It was a concern about 8 games ago and has been ever since.
The third line at least is getting some good looks these past few games with Janko and Bennett, but Lazar kills every play he is involved with, I don't see how anyone can defend this guy anymore; he's a bust, just send him down, he was never worth a 2nd rounder, just move on.
The "4th" line (in actuality it's the 3rd) is what it is, veterans who can't defend, skate, receive a pass, shoot, battle, clear pucks, hit, provide energy, out work the other team, get too much ice-time making everything they do magnificently worse. I don't expect a ton of offense from the 4th line, but when you get these golden opportunities (they had a ton the first 8-9 games) and can't hit the net, let alone scoring, then you shouldn't be on the team. They provide nothing to this team except "leadership" which no fan actually has any proof of. Fairly sure at this point Stajan and Brouwer getting more ice-time is doing more harm to Bennett's ego than Stajan or Brouwer are helping with their "leadership ability".
Like if I am a player for the Flames (I'll say Bennett) and I see our coach send Brouwer, Stajan and Versteeg out there only to have a complete dumpster fire of a shift, then I go out there and have a couple of good shifts and get some chances with Janko, only to see these 3 bums get more ice-time than me, while having horrendous shift after horrendous shift, AND ON TOP OF THAT GET PRIME POWERPLAY TIME, I'd be pissed off. I'm not surprised Bennett and/or Janko seem to have no confidence out there, the moron of a coach and 3 bums on our team are completely destroying it.
Bennett takes a penalty, gets benched for a period. Versteeg averages 19 turn overs a game, Brouwer can't receive a pass, Stajan can't do anything, yet get PP time and more ice-time/never benched/never put in the press box.
It's f***ing lunacy.
I expect nothing from the "4th" line, they are all beyond hopeless old bums, but Bennett and Janko should be producing and it will come, I have no doubt in my mind about it. But it will be a struggle with a doormat of a line-mate, and a monkey for a coach guiding them along into bust territory. People can blame Bennett all they want, Gulutzan has done a HORRIBLE job in developing him. Hartley got a lot out of him and he looked great his rookie year, ever since then he has taken huge steps backs.
I hate making these long posts, but it's hard not to complain and complain about the same crap when these little things are so infuriating and easily fixable, yet nothing happens because our coach/management is so f***ing stupid.
And our record is 7-6 for crying out loud, Mike Smith is the only reason why we aren't in the gutter with Arizona.