I've been encouraged by our playmaking and creativity. Jagr, Elias, Brunner, Loktionov, and Ryder have all shown fantastic playmaking/creativity. This is refreshing considering the only guys who showed any semblance of creativity last year were 17, Elias, and Loktionov.
I've been discouraged by the rest of our offense. Henrique's inability to adjust to the creativity of a Brunner rendered that experience useless quickly. Zajac's inability to profit from Elias's creativity was evident throughout their career, but our bonehead coach needed further confirmation there. I don't mind Zubrus with Loktionov and Brunner since he fights and wins the puck battles.
But Henrique and Zajac cannot be on a line together with Ryder. Elias needs to be with Ryder to maximize Ryder's potential, IMO, either that or Ryder needs to be on a line with Loktionov.
So you either have to go: Ryder - Elias - Jagr / Clowe - Loktionov - Brunner OR Clowe - Elias - Jagr / Brunner - Loktionov - Ryder
Henrique / Zajac / Zubrus play the same cycling, puck possession style so I don't understand why we don't give that a prolonged look. Could be a solid "shut-down" line.