Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan
I thought Czarnik was good on the second line... He creates chances with Tkachuk and Backlund so I don't understand why Frolik gets the long leash with Peters.
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The 3M line has a lot of chemistry that has been built up over the past 2 seasons. If they are separated to start a game, but then reunited in the middle, you can see that the 3 of them know where each other are, especially in the offensive zone. This chemistry doesn't always lead to a scoring chance, but there are fewer missed passes when that trio is cycling the puck.
That is also why it's difficult for other wingers in the bottom-6 to look as good on that line, because the new combo hasn't been together long enough to stick. This is a consequence of Peters' steadfast refusal to make any significant shuffling on the top-2 lines.
Having said this, without the puck, Frolik has the most visible defensive gaffs of the group that end up getting him demoted.