Dunno if ice time in a game the team sat a bunch of guys and lost 6-3 is too much of an indication of anything.
Other than he didn’t play fourth line center.
It’s funny, he maybe wouldn’t have played a single game at 2C if it wasn’t for circumstance. Drury wasn’t scoring enough but he was playing an RBA game, Kuzy started as the 4C. Drury got hurt so Kuzy got moved up, and I honestly thought RBA would put Drury right back there as soon as he could. Kuzy cooling off a bit gave him a chance to. RBA doesn’t coach like anyone else does. Line numbers don’t matter as much as they do for other teams. The second line often plays less than you’d think they would as RBA favors Staal’s third line in many even strength situations. Bunting, Necas, TT and others you wouldn’t expect on the fourth played there.
The second line toward the back half is the season became the Necas line. No one has consistent chemistry with him. Kuzy did for a bit but it faded. Necas is at his best when he does all the carrying and creating. When he tries to play with other skilled guys he forces it to them and nothing works. I could see putting Drury/Koko back with Necas as an attempt to let Necas play his game again.
We’ll see who’s playing where when the playoffs start. Nothing has changed with Kuzy, he’s been pretty much the guy I expected him to be. Still great with the puck and has a sharp offensive brain, and doesn’t shrink from big moments. He’s out of shape, was in rehab and not playing hockey at all very recently and had played himself off another team. There’s zero regrets and he could bring a ton to the playoffs.