Quote:
Originally Posted by N-E-B
Giordano-Brodie
Hamilton-Jokipakka
Engelland-Wideman/Kulak
I'm fine with those pairings. If he wants to play Wideman with Gio on the power play I'm fine with that too.
That said, Wideman, Engelland, and Jokipakka aren't why they lost tonight. I thought all three of those guys had stronger games than Giordano.
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Engelland was giving up the puck like crazy, when he had full possession. He's bad for firing it along the boards into traffic, or else trying a chip out that is not high or hard enough. He just doesn't seem to be able to make a pass out of the defensive zone.
He's fine at the other stuff in his own zone - clearing the crease, fighting for the puck on the boards, being physical. He's a non-factor offensively.
I don't think you can pair him with Wideman - neither can skate well enough. You either go Engelland-Kulak, Engelland-Jokipakka, Wideman-Jokipakka or Wideman-Kulak on the bottom pairing. And limit ice time.