jMoneyBrah
Registered User
Never said he wasn't getting better, but his problems have typically been turnovers, defensive responsibility and the will and/or strength to win 1 on 1 battles. Those are things that are based in effort and attention to detail. His production on the PP is his most natural contribution because he doesn't really have to worry about any of that. His increased production at 5 on 5 has coincided with playing with Jumbo and in kind, Jumbo getting his game back. That line didn't look near as good 15-20 games ago... So your number of games that Lebank has looked better coincidentally coincides with Jumbos improved play. So Like I said, HOF centerman helps his game. Also there was a recent article about how Jumbo is always in his ear. I doubt it's a made up point, and I bet it's a major factor to his improved effort and attention to detail. PDB would have just put him on the 4th line instead of trying to get him to play the right way yet again
I mean in a nutshell: Thornton is playing great and Lebanc has played well enough to support Thornton’s great play. He’s playing better in all three zones and putting up points like a second line winger in 3rd line minutes... yeah I can agree with all that. I mean Jumbo being in his ear, I don’t know, is that somehow a knock on Lebanc that he has the smarts to listen? In any case my main point is: don’t trade Lebanc, he’s gonna get better.