Part of why this rebuild has progressed well is that the young players coming up have had to earn their places in the lineup and their minutes. How does this happen? Keeping versatile veterans on the roster.
Stajan can move up as needed, but if all he does is play 4th line centre and kill penalties, maybe getting a few more minutes late in games sheltering a lead/taking defensive zone draws, then he has a lot of value. With Monahan developing very nicely and Backlund playing well, this means that when Bennett breaks into the team, he can be brought on with favourable matchups as he adapts to the NHL.
Guys like Colborne, Jooris and Granlund can play wing, and function perfectly for now as placeholders for that centre spot that Bennett will one day lay claim to.
He is a guy who is well liked by the team perhaps most of all, is happy to play the role he is given
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