[Delthefunky]

Originally Posted by Pointman

Brodie was excellent on the left side playing with Engelland, rather than Giordano. His struggles started when Gulutzan came in however it is not so much about playing on the left side, but rather the overall system. Brodie in Gulutzan system looks like Bouwmeester in Sutter's system and it goes way beyond playing on the left side or playing without Giordano.

Also the stat of Backlund shutting down McDavid in the limited time GG managed to get Backlund on the ice against McDavid shows that we need another defensive center, who can contain him. So that we would always have a top defensive center on McDavid even if Oilers have the last change. If there was no McDavid, our centers group could be the last of our worries, but he is there and the only way to beat Oilers in playoffs is to have at least two centers who can stop him. Like in 2004 we had Conroy AND Yelle so we could always have Selke caliber center against ops top line. If that means moving Jankowski, Bennett or even Monahan, so be it.

Jankowski could eventually be that guy