Quote:
Originally Posted by Macindoc
Lindholm has looked amazing on the first line. Czarnik has so far shown better chemistry on the second line, and adds a right shot and the ability to take draws to that line.
People seem to be hung up on how much salary a player is paid when discussing Neal or Ryan. That is the GM's job, not the coach's. It's up to the coach to find out where each player fits best, regardless of their contract. If Czarnik fits better on the 2nd line and Neal on the 3rd line, I don't care who earns more.
Anyway, if Neal earns more ice time, they can always make that time up on the PP. In addition, I see the 2nd and 3rd lines getting similar minutes, with the 3rd line getting more offensive zone starts. Finally, Neal historically has played his best hockey when teamed up with fast linemates.
Hopefully, with the addition of Peluso, the 4th line will spend most of the game stapled to the bench, I haven't liked what I've seen of Ryan so far, and that trio doesn't give me much confidence.
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I wasn't so hung up on the salary - more that he was the big UFA signing, so putting him on the third line would be an admission of error somehow. The Kessel analogy is good though.
I sure want to see how Jankowski reacts to being a healthy scratch. It only happened twice last year IIRC.