Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
I agree. I think he lacks the offensive instincts to really make a guy like Tkachuk achieve his potential. I would give Jankowski a chance with him. Jankowski just has so much more awareness on the ice for where a guy is going to instinctively go and uses his linemates better than any of our centers. Unfortunately, to date, he has not been paired with any forwards that have the smarts and capability of Tkachuk, except for the one game to end last season. Backlund is a great defensive forward, very much in the Guy Carbonneau mold, but I don't see a player like Tkachuk achieving his full potential with Backlund as his pivot.
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Not sure I agree on instincts ... I do agree on finish however.
And I worry that they are using Tkachuk in the wrong way if he's stapled to a shut down line.
But I think it's a stretch to paint Backlund as anemic ... 20 goal 50 point seasons in today's NHL is second line scoring by anyone's standards.