Quote:
Originally Posted by calgaryblood
He's had 50 points once in his career. And more than 40 points twice. What makes you think he's being misused?
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Stajan is being misused. He can't go 200 feet end-to-end which is what's been asked of him when you've got him centering guys like Brandon Bollig. Getting him on the wing of a guy like Backlund lets him be a release option rather than having to carry his line. He's still a creative player offensively and the wing will help him use that.
Unless you've got a Gaudreau or Kessel on the wing, the center position is something where I firmly believe you want your end-to-end most effective players with the puck on stick - guys like Backlund and Bennett. It's more important than faceoffs or height. You surround these guys with bodies playing in a structure. Stajan can be a body playing in structure and be that well. He's no longer able to be the speed through the middle.
Plus getting him more minutes with better players gives him a better chance to live up to his contract presumably, though that's up to him to take advantage of the opportunity.