[browna]

I’m with the small trade camp ASAP. Or relative small trade. Whatever it takes to find a mostly permanent top line, not the placeholder that’s been Backlund the last 7 weeks, and see how that goes before the trade deadline, in giving the team a boost and JG and SM, specifically.

People demanding blood because of how last year ended because of how last year started. 90% of that roster is still here.

For some perspective, Tampa was no better than us last playoffs, nor the beginning of this season, and only an 8 and 2 run right now has them better than us...and they didn’t have a change of coach to have to work through 2 months into the season, a coach which is not the permanent coach, and that factor too needs to be addressed to give the roster that stability. But are Tampa thinking of retooling the whole core come summer as some desire is here?

Yes, JG and SM have been struggling. Treliving tried at the trade deadline and in the summer to address it, and or a second line to help support the top line, falling short, and now the assets he tried to use then have fallen off themselves.

You owe JG and SM the opportunity to play with a player they fit with like they had in Lindholm last year. If Lindholm is going to go with MT on a second line, you need to find them a guy that JG and SM gell with, because their skill and scoring ability as individuals come out with having 2 linemates that can work together. Should JG not have special treatment and instead adapt to whoever he plays with? Sure, to a point, but he’s also needing players he works well with to get the most out of himself.

You don’t throw a third line center with them for 6 weeks, someone who doesn’t complement their style, while being in an early season slump, and then run with that setup the rest of the season. Backlund is a fish out of water in that line...stats prove it, as does the sight test, he doesn’t know what to do with the puck, he’s often option 4 for JG and SM on the rush. That line is completely disjointed instead of a solid 3 man unit.

That top line drove the team last year and gave the rest of the roster, including d men jumping up, the confidence to take over games the first 3/4 of the year. The top line is rudderless right now and that causes other holes in the lineup to be more glaring. As importantly, the team doesn’t have the confidence or swagger, which is an important intangible as individuals and as a team.

If we’re giving Sam Bennett the benefit of the doubt for years, I think you have to give JG more time then this season, especially what he’s been given the past two months, to turn things around.

JG doesn’t need a top line winger, take 2016 and 2017 Ferland who was a finisher, as a much preferable option with a player in Backlund who has the 3 of them all regressing as players/production.

Bottom line, Treliving needs to shoot his shot ASAP to get the top line solidified and a guy thet SM and JG can work with and blossom with, and Backlund then moved down the lineup. Ideally it happens fairly soon so further assessment can be done in the preceding month to see if there is more to be added at the trade deadline at the end of Feb...and a bad funk of multiple months doesn’t mean you jettison our top 2 player, just as I doubt Tampa has wondered about ditching Stamkos.