4th line is doing its job honestly. They pretty much are there to not mess up, eat some minutes, and occasionally score.
They have been doing that. So as much as people like to rag on Oneil and Gio. They aren't the problem.
Problem is Tlusty-JJ-Tootoo. 3rd line is expected to score more and they are not scoring period.
JJ is actually the best of the three because he is actually making some plays and getting pucks on net. He just can't score.
Tootoo is not playing well and Tlusty is extremely invisible as well.
I think the problem is that JJ and Tootoo don't belong on the 3rd line. They really have no business there. They should be on the 4th line. That would effectively waive or scratch O'Neill.
Tlusty could be a 3rd liner, he hasn't played like one for much of the last 40 games though.
Emperoreddy, I have got to agree with Bleedred. Although JJ and Tootoo aren't showing that they are worthy 3rd liners at the moment, they still hold more value in the lineup than Gionta and O'Neill.
JJ can PK and is actually providing value to the team as a shootout specialist. He has to stay in the lineup. Demote him to the 4th line so that there are little to none offensive expectation.
I'll keep Tootoo ahead of O'Neill because he is gritty and can spark a team with an occasional fight. He has also scored more than O'Neill thus far, although having power play time helps.
Therefore, if we agree that JJ and Tootoo should slide down then, there are two 3rd line spots open. Elias takes one when he is healthy again. He will probably eventually end up taking the 2nd line role filled by Kalinin who can then center the 3rd line.
The 2nd spot on the 3rd line, Hynes has to do something different. I don't think signing Tyler Kennedy is the answer. I think the options are as follows:
1. Promote Farnham to 3rd line (Regarding the 4th line occasionally scoring, it is only one person at the moment, and that is Farnham) and play Stefan Matteau on 4th line.
2. Recall Boucher or Blandisi.
3. Leave the spot empty and play Gelinas as a 7th dman.
4. Fill the spot via trade (Gelinas and Matteau is the obvious trade bait).
Regarding the play of Jiri Tlusty. I think he gets a little more rope than a Gionta or O'Neill. He has past history he can be an effective 2nd/3rd line tweener. Maybe countryman Elias can jump start his play.