Quote:
Originally Posted by home_sweet_dome
People focus on the top line but the reality is the middle 6 isn't producing and really hasn't for a while outside of Dube.
I've said it so many times that it's beating a dead horse but Backlund simply isn't a 2nd line C and has no chemistry with 88/73. It's at the point of switching it up or dying on that sword.
Try Dube or Ruzicka up there with 88/73 and have Backs/Coleman/Jarnkrok as an elite shutdown 3rd line. Sad there wasn't more experimenting with that the last month when it's been obvious 88/11/73 doesn't work and our spot was essentially locked in.
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Agree with most of what you said.
But I think Backlund and Mangiapane actually have a lot of chemistry. They both can cycle down low and can spend entire shifts in the opponents end.
If you ask me, I think it's Toffoli that has zero chemistry with the second line. His game doesn't seem to compliment them at all. Even tonight, Darryl sticks Toffoli with Backlund on a few 4 on 4 shifts, looked awful together. Then Toffoli ends up in the box on a coincidental, so Mangiapane ends up with Backlund and together, they have a great shift.
Toffoli needs to removed from that line, he doesn't fit. The eye test and the numbers say so. After a great start, Toffoli has 3 points even strength points in his last 19 games, most of those games have been with 11 and 88.