Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
The team needs to accept the season is a wash and start trying some things out. I would move Bennett to C because he needs the reps there and Backlund is useless as a 2nd line C. Put Granlund in and scratch Colborne or even better yet find a way to launch him into the sun. Scratch Engellend tonight and put Nakladal in as I think Smid is better than Engellend. Start Hiller. Drop Backlund to line 4 to send him a message his game has been garbage all year, promote Stajan to line 3.
Gaudreau/Monahan/Hudler
Granlund/Bennett/Frolik
Bouma/Stajan/Ferland
Jooris/Backlund/Jones
Gio/Brodie
Russell/Hamilton
Smid/Nakladal
Hiller
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Backlund has 22 points, the same amount as Sam Bennett. He's only behind the top unit of Gaudreau, Monahan, Giordano, Hudler, and Brodie. He's one of the few plus players on the team despite taking the harder matchups. That's the very definition of a 2nd line center. He might be better suited to 3rd line duties, but to say he's useless on the 2nd line or his game has been garbage is hyperbolic and shows your bias against him.