bluetuned wrote:Putting Backes as a Top 6 winger while our third line rolls with Berglund, Brouwer, and Jaskin seems pretty lopsided and leaves us top heavy on the first two lines. I think I'd rather put Jaskin as a Top 6 guy and let Backes stay at center with Berglund and Brouwer. That'd be a beast of a "third" line to play against, and you're maximizing Jaskin's scoring chances by putting him with better players.
I'm skeptical of Rattie and Fabbri looking ready. Fabbri I think gets the full 9 game tryout and maybe stays up until the WJC just practicing with the big club. Rattie is a big question mark, as is MPS for that matter. Not sure where they fit unless Jaskin falters or Berglund is moved.
But without another roster move I'd probably run these lines:
Steen / Lehtera / Tarasenko
Schwartz / Stastny / Jaskin or Brouwer
Berglund / Backes / Brouwer or Jaskin
When you really want to put your best offensive foot forward in key moments then you can move Backes up with Stastny and Schwartz and use Berglund as the 3C.
Brother, think the world of ya, but couldn't disagree more. The Cardinal Rule in hockey coaching is surround your centers with like skill, or with skill that compliments their playing style. We have a 70pt center in Paul, a 60+ point LWer in Jaden, so IMO there is no way we put a 60pt, top 5 NHL power forward on the 3rd line, and settle a 30pt kid on the RW. Not saying Jaskin couldn't be up to the challenge, but I would wait until he puts in 40+ points on the 3rd line before I even consider it.
I look at it this way, Paul and Jaskin had a long stint this last season, and the kid did well scoring 13 goals, but Paul had an off year, partially due to injury, but also due to the fact that Dimitri just wasn't capable of sustaining offensive pressure, as he's still learning how to be a power forward. IMO, if we're spending $7 million for a top center, give him the tools to be just that. Besides, playing on a line with Brouwer and Berglund will only help the kid understand how to keep possession (Berglund and Brouwer), and maximize his physical capabilities without being a liability (Brouwer).