Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
I think you can build a future by playing players where they are supposed to play by merit until they no longer deserve it.
Let the Frosts and Zarys learn.
Backlund will slow up soon enough, but there is zero point in making your team ####ty by trying to play the top two lines on every team without a true defensive center to counteract them.
You need minutes for Kadri (more than 15). You need minutes for your shut down guy (more than 15).
I mean if they just give up and roll four lines I know that would make some people happy but I can't see it.
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If you look at the ATOI from last season, they're actually not that far off:
Nazem Kadri – 16:21
Mikael Backlund – 14:39
Connor Zary – 13:54
Morgan Frost – 13:39
As Backlund and Kadri inevitably slow down, you'd expect those numbers to shift based on merit.
But it's not a light switch. You can’t play Zary on the wing or give him 10 sheltered minutes a night, then suddenly expect him to be ready to jump into a top-six center role when Backlund is done.
He needs reps and responsibility now, gradually easing him in is the only way it works long-term.
And the icetime based strictly on play-merit is BS. There's going to be players and prospects that get more icetime and leeway based on where they were drafted or what their contract is. That's just how it is.