Quote:
Originally Posted by mpp9
Yep. I don't see Staal leaving b/c of PP time or grinder mold linemates. But I do think he questions if he's outgrown his role with our team. He can be a great #2C on a lot of playoff teams.
The way I see it if we want to keep the 3C model longterm, you have to use all three centers as your top 3 offensive players. Doubleshift them on the wing. Drop Sid/Geno down to the 4th line and allow Staal some ES shifts with Neal/Kuni/etc. That'll make the opposing coach's life extremely difficult.
I'd like to see us put together a 4th line that can go up against anyone at any time in a game. Use that as a go-to checking line. Thus allowing us to throw Staal up in the top 6 more often and have that line come out after.
This was all alluded to by DB over the course of the regular season when he was asked how he was going to use all three centers. Stacking the top 6 when down and finding a proper checking line so Staal can see more offensive zone starts is key.
|
The key that we are both looking for is having three all-situation centers instead of Malkin being all offense and Staal being all defense I think. I think a big part of this could be giving Sid and Geno some more defensive responsibility too. That would free up some offensive starts for Staal and it would screw with the match-ups of the other team. I think a change like this would do more to make Staal happy than giving him top powerplay time would. I think he'll always see his PK time cut into whatever PP time he would otherwise get unless we get enough good point guys to split Sid and Geno.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpp9
Maybe Vitale can be a reliable defensive center for us. I wanted to see us bring in a Peverley type. Someone who can move up and down the lineup at wing or center. Fill that role of checking line center, fill a hole on wing in the top 6 and (god forbid) if two of our centers go down, he can fill in as a #2C.
|
I think if Jeffrey can get everything together he could be a Peverley type as far as moving around the line-up. I am really nervous about what that injury did to his skating though. Not to mention missing the majority of a season as soon as he looks ready to break in to the league full time. That has to be tough to deal with.