Blessing in disguise
We need to test and put under duress this mixture of new faces and young talent. And the first half of a season in which the homer color man Jamie Rivers was like "I hope they're still in it with five games to play" and when John Kelly said what about playoffs Jamie? Rivers was like yeah, let's just try to be still technically alive at the 77 game mark ... that is the type of season you want to see this happen if it has to happen, not one where they're real contenders.
If Schenn can't step up which he now has to, it kind of confirms where he is. That's useful to know. If Buchnevich is definitively unable to be a center option, now is a good time to confirm that. If Holloway or Texier or someone like Zach Dean wants to carve out a center role, now is the time to show it. If Bolduc's issue is he is useless on his own, let's find that out now. Let's see what Neighbours does when the top guy goes down, this is quintessential future captain maturity opportunity to put a leadership stamp on the team.
Jordan Kyrou, tonight you match up against Berube without Thomas and you know what Berube thinks you are, can you show you've turned a corner? Now is the stretch to find out if you are worth Thomas money.
We are going to get some real opportunity to evaluate Broberg in the defensive zone, that's something we want to learn about.
We are going to see some Suter pylon follies too, and we will get a real sense of Bannister under duress