It depends on how Thomas and Kyrou look. If they both make the team and we run what is essentially a 3a and 3b for the bottom 6, then we absolutely don't need a 4C upgrade. Barring something very unexpected from Thomas at camp, we have 4 centers in Schenn, ROR, Bozak and Thomas. If Kyrou is also good enough to make the team, then we essentially have no possible way to make a traditional 4th line. Schenn, Schwartz, Tarasenk0, ROR, Steen, Fabbri, Maroon, Bozak, Perron, Thomas, and Kyrou is 11 guys. If those guys are the best 11 players in camp, then there is no realistic way to play any of the 4 centers on wing and it would essentially force Yeo to use the 4th line as a 3b type line. As much as Army has talked about Kyrou and Thomas, it seems clear that the plan until proven otherwise is that those 2 are NHL ready.
With as much as the ice time is going to spread out this year, we shouldn't need to rely on traditional 4th liners to kill penalties. ROR, Steen, Perron, Schwartz, Schenn, and Thomas should all be able to log meaningful PK minutes without approaching an unreasonable TOI.
If these don't work out and one of our 4 centers slides to wing, then we can address the issue then. We don't need to trade an asset with any amount of value to address a hypothetical need on the 4th line. 4th line caliber guys who are adequate at the faceoff dot go through waivers pretty frequently. It's a role that can be filled fairly easily if it is needed, not something that we need to plan for since it is plan B or C at the moment.
4th line center is more then just FO duty, its guy who can take most icetime from PK and release that duty from our top6 guys. Its the guy who can drive energy to team and can put out on ice everytime when needed. Play physical game, have edge on his game, is locker room guy.
Brodziak was perfect for that example.
Barbashev, Sundqvist or Thomas aren't anything on those.
I love idea Schwartz blocking shots from the blueline at PK.
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