[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by smiggy77

the inability to fill the bottom 6 itself though is the better problem to have. Most GM's suffer from the opposite. Can't home grow their top 6 so they go out to UFA and overpay and then have cap issues. I'm glad that our only UFA liability is Brouwers contract and not like up north with someone like Lucic. The UFA market is ridiculous and something we shouldn't ever touch, unless absolute necessary.

Someone mentioned it before but our biggest issue is definitely the third line. If we can get production from that line, we will get more wins than not.

Our record:
- When Janko scores: 8-0
- When Bennett scores - 5-3
- When either or score - 9-3

I think Tre recognizes that and during the off season was hoping someone could graduate up to the big club from Shinkaruk, Klimchuk, etc., but when that didn't pan out, he tried upgrading that line by having somewhat skilled older guys on there (Jagr, Versteeg, etc.) Reclamation projects, yep I can agree with that, but they're calculated risks that didn't pay off unfortunately. It is what it is, gotta try the next thing.

I do feel this off season though there will be a pretty decent shake up. Tkachuk looks to be in a position where he can carry his own line and generate some offense and I have a feeling we'll see the team focus on building the line pairings around Mony/Johnny, Backlund/Frolik, and then maybe Tkachuk/Janko

This is exactly what happened. It's why he went after Foo as well. It's why he signed a consistent 17-25 goal/ 33-43 point man in Brouwer (who proceeded to have his worst production since his rookie year).