[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Here's what is weird to me re: the line combos. Gulutzan loves his RHF/D on their natural side. Yet he has Versteeg on Bennett's left. Sure, thats where Versteeg has been when playing alongside Monahan & Brouwer. He needed to be there. But not now. Why is Ferland lining up on the right?

Neal's article on Player's Tribune summarized this aspect of wingers nicely. If you're more of a playmaker you want the puck on the outside - if you're a shooter, inside.

One thing to notice is that I’m a left-handed shot playing the right wing here. That might seem like a small thing, but it’s actually a huge deal. I started my career as a left winger, so I was always receiving passes with the puck outside my body, away from the net. If you’re a playmaker, you might prefer this. I didn’t know how big of a difference this made until I got traded to Pittsburgh. Dan Bylsma walked in the first day and asked, “Hey, do you think you could play right wing?”

I’m like, “Uh, well I’ve never played it before, so I’m not sure?”

He says, “Okay great, you’re playing right wing.”

Once I got used to it, I really elevated my game, because whenever I shot the puck on my forehand, the release point was closer to the net. I was a threat at all times, especially on one-timers. I ended up scoring 40 goals the next season. So whenever a guy switches wings, it has a lot of implications for how he plays. (Thanks, Dan. You were one of the best teachers I’ve ever had.)