It needs to be done

He's been getting called out quite a bit, and I'm not sure it's 100% warranted. It's warranted to an extent, but I think it's being blown out of proportion personally because his centermen have been a borderline 4C (Weatherby) and a defensive 4C (Bones).

Have him play with Hertl and either Balcers or Barbs (probably Barbs since he's useless in the bottom-6) for a stretch of 10 games in the top-6. Make a decision based off of that.

I don't necessarily disagree, but I don't think putting him with Hertl or even Couture fixes any of the issues I have with his overall game.

I put some blame on coaching here too. I don't question his effort like a lot of ppl do, I think he cares and puts in his best (mostly), but he needs better coaching than just being put into doghouses and getting called out. I actually don't blame Boogie or think he's trying to punish him by putting him on the 3rd line for most of the year, I think he expected (hoped) Labanc to anchor that 3rd line with Bonino offensively, and when he couldn't, they're not 'demoting' him per se to the bottom line with Weatherby, they're just turning Bonino's line into a completely defensive line and giving Weatherby better offensive linemates like Labanc and Gadj, which I'm fine with. I'm upset at the coaches for not better tuning his overall game though, or, as unimportant as it may sound, supporting him instead of blaming him all the time.

I don't know if putting him with Hertl changes anything either... I hope it does, but I think he's earned a shot at having that this year with the team being better before being traded.