[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

I will challenge this. What does Leivo bring that they need? Right hand shot, and a guy that goes up and down his wing

What are the knocks on them? Who said there were knocks? Every pairing needs something to compliment it. And there is usually more than one way to do that.

- Too soft. Is Leivo a physical player? 17 hits last year. ( Lindholm puts up around 90 every year ) First, I said he wasn't afraid of physical play, I didn't say he was a bruiser. Second, he had no where near as much ice-time as Lindholm, so comparing total hits is misleading. Third, I never claimed that Lindholm wasn't physical. Nor did I claim Lindholm wasn't good on the line. What I suggested is that freeing Lindholm to play with Tkachuk, creates 2 great lines.

- Not good enough defensively. The outgoing Lindholm has received Selke votes the last two years and is on the good side of the giveaway / takeaway ratio whereas Leivo is neutral Their winger doesn't need a Selke nominee in order to function. As long as the player is defensively responsible, that is the important thing. With Lindholm on another line, and Backlund on another one again, that would allow for Monahan's line to get primarily offensive zone starts.

He is a guy who is 27 years old and has yet to put a full season together. 8 years in the NHL, 169 games. Yes, as he has hit his prime, he stuck with the not very deep Canucks and was about 0.5 points per game, playing with their top players It is what he does this year, with the opportunities that are given to him, that matters. And as has been pointed out, he did have some pretty solid success with the Canucks for a period of time, it isn't like he was useless there.

I see him as a bottom 6 forward on this team talent wise. Mangiapane and arguably Dube have achieved more younger, and have more upside You are working on the premise that players should play on lines based on their rankings, which, IMO, is a false premise. Mangiapane and Dube are both great young players, but Leivo is a better fit on Monahan's line IMO. That does not mean that I think he is a better player.


The problem I have is that these are guys a year removed from being statistically among the very the best lines in the league. They were worse last year and these new average players they are bringing in are not going to elevate the line

They haven't been dominant for more than a full season and 2 playoffs. And again, putting Lindholm with Tkachuk creates a much deeper forward group.

Why be against trying something new? If it works, great! If it doesn't, they could always try something else, like maybe Lindholm on that line.