I was surprised that he didn't get an extended run. It's one thing that I really don't understand. If you are going to put Svech on that line headed into the game then actually put him on that line in the game. Zadina had 19 minutes of ice time to go with Larkin's 22. And then there is Svech with 10. If you swapped Svech out and put Mantha in I could understand it, but I saw instances of Nielsen, Helm, Erne, Filppula being on the ice with Larkin and Zadina. I don't care if Svechnikov is in a wheelchair, he still has more offensive chops than those guys that would make sense for Larkin and Zadina.
Blash gonna blash.
Especially in dzone situations, he benches him.
No offense, but I trust Svech with the puck on his stick in his own zone more than Helm - who has made many awful giveaways over the years, despite his work ethic.
Blash, by doing that, is announcing to Svech that Svech can't be trusted. He's announcing that to the league and to the fans.
And he's done this with youngsters throughout his tenure in Detroit.
I saw someone mention Blash as someone who'd stick in the NHL as a rebuild coach. I can't imagine a worse rebuild coach.
I listened to an interview with Todd McClellan last week, comparing last year's lineups to this year's.
Last year, he said, the Kings were so far out of it, they could afford to give lots of icetime to Frk and Vilardi and not sweat too much about the consequences.
This year, with the playoffs in striking distance, the team has to approach that differently.
Have you ever got that sense from Blashill? Ever?
I can think of a few rare instances.
1) Larkin's struggles late in his rookie year and for the early half of his sophomore year.
2) Sticking by Zadina this year.
And that's it.