Quote:
Originally Posted by Hextall89
I've seen you say the Hartnell-Briere-Leino line will suck this year but I think I missed your reasons. Can you give them again
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I know you didn't ask me but I'll take a crack at his reasoning.
Briere has proven to not be nearly as effective in the regular season as he is in the playoffs, especially on the defensive side of the puck. Since he came to Philly he has been downright dominant in the playoffs and a big minus in the regular season which isnt something you want in the middle of the ice.
The big knock on Leino before he came here was his defensive play and that he took shifts off. Nobody questioned his offensive ability, it was more a question of if he came maintain it through an 82 game schedule and into the playoffs.
Hartnell is Hartnell, hes not bad in his own end but definitely nothing special. Combine that with 2 other defensive liabilities and you have a problem.
The three of them were able to play like each game was their last because for a long stretch, that was the situation. If you make a mistake in the playoffs its not just a boneheaded play its a back breaker and a possible season ending blunder. I find it hard to believe that the 3 of them, lead by a massively undersized center can keep that intensity, and urgency for 82+ games.