HockeyinHD
Semi-retired former active poster.
- Jun 18, 2006
- 11,972
- 28
I guess it's kind of an issue I have with Blashill this season. He is "defaulting" to a lot of things Babcock did, even when he's not getting similar results. There was no issue with your described usage of Sheahan under Babcock, because he was a .5 ppg player that was very reliable.
There was also no other option. That was my point, really. When you add Larkin and Richards, you increase the number of choices for that second unit PP time/strong ES linemate stuff.
Blashill is trying to use him the same way while getting very different results. Also is trying the Kronwall-Ericsson and Dekeyser-Quincey pairings. Also started the season playing Glendening way too much.
There's only a certain number of rational combinations of players, though. And both Datsyuk and Richards missing time early on forced a little bit of overplaying of the surviving centers early on, as well.
I'd like to see him try some more new ideas, and take into account guys current play this season a bit more.
Well, he was onto Larkin playing more in a big role early, he's had no problem benching Nyquist and Tatar late in games (reducing their ES IT/g by around a minute a game), he slid Sheahan out of the top 6, he hid Howard under a rock, he's increased Dekeyser's role, he's reduced Ericsson's role (especially at ES)... he's been pretty active changing the general usage rates and types, IMO. And that's not even including working Green into the defense.