This isn't a bad thought. That said, if Gallant is insistent on keeping the kid line together, he is basically doing so at the detriment of all the other lines. Mika and Kreids don't really have a complimentary offensive winger. Panarin and Tro may or may not work with Kravy who may be playing above his experience and readiness on that line. The kid line is literally the only line right now where all 3 pieces fit really well. What SHOULD happen in that situation is that the Kid Line becomes essentially the first line at ES. They're the best 5v5 line as currently constructed. They do the heavy lifting the other lines can't. They should be getting slightly more than the other lines at 5v5. But they won't. And that's really what's at issue here. You have the kids and 3 half-baked lines and yet you're going to ride the vets who are all on 2-thirds of a line. This strategy doesn't make much sense if the goal isn't to make the kids the defacto first line at 5v5. Even if it's only 1 minute more ice per game. You're robbing peter to pay paul. But then you're not playing paul. It's backwards logic. If Gallant wants to lean on his vets at 5v5, gotta bust the kid line. We don't have enough depth to do that. To me, it's not even a question anymore about sheltering the kids, etc. It's about giving the guys who are going to shoulder the high leverage moments of the game, all the tools they need to succeed. I think Vesey could very well work on that top line. He's likely a decent bandaid. But is it seriously the case that none of Chytil, Laf or Kakko would do better up there and help Mika and Kreids thrive? Maybe. but doubtful that's accurate. I'd be fine moving Laf up there and putting Goody or Vesey on a line with Fil and Kakko.
