Bennett hasn't been good so I'm not that mad about the benching itself...but still think that Ward's overall bench management has been poor.
Leivo, Lucic, and Nordstrom are getting too much leash. Bennett has been poor too but I honestly think part of the problem is that Ward has not set up the bottom 6 for success.
I still think spreading the wealth around the top 9 is the way to have this team have success and loading up Mangiapane or Dube into the top 6 is what hurts that. I also am starting to wonder if we are better with Backlund/Tkachuk together.
I'd like to see them try out one of the two line combos below:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Simon
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Bennett/Leivo
Mangiapane - Backlund - Dube
Lucic - Ryan - Nordstrom/Leivo/Bennett
or if you wanted to reunite Backlund & Tkachuk then:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Simon
Tkachuk - Backlund - Mangiapane
Dube - Lindholm - Leivo/Bennett
Lucic - Ryan - Nordstrom/Leivo/Bennett
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