I think there's enough evidence to believe that this is true when it comes to Sullivan, but I don't know enough about guys like Nylander or Puusy to say that he's wrong for doing it. If they aren't good enough defensively to handle 60% D-zone starts in the NHL, then they shouldn't be played in this type of bottom 6 and I don't believe they good enough offensively to turn the 3rd or 4th line into another scoring line either.
I haven't seen a shred of evidence in Nylander's 14 games with us that he can't handle a bottom-six role here. I see him defending just as well as the rest. His possession metrics are also very strong, which helps in keeping the puck out of our end.
Puustinen's a TBD. He's played 2 games at the NHL level. I don't have an opinion yet.
What I will say though is that at least with them in the bottom-six there's a chance that they could have some offensive joy. With guys like Carter, Harkins, Gruden, Johnstone...there's no chance. Using them is the same as accepting offensive futility.
Considering the team's scored 3 goals in the last 3 games, I would be leaning towards the most capable scoring threats out of our depth options right now. Our 5v5 scoring this year leans too heavily on GCR. L2 has gone ice cold. We found a good L3 but don't use it anymore. L4 is close to useless offensively with any combination we've used, outside of Hinostroza with Nieto and Acciari for a bit. That line also isn't getting reunited.
With Dubas, we can try to read the tea leaves all we want, but the simplest answer is usually the best answer. He agrees with Sullivan's approach. If he doesn't, then it's still on him for exclusively signing defense-first (defense-only?) guys like Eller, Acciari, Nieto, Z, Harkins, etc. and then unequivocally backing Sullivan at every turn.
I might believe that if Dubas didn't call up offensively inclined Forwards in Toronto's bottom-six last year. Also his signings historically are more offense focused than defense. What he did with the Leafs was secure the scoring first, and then he added complimentary pieces to insulate the defense a bit.
He didn't do that here because it wasn't realistic with our cap situation. He talked about this. Offensively inclined players command more on the open market, because GM's respond to point totals. Plus he also was in the jelling phase with Sullivan at that time, and was surely asking what types of players Sully was looking for. That's why it was Eller chosen as 3C, for example, instead of someone pricier with better offense like Compher.
When it comes to the PP, sure, Puusy appears as if he is going to get a shot. But the majority of the roster moves have been independent from the PP. To me, it's pretty clear the PP is not a personnel issue. It's coaching. If they can't figure it out as a coaching staff and Dubas is so results oriented, then he needs to step in and make a change. Whether that is changing responsibilities, bringing someone additional in, or replacing Todd, something needs to change because the results aren't there. The PP analytics aren't there. And they ain't passing the eye test either.
For me it's both personnel and coaching. Even the worst PP coach in the world shouldn't yield these kinds of results with this level of personnel.
They are frequently making bad decisions that have nothing to do with coaching. They are barely moving their feet.
I 100% agree that a system change is needed, but I think a change in voice and vibe is what's even more needed atm. The confidence is in the gutter, and the urgency is crap.
