Fair enough. I did say with the exception of Patches. So ya Smith was a 2nd line guy. Maybe I’m remembering wrong, but I thought Marchy was 3rd line on Panthers. I still believe you put any of those guys (except Patches) on any other playoff team, they’re not playing top 6.
I believe there are maybe 4 or 5 times left right now that still don’t have a 20 goal scorer. We’re one of them. . That’s not ideal.
The whole point I was trying to make was I don’t think we need a 3rd line winger like others have suggested. I think we need a legitimate 1st line guy and we can move our own down a line and we’d be good. But yes, maybe you’re right and saying “all 3rd liners” was a bit harsh. And maybe. Just maybe. . . A slight, teeny bit hyperbole
Yeah I don't like the idea of acquiring a 3rd liner either, even if he's a PP specialist(looking at you Simmonds). If we do acquire a forward the only one I want is Stone, and I'd be willing to give up Smith, & Miller for him if we could get him signed here. Add in an acquired good bottom pairing D, and imagine us having this team next year:
Gusev - Karlsson - Stone
Marchy - Stastny - Tuch
Patches - Glass - Haula
Carrier - Eakin - Reaves
McNabb - Theodore
Brännström - Schmidt
X - Good bottom pairing D
X = Hague/Holden/Merrill/Bischoff
Also, you should take a look at the other playoff teams' top 6 if you think Marchy, Karlsson, or Smith wouldn't make the top 6, heck, Marchy would be Tampa's(!) best LW. Just for fun, here's me mapping out who one could argue would be which (currently in the) playoffs teams' top 2 player in his respective position, * = would be the teams' best player in his respective position:
Islanders: Marhy, Karlsson, Smith
Washington: Marchy, Smith*
Pittsburgh: Marchy
Tampa: Marchy*, Smith
Boston: Marchy, Smith
Toronto: Marchy*, Smith
Montreal: Marchy, Karlsson, Smith
Columbus: Marchy(* if Panarin gets traded), Karlsson
Winnipeg: Marchy, Karlsson, Smith
Nashville: Marchy, Karlsson*, Smith
St. Louis: Marchy*, Karlsson
Calgary: Marchy, Karlsson
San Jose: Smith
Dallas: Marchy*, Karlsson, Smith
Minnesota: Marchy, Karlsson, Smith*