Clearly injuries are the reason. If we are assuming that he won't be healthy then the whole discussion is moot anyway.
There has been discussion of Zacha playing LW himself. Heck, he might even start the year in Albany. Regardless, you guys want to drop down what was our top offensive player before Hall and put him on the 3rd line? Ok, tell me what other team does something like that?
You said it yourself. His health is a major concern. That's just reality.
My post was more 'food for thought'.. we have a guy that perennially can't stay healthy. Now that we have Hall in the mix, and we're looking for Boucher to step into a larger role, is it really that absurd to suggest somewhat sheltering the oft-injured player and giving him easier minutes? ...so he, hopefully, can play a full 82?
Forget about the health issue... from a 'team development' standpoint, why would you not want a skilled veteran.. a top-2 dynamic forward for the team.. to spend time on a line with two guys getting their legs under them?
I mean, the alternative is a Boucher-Zacha-DSP third line. Which I don't think would jive. I just think it's in Boucher's best interest to play up where he's comfortable with Zajac and Palmieri... and I think it's in Zacha and DSP's best interest to play with a skilled, dynamic forward that's been around for a while.
Developmentally speaking... which has been one of Hynes' strongest motifs... this logic is sound.