Quote:
Originally Posted by FlameZilla
Sven needs to get his confidence back more than anything, but what are the chances he's scratched again this week? He played hard and created some good chances, but is clutching his stick a bit hard & overthinking when the heat is on. He might relax a bit if he thought his position on the team was a bit stronger...
Backlund deserves loads more icetime & better linemates, but Colborne is currently getting top 6 minutes without deserving it for the last few games. Hartley could stand to review his understanding of Meritocracy.
Also, is there any need to dress all 3 of SOB, Jackman AND McGrattan? Poor strategy against a high-pressure team like Dallas. Did he not learn anything from the game in Dallas last month? If SOB is in, and Backlund is on the 4th line, why not dress a 4th line of Bouma/Backlund/Galiardi? That is a very good energy line which can take a regular shift.
I like Smid. Steady, strong & his long reach stops so many plays. He'd be the perfect D partner for Brodie. The Butler/Brodie pairing gets muscled out of position too easily. I'm hoping Hartley can see this and is just weaning Smid into the team slowly...
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I agree 100% with this. I think Smid is the perfect partner for Brodie - big, predictable, stay at home guy, can clear the front of the net, and throw some hits. His presence would allow Brodie to do his thing more freely.