So moving Jokinen to the Bottom 6 after we obtain an elite winger for Sid. Okay, at least some reason to that. So then tell me why Dupuis and/or Bennett (12 game drought, 3 in 19 and 3 in 35, 0 on the year) should be in for Jokinen?
I can understand balance. Last year in playoffs I would have supported a Morrow-Jokinen-Dupuis 3rd line with a Bennett-Malkin-Neal 2nd line. But the fact is, we would need 2 Top 6 forwards for it to be justifiable for Jokinen to be taken out of the Top 6. I highly doubt that happens unless there is an absolute Max Talbot sized anomaly where a random bottom 6 wing clicks amazingly with Malkin-Neal.
Jokinen with Malkin-Neal means there is an additional center on the ice and someone that can keep up with the creativity of Malkin and Neal. Not to mention that all three are a shooting scoring threat or playmaker. It makes it difficult for a line to focus on any one of them exclusively. Bennett hasn't proven that if left alone he is a credible threat (admittingly, yet).
I would love to see a:
Bennett-Crosby-Neal
Kunitz-Malkin-Jokinen
Top 6. That is very intriguing.
I think that could work, or Neal and Jokinen switched (I've said that before). I'm not one of the people wanting Jokinen out of the top 6, with the current roster I want it to be flexible depending on needs and performance. All of the wingers moving around in the top 9. Even with a new winger I would like to see that, actually.
TBH, after seeing JMN I'm not that impressed, that could change though. I want to see the line tried and then how it performs to be responded to.
I don't want Dupuis in the top 6 over Jokinen, I don't want Dupuis in the top 6 aside from the occasional shift if the line construction would benefit from it or injuries. Mainly injuries, no trust for Bylsma making it brief.
I think that depending on the winger for Crosby that Bennett could fit better than Jokinen, and I said that. It would depend on the winger, that's when balance comes into it.
Top 6 wingers
Bennett
Jokinen
Kunitz
Neal
X
That would be 5 and the lines would depend on the new winger, it would only take one new winger to put Jokinen legitimately on the 3rd line, IMO. Or one of the other top 6 wingers.
Anyone else find it strange that the best Dupuis has looked in the past few weeks has been the shift after a PP w/ Sutter?
Or that it's bull **** that he's not good enough to be on either PP unit, yet can play with the best player in the world?
No, he's with his own people of course he fits right in; he's playing at his speed. Every other top 6 player is on the PP, except for the stonehanded one,
...
. Bylsma is aware on some level.