Quote:
Originally Posted by Poe969
Last year Wideman was playing like garbage and Hartley benched him then Wideman came back with a vengeance. This year, Wideman has been garbage...Hartley benches Smid as a result.
Players like Hudler and Wideman not having good years is a reflection of the coach IMO. The coach has to adapt his game and play guys differently or do something to help them. Hartley just isn't doing that.
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To be fair to Hudler, it seems like he's been battling a nagging groin nearly the entire season. He hasn't looked nearly as quick to me, which is one of his biggest assets. In any case, Hartley
has adapted by putting Hudler on the 3rd line down from the 1st line, and Wideman went from 2nd pairing to 3rd pairing. I think the only reason he's on the power play is because he's traditionally been a very good offensive defenseman.