def better to watch at least. but regardless of how early it is, the mika line isn't going to work. pretty telling looking back from roughly the second they were on the same ice panarin was away from mika. not a secret how particular he is about his linemates. borth fooreward and d. i admittedly was all for locking mika in...but he's shown zero 5 on 5. 2 games in you might say whatever, long season. but this isn't new...the bubble showed it, multiple games we needed at least a point against good teams, he was a no show. for all the leadership i hear about in the locker room somehow it never shows on the ice. now that we're tethered to him we need to live in reality about what he is and how to try to push some production out of him. to me that means pairing him a laf with someone who will drive the bus pace wise. a small speedy type with some fire..care less about skill, what will put mika in his best spot to produce - turnovers into odd man rushes and pp one timers.
i'd be surprised if krav was that guy, personally i'd be open to giving it a look, but don't think his skating is anywhere close to what we need in that spot. besides, i get the impression - esp given his susvival amid the front office culling and subsequent removal of the entire hockey op team - that if drury holds an opinion of you or you cross him - you are gone forever.
strome himself has also looked meh, but kakko / panarin will bust out. strome does need to be off pp1, totql liability out there - ridiculous kakko or at least laf not in that spot now
defensively k'andre and lindgren have been atrocious to start. maybe they turn it around, but good god have they been bad.
trouba has been very good, fox has been godlike, nemeth is exactly what we thought we were getting - a welcome rarity.
