Quoting: ChiHawk
You generally start matchups by playing line number to line number. That said, there will be variations based on zone starts. So you say Nylander and Dach aren't going to be effective against the top 6 but you expect Strome (who's horribly slow) and Cat (who's terribly small) is going to be effective defensively against a very fast and big top 6 of the Oilers? They are going to get destroyed defensively and throwing Kane with them will be a blood bath. Don't get me wrong, if there is a Oilers 3rd or 4th line matchup in the ozone, then by all means throw those 3 on the ice together and they will dominate.
I also don't at all disagree on Cat and strome not being able to produce. The 2nd half of the season, they played almost entirely without Kane and started producing coming out of their earlier slump in the season when they were with Kane and Shaw mostly. In fact, multiple times Nylander and Caggs were playing with them when those two put up points. Again, if Cat and Strome are mainly playing against their 3rd and 4th lines, those two will indeed produce.
You've been underestimating Dach for a year now and continue to do so. He does not need to be shielded, he plays good defense, isn't afraid of the physical game, plays fast, and looks great in front of the net. What Kane needs in order to be successful is a guy in front of the net and Dach does that for his line. I agree on faceoffs it's a problem for sure. By the end of the stoppage of play, I would take Dach over Strome every day of the week....Dach has way more tools then Strome and can at least skate. The only area Strome is better is at the dot and strome has a shot but he's much slower, not physical, doesn't play defense, isn't great in front of the net, isn't as good of a passer, and IQ isn't as high. There is a reason last season it was rumored Kane talked to the front office and did not want to play with Strome.
I don’t mind a combination like strome Kane nylander. As slickwilly pointed out, that line picked up momentum late in the season. In that case, sure put cat and caggs with dach, I AM MORE THAN FINE WITH THAT.
The reason I underestimate, or as I see it, “see dach for Dach,” is because he is exactly what was expected, to an extent. Dach is big. He can take a hit, but can’t hit himself. He’s good defensive, one of the best in the class. Decent IQ and passing (honestly, the passing isn’t too top notch yet to me). Okay shot (not an NHL shot yet, sorry, but I do believe that). Judging by his form and WHL stat line, inconsistent scorer and not a world dominating offensive player. Then those hands. Mmmm, those hands, silky and sneaky. Most NHL ready.
All of that, minus my opinions in parentheses, are exactly what scouts said. It was expected.
Nothing about Dach is surprising to me. Nothing about him changes how I dislike players like him. That doesn’t change what he does good (hands, body, defense etc.) and what he struggles with (shot, offense, first step). Of course he’s got more tools than strome, cuz strome is modern NHLer playing a 15 years ago style. When we got strome, he was never gonna move the needle cuz he can’t skate and can’t play heavy playoff hockey. However, he still has experience, and proved he can blend with Kane. If Kane doesn’t wanna play with strome, lotty ****in dah. Kane should be pissed about everyone he’s played with for the last three years. Strome and Kane aside, Dach isn’t anything more or less than what I expected. I don’t underestimate him because he is exactly what they said he was and what I saw he was in juniors.
In any event, if we find out crow is out long term again, none of this even matters cuz he’s our lynchpin anyway.