Backstrom's line is fine, they're playing their own style, and quite effective I think. Generating moments, scoring some goals, controlling the puck. Didn't look up their GA stats but I don't think it's grim (aside from Mojo's mistake yesterday and the likes).
Kuzy is struggling at times, but he was promoted and it's understandable. Just his opponents are tougher now. We need to wait to see if he can hold up. Trotz already using Backstrom for some key faceoffs in OZ to try set up Ovi's shot. I guess they know what Kuzy lacks and work on it. Oshie and Ovi could use their moments better lately, but nothing much to do with it - it's their business mostly, and coaches will point at that most probably. Those moments when Ovi doesn't shoot - they will figure it out eventually. We don't even played many games to evaluate current top-6 struggles properly. Maybe previous games were an aberration (weak opponents, convenient schedule), maybe Ovi/TJ/Kuz just weren't good in last ones.
Bottom-6 playing as expected I think. A bunch of misfit players. Maybe they should try Chimera-Stephenson-Burakovsky and Laich-Beagle-Wilson.
Defensively, well... Many options. They need more games to try something and say if it worked. At least Schmidt should be in the roster over Chorney, that's for sure.
