It’s not a matter of “better” linemates, though, offensively, Gaudreau had Laine most of last year and Laine scored 22 goals (and when not Laine it was Marchenko).
It’s a matter of linemates who get eachother. For some reason Huberdeau-Bennett-Duclair worked. To a lesser, but still good, degree, Barkov and Huberdeau worked.
This isn’t apologist. It’s trying to figure out a way forward that works better. So far Huberdeau with Backlund and Coleman has been better than with Kadri or Lindholm, for whatever reason. The production’s way off, but he looks much better and more confortable on that line. It’s funny because Backlund and Bennett are nothing alike. I suppose Coleman is more like Bennett, though - a net crasher and disturber. I wonder how Pospisil would do with Huberdeau.
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