The players rotated in on the 4th line have produced some positives, and a lot of frustration lol.. Some ya can quantify, some you can't.
This isn't a 4th line of a pair rooks in Anderson/Horvat centered by a 2nd yr Tierney ( Damm that was a deep squad )
I agree it's mostly been a net loss ( mostly mostly mostly I'll say lol) with the 4th line out there. From a pure #s POV.
From a NON numbers perspective. ( development of youngings getting PT (VanGorp, the other Boulton lol) intimidation....whatever non qualitative stuff......maybe or maybe not there has been a few positives to go with the obvious negatives) And they still won games at a rate only a couple teams did this year. Kept winning in spite of a weak stats 4th line. The Hunters have always adjusted, and this year its to a squad that ain't 12 deep up front.
Kids got needed acclimation to the O, PT, meathead ran around.......I can take both those over some of the bodies that have burned a card over the last 3/4 years easy as far as a roster spot.
And come POs #s will be what drives the decisions made most of the time. This team isn't 12 Fs deep you can roll. They will be more protected/sheltered than during reg. season and "someone" won't dress every game, but whoever dresses, the minutes/role will shrink and so will road usage. JMO.
Just hoping the top 9 Fs take care between games lol cause they won't be getting a ton of help in close games.
And agreed if the 4th line can't get in a quick forecheck on the attack the play dies, gets turned back the other way and defending is a big challenge.