Why is he definitely not the solution at wing? I don't see that at all.
Why is he definitely not the solution at wing? I don't see that at all.
We've been using Mojo at 2LW and 1RW and to me he's at least as much of a liability in a physical matchup as Kuz. Mojo tried his usual move of trying to carry the puck over the blueline and to the right corner last game and got planted. That happens a lot. At least with Kuz I could see him finding his way around such contact. If Mojo doesn't have a clear lane he's toast.
He's unwilling or unable to win puck battles along the boards. Hell, he barely even engages. In addition, he thrives on the additional space through the middle of the ice. Those both have implications in the defensive zone as well as the offensive zone.
Yeah but he's been playing with 20 and 25 recently. When I watch Kuz on that line he's clearly playing a support role, waiting for one of the other guys to push the puck free. He's never going to be the guy on the boards pinning the puck to the wall with his skates or tying a guy up for long, I don't think. But how often is the top line trying to do that anyway?
I don't think there's any indication whatsoever he wouldn't work on the wing. He's no worse than Burakovsky on the walls. It's a numbers game. They're very thin down the middle and want some semblance of skill and creativity there beyond Backstrom.
Agree. Switch Bozak in for Vermette and he and Fehr can switch places if needed. Trade Johansson at the draft unless he shows another level of play.Get a center, put Fehr at 1RW, and keep Kuznetsov at center. Problem solved.
Ovechkin - Backstrom - Fehr
Laich - Vermette* - Ward
Johansson - Kuznetsov - Brouwer
*Vermette is a placeholder for this, could be replaced with any other capable 2-way scoring center. Amazing how much better it looks if you flip the lines around.
Agree. Switch Bozak in for Vermette and he and Fehr can switch if needed. Trade Johansson at the draft unless he shows another level of play.
Agree. Switch Bozak in for Vermette and he and Fehr can switch places if needed. Trade Johansson at the draft unless he shows another level of play.
With Stafford off the market, Jagr's it as far as rental RWs who don't suck.