Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
The problem is you can't gift him time with the only two lines that are driving the bus for the team.
I think Tkachuk gets precious little recognition for just how good he has been playing with Backlund and Frolik. He's not just a passenger, he is actively making that line better than it was before he arrived there. So basically, you can't split up your best line and impact wins just to get one guy of 23 going a bit.
You can't stick Bennett up on the top line because those guys are basically the only ones driving the bus for offense, and they are doing so with complimentary finishers like Ferland and Versteeg. Ferland especially looks like he's found a legitimate home on the first line above anyone else on the roster based solely on merit.
If you give Bennett first line or second line ice at the expense of Tkachuk and Ferland, the team will suffer. Bennett just isn't demonstrating that he belongs there, and each win is too important to let fall by the wayside as you try to coax offense out of a guy who has only ever showed limited amounts of it at the NHL level.
If the team was losing a bunch then maybe you give it a shot, but they are competitive in games they probably shouldn't be and you need to ride that out for as long as it lasts.
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Completely agree with these assessments ^^ Still I think when the opportunity is there we need to take a chance on Bennett. He may just surprise with the opportunity. Right now he probably doesn't feel like he fits and you have pretty much said as much, but as I suggested might be beneficial to move him up and down the top 2 lines when the opportunity is there. Might not be permanent but at least your telling the guy you believe in him and what to see what he has got!