Quote:
Originally Posted by Beninho
You still didn't answer my question, why can't you send Hamilton down to have Jankowski in the lineup. If he's on the team this team is better, this team couldn't keep Ozone possession at all last game, Jankowski would help out big time unless you want this team to get off to another awful start. I would way rather Jankowski be on the team and help the flames win games even if he's playing 8-10 minutes a night, he needs to start learning how to play at the NHL level and the loner we fail to offload ####ty veterans the longer we will have to watch the team play at less than optimal level. But I guess it's all business, who wants to win hockey games that may be crucial to make the playoffs, and let's keep losing to the Oilers.
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Okay, so let's work this out. You want the team to waiver Hamilton and send him down to the AHL. Let's assume that works out and he doesn't get claimed. The top 9 are already set as:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Bennett - Jagr
Does Jankowski steal any of those spots? Not currently. It's possible that
eventually he could take Vertseeg's spot on the third line? But so far Bennett and Versteeg have found some chemistry together, so I'm hesitant to break them up. Currently the fourth line is as follows:
Glass - Stajan - Brouwer
Who comes out of that line in order to slot in Jankowski?
Stajan is exactly what you want in a fourth line player. He's defensively responsible, brings some energy and can add in a few goals. There's no way he should come out if we're trying to ice a good lineup.
Does Brouwer come out? As we've already discussed, if we have any hope of trading him he needs to play. He needs to be put in a position to succeed that will give some other team the belief he can still contribute on their team.
That only leaves Glass. The problem with that is, whether we agree with it or not, the team believes they need to have some grit and toughness in the lineup. The GM has said it, the coach has said it, the captain has said it. They all believe they are better with Glass in the lineup. In which case, the best we could hope for is that Jankowski and Glass swap out on that fourth line.
Now, a couple questions for you.
1. Are you okay with Jankowski playing on the fourth line opposite Brouwer? Is that good for his development?
2. Are you okay with Jankowski being healthy scratched every other game in order to allow Glass to slot in?
It's one thing to say "Waive Hamilton and bring Jankowski up!" It's another thing entirely to find room for him in the lineup and unless they move a body, it's going to be really tough to do so.