Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
Does the team need centers? Yes, it does.
So yes it makes sense to experiment with the center position. Look no further than Tampa who roll Point and Cirelli as their 1/2C. Back in 2015 they had Johnson and Stamkos playing those roles and yet they fell short. So they moved those guys around the lineup.
Dube is not Mangiapane. He's not a natural winger. He's not goalscorer either. If you want to get the most out of HIS skillset, you are not going to play him at a position that forces him to defend along the walls and points, lead the rush and button hook etc. We've seen this exact scenario play out before.
If Mangiapane were a natural center, there's no proof he'd be the player he is today the way we have utilized him. His skillset at both ends is that of a winger.
Again, back to Mikael Backlund circa 2019 or Sam Bennett circa his entire Flames career or Elias Lindholm circa his entire hurricanes career - natural centers do not "prove" themselves as centers on the wing.
If Dube is physically ready for the center position, then you have to let him play it and see how he reads the game, both with and without the puck.
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Is Dube a Point or Cirelli though? I think the Flames need centers too, but they need the right centers. So does it make sense to lets say drop Dube down the depth chart to center the 4th line or does it make sense to play him in in the 2nd or 3rd line wing position?
The main point I'm making with Mangiapane is that he has built up equity. The type of equity where you know he's a difference maker night in and night out and perhaps you can start elevating his role. Dube on the otherhand is being benched and scratched by Sutter and isn't an everyday NHLer yet. In his words, "lots of growing up to do." So, trying him at an important position like center, not sure Dube is ready for that kind of duty yet.
But what I will say though is, I think Dube will come back more motivated than ever this coming season. So I expect a big offseason work out from him and I'd absolutely try him out as a center in camp and give him plenty of rope there. Personally though, I've always liked him on his off wing as he has a great wrister in stride. But I'm sort of open to anything with Dube as he's got a lot of versatility in him.