We were missing depth all season due to injuries to Perron, Cousins, and Norris. Giroux was inconsistent, Amadio and Greig were playing average without Pinto. Batherson was asleep at the wheel.
Fast forward to now … Perron comes back and starts playing well. Norris is traded for Cozens so that’s not an issue anymore. Batherson is revived. First line starts playing well again. Greig and Amadio are back with Pinto and playing incredible.
Looking at it now, I agree with you. Ostapchuk would be a better fit here winning faceoffs, PK, playing fast and hard and bring physicality playing 4th line center. I’d rather have Ostapchuk the way our lineup is currently structured.
The thing is when the trade was made we actually needed depth, and we probably will need it going forward, but right now if you ask me I would rather have Osty on 4C and MacEwen on 4RW and send Highmore/Gaudette to the moon. At least that line would have an identity. Our 4th line is useless right now and they should honestly not play more than 5 minutes a night…. But you can’t play Zetterlund 5 minutes a night.
It’s a good situation to be in for the team… in a way … but you have to wonder when Zetterlund and his agent start calling Staios and ask for more playing time. Guy is in a contract year and was pacing 45ish points and was brought in to add scoring depth. There’s no way he’s happy with where he’s at. He’s in a contract year, he needs to play. For us we also don’t know what we have … so how do you determine if you want to give him a long term deal?
I still thinks he gets in and gets a lot more playing time at the expense of another player who’s playing really well.
I think I’d try Greig at 4C, Perron on 3LW and Zetterlund on 2LW.
