So I’m just checking if I’m crazy or something. Cam seems to be struggling this year. He just makes a lot of mistakes and doesn’t have that swagger anymore. Do you guys think he’s been pretty bad this year too? Or is it really just all Bieksa’s fault?
Cam, Josh, Hampus, etc. all struggle with the same thing: Consistency. When Manson and Lindholm are paired together, they are definitely the most consistent pairing. When split up, both become incredibly inconsistent. I don't think it's a coincidence that Fowler's best play came with long stretches with Manson last year. Josh is the ideal partner in a top 4 role. Can skate, move the puck on his own, solid positional play, and can f*** someone up if they mess with you. I should mention that I don't think Josh can carry a pair on his own. Any time we try it, he struggles.
As far as Cam goes specifically: The biggest difference between this year and last year is the swagger that you mentioned. He didn't have it all of last season, but he had for a lot of it and it showed. That confidence with the puck doesn't show as often. Last year, he was consistently a threat offensively. It's not that way this year. I do not like blaming his play on Bieksa, despite my unbelievable hatred for him, but I do think it's a factor. Hard to play confident when your defensive partner is a liability every time he touches the puck.
Cam's never been great along the boards, but he seems to be turning the puck over much more often recently. If the team sends two guys on the forecheck, he's screwed. It wasn't that way last season. Maybe that's playing with Bieksa too much, maybe it isn't. Regardless, that can't happen. I also think he's struggling defensively when following the puck carrier. He's never been a guy who pushes someone off the puck, but now he seems to get deked more often.
Again, I don't like blaming Bieksa as an excuse for Fowler. He makes too much money to struggle that much simply because of who he's paired with. However, it should be incredibly obvious that Fowler and Bieksa shouldn't be together so hopefully RC realizes that. I still think Cam is by far the best D we have with the puck. Just needs to be better defensively and more consistent.