Quote:
Originally Posted by HighLifeMan
It's absolutely possible to roll 4 effective lines between 11-14 minutes a game at five on five. We saw Washington do it last year to damn near league best results.
Fans get to preoccupied with numbering the lines, but Backlund and Coleman can still easily play 14 minutes a night with PK time and be put into pure defensive assignments which hopefully opens up easier matchups and better output for the rest of the lineup.
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Of course it's possible ... it's up to each team to decide.
But it's not a preoccupation it's math.
Are you comfortable to have another center cover 33% of the elite forwards playing against Calgary?
Are you comfortable with your number one center playing 2 less minutes of five on five hockey a night?
Are you ok with the impact that has on his offensive affectiveness?
I think a team with a budding new shut down center on the fourth line likely has more of a push to make that happen.