I get that, but I also get that the Comets have the potential to ice a better roster than they do. Obviously, Cull deserves credit for getting as much as he has out of the roster, but I think his line blending and refusal to play Gaunce as a center are pretty serious flaws worth noting.
"the Comets have the potential to ice a better roster than they do."
Really?
Here's the D-men as of yesterday:
Schenn
Sifers
Sautner
McEneny
LeBlanc
Chatfield - playing like crap right now
Saucerman
Injured-
Juolevi out for the season
Graham WTW
Blujus WTW
He's playing the only 4 contracted D he has and the other 2 are on AHL contracts.
Here's the forwards as of yesterday:
Pyatt/Kero/Boucher
Gaunce/Gaudette/Lind
Dahlen/Woods/Darcy - Crazy, but Dahlen has been scoring goals with Woods as his center.
Gadjovich/Hamilton/Arseneau
Injured -
Jasek - Played 2 of the 3 weekend games and sat out Sunday with an injury incurred on Saturday. That gave Gadjovich a game. Neither of the 2 is making any kind of impression as anything better than a lesser quality AHL player as of now, but Jasek is the better of the 2.
Bancks
So, assembling this cast of characters would you please tell me where the better potential roster is that Cull can put out on the ice? Maybe you can rearrange the lines which he has been doing constantly, sometimes to the dismay of all who watch the Comets, but he is always tinkering to try and come up with the best combinations while giving all of the kids playing time, deserved or not. Last night he created 2 strong lines, 1 that had potential with Dahlen and Woods, and a checking line which did an admirable job (They were not out for a goal against, while Dahlen's and Boucher's lines were on for 2 GA each.)
His vets are Schenn and Sifers on D and Boucher, Pyatt, Bancks, and Hamilton up front. Schenn, Sifers, Boucher and Pyatt ARE NOT going to sit. That leaves Bancks (captain) and Hamilton. Since the 5 vet rule became a problem with the acquisition of Schenn, Hamilton has been sitting.
Last night Darcy was on the wing, Arseneau was in the lineup for Bancks, and Gadjovich was in for Jasek. With MacEwen enroute to Vancouver, Cull was playing the only 18 forwards he had at his disposal.
Actually, the beginning of your statement has never rung truer:
"Cull deserves credit for getting as much as he has out of the roster."