Quote:
Originally Posted by stemit14
My bigger concern is Zary. I don’t want him moved back to wing unless he really struggles playing centre when he comes back from injury.
I don’t think Backlund and Coleman’s minutes will take too much of a hit because they will still both be relied on heavily for the penalty kill and potentially parts of the powerplays. Unlike the previous 4th line, they will not be sat for the 3rd period. Minutes will spread more evenly across the line up. I’m fine with any of those lines facing the top lines of other teams - even the Klapka-Zary-Coronato line as they have all shown a decent to strong defensive game. The lines I’m hoping for makes it so there isn’t really a weak line any more and there is potential for a brand new line (Klapka-Zary-Coronato) to really pop and become a scoring threat.
Keeping Coronato with Backlund and Coleman and keeping the 4th line as the weaker line that often gets exposed seems like a lot of the same we’ve seen lately.
|
Keep Zary at C, he's more effective there because it allows him to operate in a larger part of the ice surface. Completely rethink the 4th line, and use Backlund and Coleman as its foundation. They're responsible for the tough match-ups, but otherwise roll all lines with equal ice time. Think of it more as four 2nd lines. Give the Zary and Kadri lines the PP time, and use the other two lines for the PK. Maybe give Frost a few extra minutes with PP1 and PK2 time (Huby, Kadri, Frost, and Coronato on PP1, Sharky, Zary, Farabee, and two D on PP2 for a different look, or could add Coleman up front instead). Backlund will do better with a bit less ice time than he is currently playing, and will probably benefit from the break more than any other Flame who is not currently on IR, as he is reportedly nursing an injury.