OK, our opinions differ. I don't see playing Bratt at 4RW is a "grooming" move. I think he has skill and playing on a line with MarJo and Coleman might actually do something in the O zone at home where the staff can get them a matchup against TB's fourth line. I don't see anything on the ice that Lovejoy does that Santini can't do at RD3. Coleman is already playing as is MarJo. The only move up front I advocate is sitting Boyle and on defense it's sitting Moore and Lovejoy. I think the players I'm suggesting can actually bring something to the table that might help the team win. At the end of the day, Hall, Zajac, Palms, Vats, Greene, and the goalie have to make the difference. If the team needs anything from the scrubby vets at the bottom of the roster the game is lost already. You hope that young players can find some success, and both Bratt and Santini have had some in the regular season and give me some belief that they can offer more than the broken down old men they replace. Also, I'm not going to go looking, but my guess is that some teams with 5 or 6 rookies have had good series at some point. How about Boston this year? Don't they have a bunch also? Their vets are way ahead of ours and that's the real issue. I'm not a huge Hynes fan but his options are limited here and he chose to go with the double down on the old vets routine which I get but disagree with. Again, it's likely as much optics as strategy.
