This season feels long and we're not even playing. Bratt is really playing at a very high level. Hughes is already ridiculous in many parts of his game. He's a gambler. I'll live with some of his warts. Siegenthaler has been a revelation for me. Bastian and McLeod, for their roles have not been terrible at all. Mercer has been ok on the whole. Nico I'm also happy with as a 2C. I love his character and board work. It feels like he's had the crap kicked out him.
I'm really struggling with everyone else:
- Goaltending: yeah...well....
- Severson: Really good when not stressed, bit of a gambler, not great around the crease
- Graves: More warts as the season progresses; need his Hamilton binky back
- Subban: Invites issues that he then has to clean up; way too slow making decisions in the offensive zone - ok in a third pairing role as he's simplified his game; needs new sticks
- Smith: Was having a better second quarter than the first quarter but still...regression; terrible in corners and lacking some physical tools right now
- Jaros: replaceable
- White: Had some hiccups; might be ok as a 7th
- Shara: Last year seems like luck in hindsight
- Kuokk: Replaceable
- Zacha: I've given up hopes he'll ever be consistent enough to impact anything
- Tatar: There's a reason teams have given up on him. I think he's still a smart, talented player, but he just cannot physically compete - sort of reminds me of "end-of-the-career-Sykora"
- Vesey: Replaceable - regressed from the start of the year; not a lot of finish in his game
- Johnsson: trade bait - he just gets pushed around too much but I love his heart; not finding the space he had with Bratt
I would not mind seeing Studenic, Zetterlund or Clarke get some play. I know Clarke is injured. I will look forward to Walsh and Ohityuk's cup of coffee.
)
