I do think JEE's linemates played a part in his limited production. But I look at it as more the lack of consistent linemates more than the lack of skilled linemates.
The bottom-6 was almost a compete overhaul from the season before. There was no previous chemistry or even system familiarity for the players to fall back on as everything got shuffled due to top-6 injuries. JEE's 15 games from the previous season gave him more NHL games in the Wild's current system than any of the bottom-6 guys (outside of Stewie, who played top-6 for the early portion of the season). Way too many o-zone possessions were ended because of passes to nowhere. You could see in the early season that the mix of the Pens (Cullen), Caps (Winnik), Sabres (Foligno/Ennis), UW (Kunin), and Wild (JEE/Mitchell/Stewie) just weren't on the same page, chapter, or even book at times.
JEE did improve the 2nd half of the season, but it only really started happening after he got Foligno and Winnik on his wings. Then some chemistry (or at least familiarity) started to develop between them. None of them were great players, but at least the line became a solid overall line.
The time for JEE to be in the AHL has passed. From a strictly developmental standpoint, if it was going to happen it should have been to early last season. Injuries prevented that from really being an option, neither Kunin or Mitchell should have been in the NHL either. He has a season of NHL experience behind him now, and the off-season to work on correcting some of the deficiencies in his game.
If he can get ~30p next year, without PP time, playing 3rd line usage, and + hockey; it would be great.
