Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRed
Though Fedorov is a #1C on every team in the NHL if he's not playing behind Yzerman ... and 99 + 66.
In his era, I'd say only Yzerman, Lemieux and Gretzky were better. Maybe Oates. But for the combo of skill, skating and defensive ability, it's Fedorov every time.
Backlund is a highly effective player whose job is defence first. He's an elite 3C who should anchor PK 1 and get some PP2 time. He'd be 3C right now if Monahan was anything more than a shadow of his former self.
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Yeah, I'm just saying you normally want a guy with scoring abilities in the #2C role, and your shutdown guy in the #3C role. On very rare occasions you get yourself a Sergei Fedorov who will put up 120 points as your #2C while also winning the Selke as your top shutdown guy.
Generally speaking, the championship model is two scoring lines, a shutdown line and an energy/bruiser line. Fedorov allowed Detroit to have two scoring lines, two shutdown lines and an energy/bruiser line. Having Backlund as our #2C gives us one scoring line, one shutdown line and then two lines of a weird blend of energy/bruisers. Actually it's kinda like there's a scoring line, and then a "score-by-committee" thing with the other three lines. Honestly, it's just weird trying to classify the makeup of this team.
Ultimately, what we really needed was the return of 2019 Monahan. That would have given us two scoring lines and slotted Backlund into the #3C shutdown role where he should be. Hooo boy, that would have been awesome to see.