Guess we're moving Hertl then since it's almost financially impossible for this to happen.
False.
Marleau's not a top 6 scorer anymore. It's a damn shame that he's fallen that hard that quickly but it's just the way it is.
Like hell he isn't. He put in 25 goals in the season and of the big boys, the only one that has a goal in the Finals. None of Couture, Thornton, Burns, or Pavelski have even one goal but people still want to run with this narrative. Is he overpaid at this point? Yes, absolutely but he is still top six as a scorer. The coaching hasn't exactly helped him out either and he still has managed that.
For game five, it's pretty simple. If they don't split Dillon-Polak and have Vlasic-Braun or Martin-Burns babysit the two, they don't stand a chance. If they're not going to break up the Joes, put someone on their wing that has some real speed. It's either Nieto or it's Marleau and they're better off it being Marleau.
Marleau-Thornton-Pavelski
Ward-Couture-Donskoi
Spaling-Tierney-Karlsson
Nieto-Zubrus-Wingels
Martin-Burns
Vlasic-Polak
Dillon-Braun
The D pairings need to be that way to have a chance and then you shorten to two pairings if the score dictates as such. I don't expect them to win game five and it's been a hell of a run. I understand the disappointment at not getting to take advantage of the opportunity but maybe that teaches DW a lesson about not getting a real puck-mover for the bottom pairing if you're going to run all six.