Columbus will prove to be a physical challenge for Robertson. But, I get no sense that he'd be one to back down. Does he fit with the needs of the team? Does his inexperience/size prove to be too detrimental? My head says he won't be on the roster for the series against Columbus. My heart disagrees. We know he can score, his addition to the second PP would improve it immensely, he's a buzzsaw, skating all the time, he'd be THE goal scoring threat on our 3rd line - with due respect to Kappy and Kerfoot - lining up against him would be Bemstrom, a player with 56 games of experience. Who's going to be more nervous, less complete? I've always liked Jenner, but this year suggests that his effectiveness is lessening. Does Kerfoot provide adequate measure against him at C? Can Kerfoot hold his own...I think/hope so. And I think Foligno has to pay more attention to Kapanen than Kappy to Foligno: the increasing grit factor since Clifford arrived and the speed, that speed man! So Kap/Foligno I favor Kappy. Jenner/Kerfoot I think/hope a draw. Leaving Bemstrom/Robertson: games mean very little here, it's skill v skill, desire v desire, fear v fear (of success and failure) and unless those who follow our kid more than do I have been lying through their teeth, I can't see how NR doesn't come out on top. 3rd line v 3rd line, the Leafs, on paper, look better to me should Nick make the grade. I'd throw him to the wolves and see what he's got. Double shift Nylander if Robertson begins to go dizzy, giving him a chance to calm down. Nylander/Kerfoot/Kapanen a few shifts a game wouldn't scare me against most 3rd lines in the league, heck, Hyman could go a shift or two as well. There's going to be changes all over the place, if Torts has his way, trying to keep Keefe off balance. So Nick, I raise a glass to your promotion and wish you well, don't let me down (gawd, what a Leafian fan thing to say
).
Nylander/Matthews/Hyman
Mikky/JT/Marner
Robertson/Kerfoot/Kapanen
Clifford/Engvall/Spezza