I am at least encouraged that Berube doesn't make line combinations to make his GM look good, and that instead of promoting a guy who is playing like crap he's dropping him down until he finds his game.
Right now, I'm all for putting out the best possible lineup - which we can debate all day what that is - to help finish the season strong.
But point taken that Laughton's presence has done zero to positively alter the bottom 6.
He cannot and MUST not make coaching decisions to assist anyone. Brads job is to try and fill in the pieces to improve to team to achieve an objective, once he manages the personnel it is on Berube to manage how they are employed on the ice.
Carlo and Laughton will find their groove, I'm not worried, they spent a lot of time in one place, with one system and team skillset. It will be easier for Carlo, he was a pick up I would make every day of the week. For a player like Laughton, not on my radar, who plays with energy and emotion; he needs time to find his groove and comfort. It's like being the new lead singer in a band, you want to be a bit of Mick Jagger but you have to be comfortable with your bandmates first.
Laughton getting his first fight under his belt is huge and Berube has coached him before and obviously knows what he brings or Brad would NOT have traded for him
, guaranteed, so I'm not concerned at all. In fact, if the team is a well oiled machine, having talent dropped down to the 4th line is a positive outcome, in
theory.
Put it this way,
would we expect a Stanley Cup champion team to NOT have a strong lineup up and down?
When they interviewed McMann about "improvements for the team before the deadline", you could sense he was uncomfortable with the question, because his mind raced immediately probably to who might be moved, he knows Domi and Robertson would be prime for some trades. This was a great reaction in my opinion as I think he sees the team in a positive light and I hope that 3rd Line rolls as it was in December. At worst, it allows Berube some flexibility in knowing he can always throw them together at any point in the future even if he puts the lines in a blender for awhile.
