I suspect that one of Maurice`s more pressing challenges is to decide where in the lineup he should finally utilize Ehlers and Laine. This experiment (and that`s what it is guys) playing both on one line, first with Copp as C, and perhaps also later with Petan, is imo a last ditch effort to assess whether he can think of putting them together on one line and get positive outcomes, both offensively and defensively, or not. If I were a betting man, my money would be on Maurice concluding that they have to be separated to make the most positive contribution to the team. Remember that he has already auditioned both with Scheifele at C last year, and with Little this year,- with less than stellar results. It`s not hard to see that neither Ehlers nor Laine have been able to fit well into the basic dump and chase/high pressure forecheck that is the very foundation of Maurice`s approach to hockey. Putting them together on one line seems to magnify the issues.
The complication for Maurice in terms of setting a preferred lineup undoubtedly has been the earlier than expected emergence of both Connor and Roslovic. Spending time in the AHL working one on one with the coaches has prepared them much better to fit the style of the big club. It will be interesting to see how this all settles out, won`t it? It will be especially interesting to see how Maurice reconciles his thoughts about Hendricks and Tanev as well. He has been publicly open with his view that the team is in need of the physicality brought by these 2, and that the team has been decidedly different (in a non good way) without them in the lineup. Hmmm - interesting times indeed.
