Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanCharles
I’m usually agreeable with a lot of your posts but I’m not going to be convinced Leivo and Simon are not, at most, our 11th and 12th best forwards.
The players that played in our top 9 last night and Ryan are our top 10.
However, I do agree it’s way too early to proclaim anything about Pelletier.
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I'm honestly not saying Dube is garbage and the 12th forward. He's young ... so you live with the warts and hope he develops his two way game to the point where he's good in all measures.
Sam Bennett generally has decent numbers but no finish. This year so far he's had terrible numbers and no finish ... he's tumbled.
Leivo I think is a goal away from breaking the new team curse and contributing. He's in the meat of the game, and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Generally think he contributes to lines he's added to.
Simon ... not a huge fan yet. Thought he'd be grittier, and so far he's disappointed. I was prepared for a guy with no finish but was hard to play against. Haven't see that yet.
The forward group to me is the obvious four ... with Mangiapane joining the group with his recent play. That's five.
Backlund and Leivo are in there for me because they are good compliments five on five.
Dube you include because he's growing and has a great upside.
So that's 8 ... Lucic with his play in the last few games has certainly moved up to the point where yeah I'd say he's a third line and not a fourth line guy right now.
Bennett has to gain traction to challenge the Lucic and Leivos of the team going forward. He's had good stretches before so it's in him. Think he has to accept he's a third line guy and be tougher to play against and it would unlock his career.
Anyway I'm rambling ...