Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanCharles
Projected lineup:
Johnny Gaudreau - Elias Lindholm - Matthew Tkachuk
Joakim Nordstrom - Mikael Backlund - Andrew Mangiapane
Milan Lucic - Derek Ryan - Dillon Dube
Josh Leivo - Glenn Gawdin - Brett Ritchie
Mark Giordano - Christopher Tanev
Nikita Nesterov - Rasmus Andersson
Oliver Kylington - Michael Stone
Jacob Markstrom
https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/proj...ks/c-324660692 |
No problem with Kylington getting some reps instead of Valimaki, but keeping Nesterov in doesn't make much sense. Let Valimaki handle a bit more responsibility and see how he does. Or Kylington for that matter, I don't care. But you'll never know what you have in some young players if you don't put them in situations to test their abilities. Both Stone and Andersson are capable enough veterans at this point to handle a young partner.
But really, Nordstrom on the 2nd line? Are you telling me you couldn't let Dube play on that line and let Matthew Phillips have a shot at 3rd line RW with veterans like Lucic and Ryan? He's been patient for years and is working on his game, but he's also had a pretty good year and deserves a cup of coffee in garbage time to see if he can hang with NHL players.
This organization just simply refuses to trust that any young player could add something meaningful to the team, and they're the last team in the NHL to figure this out. Every other team in the NHL readily plays guys for at least a few games every year, even if they're not 100% ready to show them what it takes to reach the NHL.
This franchise is horrible at player development, full stop. It's driving me insane.