Quote:
Originally Posted by cofias
Problem is that Tkachuk would then get stuck with the toughest defensive assignments night in and night out, which is a tall order to handle for any 18 yo.
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Myth. He's a winger. He is a lot more likely to be pulled up by the shut down pairing / Backlund than he is to be dragged down by "tough defensive assignments".
He'd have a tougher time playing with Monahan/Gaudreau for instance, because those guys draw tough checking assignments. Facing the other team's best offensive players doesn't mean you're facing their best shut down players.
Like I said in a previous thread, Bennett played his best hockey as a rookie with Backlund, and his worst hockey on anyone else's wing (his play at centre was in the middle of those two extremes despite the added responsibilities). Tkachuk is in a similar boat, he stands to benefit from Backlund a lot more than struggle against Backlund's opposition.