Well, we did go through the Smurf era where we routinely got rag-dolled by the Bruins, that was embarrassing. When you say soft, are you referring to the lack of pushback after the Slafkovsky hit? The league as a whole is softer than it used to be because the NHL wants as many odd-man situations as possible and every single thing is called, the enforcer role is almost extinct and if you read most of the team boards here, they will say the same thing about their teams.
They might want more from Arber than just a bottom-pairing defenseman and the feeling might be that a stint in the AHL will give him a chance to work on his game and so far it is working. He didn't go there and pout about it and the team's fortunes have turned around with him in uniform granted, they are getting better goaltending but part of that might have to do with his defensive play and what he brings to his D partner. I want to believe that he is in the long-term plans.
I do find it strange that he was demoted over Barron who has struggled lately and there might have been a rift with MSL but sooner or later he will be back and we will see how things play out.
%
