Same.
Though if Neal played at the ranges Perron does, he'd be unstoppable. If....
But that's just it. Perron, despite being significantly smaller, is tougher in the corners/around the net and on the puck in general than Neal was for a vast majority of his time here. And Perron's just on a different level when it comes to beating guys one on one.
That's the most potent offensive line that can be cobbled together from any center and wings we have, but I wonder if it will get scored on an awful lot. PH is a competent defensive player, but he tends to play deep and doesn't necessarily have the footspeed to get back in time if Perron turns the puck over, which seems like something of a risk with him.
Yeah, I'm 50/50 on that line. It'd definitely have everything it needs to dominate in the offensive zone. I think MJ would have to use that line properly though. I.e., as few shifts in the D-zone as possible. PH and Perron aren't outright liabilities in their own end, but they're not going to help Sid out very much either.
If our plan is to have Spaling and Goc as 2/3 of our 4th line, and we roll 4 lines in the playoffs, then MJ could very well mitigate the defensive deficiencies of a PCH line. Use that 4th line every time we're starting out in our own end.
I still say our top 6 could use a better version of Spaling or Dupuis over anything else. We would lack some size still, but I think we have enough net crashing/grinding elements in Perron, PH, Comeau, Kunitz (hopefully) and even Bennett if he sticks with Malkin.
Short term, Vermette and then see what can be done in the offseason. If he'll stick around for less than what he's been rumored to want, keep him. If not, then look into a longterm option like ROR. Last resort, hope Dupuis has another year in him where he can plug in with Perron and Sid nicely. I think he'd be fine there since he'd hardly ever have to touch the puck.
