and Butler for the -3.
I would really like to see a bottom pairing of Smith - Breen at some point soon. How close is Breen away from returning?
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