Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
All this roles talk is meaningless. The coaches aren't asking guys not to produce. Does anyone honestly believe that if they just slapped a 2nd line label onto the 3rd line that it changes anything at all? Like what exactly changes?
The 3rd line goes out and tries to produce offense whenever they're on the ice anyway. They're not asked to do anything special here. They're just incapable right now because they're simply not good enough. The 2nd line does produce and they defend very well against the opposition's top lines to boot, that's why they're the default 2nd line.
The honest truth is that if the Jankowski line was better and became more of a handful to deal with, then other teams would be forced to throw better defenders out there against them. Teams don't do that though because they're a non-threat right now. They don't spend a lot of time cycling or creating chances, they don't tire out defenders, they don't force the opposition to respect them. That's why they're not a 2nd line right now.
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I agree with the idea of Tkachuk—Janko-Bennett. That makes the line better and a handful to deal with.
Backlund and Frolik can play with any winger and make them better, and against tough opposition. Why not Brouwer?
Neither Jankowski nor Bennett seem to be ready to put a line on their back but looked good with the few games of healthy Jagr. Give them a good winger that is always a factor and see what happens.
Johnny - Monahan - Ferland
Brouwer - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Jankowski - Bennett
4th line
I wish Gulutzan tried this the minute they knew Jagr was out of their plans.