Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
I think some of this stuff is chicken or egg though isn't it?
They started the season without Jagr, and Ferland was given the spot. He was a tire fire so they started trying other options.
Then Jagr joins the team but isn't really game ready. The result is a struggling first line with Ferland mailing it in, and a third line that looks good but gets nothing done.
So he moves Jagr to Monahan and Gaudreau's wing hoping that even with Jagr not finishing he may keep the plays alive and get Monahan and Gaudreau going.
Then Jagr gets hurt.
This isn't blender for the sake of blender. It's a guy trying to plug three holes in the dam with only two thumbs.
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I think he was out coaching himself. I think at the beginning of the season you have to give the guys some time to work out the rust. ESPECIALLY if the team was winning. There was no reason to shake up the lines at that point. Plus as has been written a lot over the summer, the key to the Flames taking the next step is Sam Bennett. GG needed to have handled Bennett with care as his confidence is extremely fragile. I don't agree with the first line as being a hole. Gaudreau and Monahan would have been fine with whoever is on RW they've proven it already, could they be better with a bonafide right winger? yes but its not a huge hole as is being made out; plus both those guys were on fire, there was no need to move Jagr onto that line at the expense of Bennett's development.
Now, Bennett's confidence is shot. Who know if he will recover. He looks absolutely lost right now. For a guy who is known for his competitive fire, he looks like Tom Erixon out there the last three games. Think about it from Bennett's perspective:
1) Has a long drawn out contract negotiation and eventually signs a weak deal relative to this contemporaries;
2) Has a great pre-season and is estatic that the GM goes out and signs Jagr with the idea that he will help Bennett. Finally, Bennett has a legit skilled winger to play with;
3) Is a bit snakebitten to start the season, could have had a few assists if his linemates could finish;
4) Gets a few games with Jagr and is developing some chemistry, could have had a few assists but Jagr is rusty;
5) Jagr gets moved off his line and he's back to playing with Versteeg and Brouwer!
6) Team struggles and still no points;
7) Gets moved to the wing as Jankowski gets called up - talk about demoralizing, basically your employer thinks you aren't cut out for the job.
So they take away his skilled winger and dump the two anchors from last year back onto him, and then say he isn't cut out to be a centre and move him to the wing.
I know Bennett put on a brave face after being moved to the wing, and he had a good first game, but it's been all down hill since then. He has looked absolutely terrible that last 3 games.
Hopefully they can keep Jagr with Bennett for the next little while and let him build his confidence back.