The best thing you could probably do is move Sharp back to #2 center, since he looks like he's stuck at #2 left with Bickell or Saad providing forechecking and net presence for Toews and Kane/Hossa. That allows you to put Bickell and Saad in the top six at their natural positions, and play Sharp at a position that, while not his best, is still something he can do well. With your top six set, or as set as it can be with Q, you can ease Morin and Pirri in on the fourth line and wean them onto top-six minutes as earned.
I like what Fels had to say:
Quote:
I’m not sure where people are getting this “Saad is a great playmaker” storyline that was thrown at me when I questioned the idea. Does Saad make things happen on the ice? Of course. But mostly he does that by being a tenacious forechecker and physical presence on the ice. That’s hardly the same thing as being able to float a backhand pass through three guys to open space right in time to find a streaking teammate. He’s certainly not going to win any faceoffs — not that Pirri would either (LeBlanc might) — but the Hawks have proven they don’t really need that center too, I guess? Defensively, Saad is very aware as a winger, but it’s a whole new ballgame at center. And being there would rob the Hawks of his most precious skill (or at least one of them) as he would not longer be the first one into the attacking zone to make things happen below the net. And it might rob him of some finishing opportunities, which he’s shown a nose for, no?
Maybe the Hawks feel the need to keep Bryan Bickell — assuming his multiple procedures to make him the new Bionic Man go well – on the top six with that contract. With him and Sharp taking the two left wing roles, that would move Saad to the 3rd line. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Saad would be an excellent checking winger for this year, and might lower the pressure on a sophomore campaign that many players have found a much bigger challenge than their rookie one.
Bickell - Toews - Kane
Saad - Sharp - Hossa
Kruger - Handzus - Shaw
Morin - Pirri - SmithHayesBeachBollig-wingstravaganza
VERY LATE EDIT: I don't see Brad Winchester on the capgeek roster. Is he only under contract to the IceHogs? If he's two-way, he could easily end up being a security blanket for Q on the fourth line.
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Molly Lambert wrote:
The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.
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