[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Kovaz

It'd be the exact same mistake we've made twice with Brouwer and Neal: you can't look at goal/point totals without context and assume they'll remain constant when you significantly downgrade the context.

Where does Simmonds fit into our current lineup? He's not gonna take Lindholm's spot. We've just spent half a season to realize that Frolik is the best fit on the second line. Our third line is finally starting to show some chemistry with Neal. Where do you put Simmonds? Do you bump Neal to the 4th line? Do you gamble that he'll work with Tkachuk-Backlund and push Frolik to the 4th line? Likewise with the powerplay: he's not taking a spot on the top unit. What good will adding a net-front guy do to a second powerplay unit that can't even generate shots?


Also, on Lazar: within 10 feet of the net, he's got the worst finishing ability I've ever see in an NHLer. He makes Bennett look like Monahan. However, I think the rest of his game gets unfairly criticized because of that. As a 4th line/PK/energy guy, I think he's a better option than any of our 4th line wingers currently. Last year I thought he was significantly better than Hathaway in a similar role. I don't think he's down in the AHL because he can't play a 4th line role - he's down there because he wants to rediscover enough offence that he can be a middle-6 guy.

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Who is perpetuating this idea? I can't say I have seen it espoused here.

Have seen it elsewhere.