Quote:
Originally Posted by TheScorpion
There are established fourth-liners in the mould of Lewis, etc. who have been effective hockey players this season and have helped their team. Even Lewis has probably been the best of the Flames' bunch.
But relative to fourth-liners around the league, Richardson, Ritchie, and Pitlick have been extremely deleterious. It has nothing to do with the type of player. There are similar players in their vein who are absolutely effective: Mason Marchment, Travis Boyd, Ryan Lomberg, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Sean Kuraly. I have no issue with this type of player.
Calgary's players of this type have not been effective at all. They need to be replaced.
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Don't disagree with replacing these players if the coach isn't happy with them. Is the coach disappointed in their play or production? That's a question for Sutter to answer.
Having said that, you replace those players with ones that can play that role expected. You throw some names out there about who is effective in similar roles. Marchment (6'4, 210), Boyd (6', 190), Lomberg (5'9, 190), Bellemare (6'0, 200), and Kuraly (6'2, 205) are all a long way from Phillips (5'7, 150). Replace the ineffective guys but do so with players that can execute the roles in question.