If Eakin and Reilly keep playing like this and Nystrom keeps looking "meh", I think it happens. Either way, you love to have depth like that. That'd be a good problem to have.
Plus, you know Roy's got about 3 more games before he gets injured.
Nystrom played great tonight. Did exactly what a 3rd liner should do.
Yeah, if we are playing badly come deadline time what's the situation of our best playmaker (Jagr) and our best scorer (Ryder)? Would they be open to a trade? Because those guys would command great return.
I should also stress that my saying "meh" about Nystrom was not a comment about this game. It sort of guys back for a few months of seeing him play.
I don't dislike him, though. It's just that unless he's going to be a standout player, I consider letting a young kid earn some of his time.
The only issue with this though, is that your third line is your energy line, and a line that you can throw out when you need to shut down a powerful line. Smith and Eakin are both top 6 'roled' players, so the 4th line is a good spot to have them in. Just limit the 3rd line minutes, don't take penalities and they'll see good development time.
A good coach would rotate the younger guys into those top two lines as the game progresses while we're up on the scoreboard.
The only issue with this though, is that your third line is your energy line, and a line that you can throw out when you need to shut down a powerful line. Smith and Eakin are both top 6 'roled' players, so the 4th line is a good spot to have them in. Just limit the 3rd line minutes, don't take penalities and they'll see good development time.
A good coach would rotate the younger guys into those top two lines as the game progresses while we're up on the scoreboard.
Perhaps. Although I got hammered at the beginining of the season though for the same idea. Since our 3rd line apparently "sucks" at shutting people down anyway.
Anyway, there will be injuries and all sorts of other things. I think he'll get some chances.
Perhaps. Although I got hammered at the beginining of the season though for the same idea. Since our 3rd line apparently "sucks" at shutting people down anyway.
Anyway, there will be injuries and all sorts of other things. I think he'll get some chances.
The people saying our third line sucks don't know what they're looking for. Morrow-Fiddler-Nystrom do a fantastic job at what they do. They had a rough first game, but if they'll think back to last season you'll see that lots of people praised the team for finally having a bottom 2 lines.
3rd line is way better this year than it was last.
I think perhaps. It's only been 3 games, though, and they've been very weird games. Let us see.
Rememeber that Fiddler/Nystrom lead the team in quality of opponent disparity last season controlled for ice time (meaning no 2 other players faced higher comparative quality of opposition during the time they were on the ice). They started well, got worked to the bone, and ultimately finished with some forgettable defensive moments in the second half. Luckily there *is* no second half, but still. Maybe we should think about allowing some other guys to play a few of these minutes. Maybe there's a way to still use these guys in shutdown minutes, but not make things quite so insane out there.
If everybody would have elevated their shots just 6 more inches, it would have been 6-0.
Smith shouldn't have elevated that one at all.
Like that lineup, by the way. Maybe switch Roy and Benn until that line stops working though. Nice to be able to actually consider not putting Benn on the top line.
How much longer do you guys think it will take Benn to resign? What are the issues?
Who knows. This should've been completed a couple days ago. Sounds like he'll miss Thursday too. Anytime a rumor comes out that they're close to a deal, it just gets shot down within a couple of hours.
Who knows. This should've been completed a couple days ago. Sounds like he'll miss Thursday too. Anytime a rumor comes out that they're close to a deal, it just gets shot down within a couple of hours.
