[Kalvinators]

Originally Posted by Elvstrand

Rakell needs to be better in order to stay, imo. It was a good first game, but if all he is now is a 4th liner I don't see the point in burning a year of his ELC. Imo, he could stay in the lineup if he's playing like a 3rd liner (even if it's on the 4th line). But otherwise you could replace him with some veteran, while Rakell gets PP/PK time in juniors and no year is burned off his ELC.

It was the same thing with Smith-Pelly last year. He was good enough to play in the NHL, but you could quite eaisly have replaced him with another physical 4th liner. But at least DSP got a lot of ice time on the 3rd line last season, Rakell probably will be stuck on the 4th line unless he somehow robs Bonino of the 2nd line center spot.

Exactly.