[GranteedEV]

Despite this team's bottom end depth, we somehow have a depth player in too many important roles at the top end, and they are dragging our non-perfect star players down instead of rounding them out.

#4 defenseman - Jyrki Jokipakka who would be a solid #6 with reduced minutes. He has too many mental errors that he can't skate well enough to recover from. I am convinced now more than ever that Kulak can play just as well in that role, while having the speed to cover for Hamilton's gaffes, and the offensive zone anticipation to extend zone time.

#1 PK defenseman - Deryk Engelland who has never had strong PK metrics yet somehow they keep thinking he is a strong penalty killer. Give Hamilton a shot at it, what's the worst that happens at this point? Is that not why we traded a 1st + two 2nds for a 6'5" defenseman? I sure hope it wasn't to be our bottom pair second unit power play specialist

#2 winger - Alex Chiasson who is no more than a 4th liner, and one with tunnel vision at that (has he even made a pass outside of the Sens game?). I am not saying you necessarily need a bonafide first-liner with them, but a player that can actually think with the top line would help. Ferland, for example. Or call up one more of the kids on the Farm, they all exude hockey sense.

#3 winger - Frolik is a sometimes effective player, but he IS a third liner. I have no doubt about it as he goes to his usual weak wristers out of the curls and button hooks that are non-threatening. He is benefiting from Backlund a lot more than Backlund is benefitting from him. I already see him as the third best player on that line, even if that line has been excellent for us.

Power Play Units - A lot more offense dies on Brouwer's stick than his supporters would ever admit. He's got a nice shot yes, but he is not a creator. He's basically Colborne replacement at double the cap hit. On the PP he's basically a Monahan clone except he is beyond redundant with Monahan on the same PP unit, resulting in both players struggling to find their own niche. Why not go back to some PP units that have actually looked good in the past (Tkachuk-Brouwer-Bennett-Backlund-Brodie I believe looked good during preseason, and Ferland-Gaudreau-Monahan-Hamilton-Giordano was pretty hot last year through January-on. Maybe swap Giordano and Backlund.)