Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleF
Monahan - Brouwer
Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Stajan
Bouma - Chiasson
Seems like a more balanced top 9 and gives Bennett better veteran support. 4th line gets weaker.
|
If we are looking at veteran support for Bennett I would say Brouwer is the best bet. It might be a toss-up between him and Frolik, as they have very comparable point production per regular season game, with Brouwer edging Frolik out (Frolik - 0.464, Brouwer - 0.480). Plus he has been the better goal-scorer over his career. Also, Brouwer seems to me to be a stronger leader vocally (this is subjective). Both Frolik and Brouwer won Stanley Cups with Chicago in different years, but Brouwer has gone much deeper in the playoffs, more often, with 3 different teams, and obviously knows what it takes to win playoff rounds. Brouwer has 60 more playoff games, more than any of the listed options by far for Bennett's wing (Stajan has much less than both Frolik and Brouwer, unsuprisingly).
While Stajan's age and even total number of games played in the NHL make him a veteran, I don't think they make him a "better veteran support."
And don't get me wrong, I think Stajan is a class act and still very much underrated, as he has always accepted the role given to him and tried to help the team, but Brouwer on Bennett's wing could pay dividends through finishing Bennett's playmaking, and also mentoring the young centre.