Mika produces and is good.
Skjei has struggled this season. I just want him to get past it and improve, not continue struggling.
I think it’s essential that we get a steady defensive partner for Skjei next season. The kid is a 23 y/o PMD/2-way D who has been rushed into a No 1 spot in the NHL. OK, I think he can survive it. But not if he have to babysit a drunk bum like Smith/a vet PPQB like Shatty/a kid like Pionk/Sproul.
McD got a lot of support from Girardi, remember that G hadn’t regressed as much when they were first paired. Imagine if we like threw a Dan Boyle type on his side from day 1 — would be have developed as well? Or if McD played his first three years as a top D with Matt Gilroy or Thomas Pock?
Get a stay at home RD that can play with him at least next year when we will be a mess. I don’t care if this get isn’t a good NHLer, as long as Skjei always know that someone is taking a back seat to him, can help him out clearing the crease and at least win physical battles defensively and so forth. We will be a mess, Skjei need a steady partner.