Promote Tatar? Babcock Says No
Obviously I disagree with Mike Babcock here, but I'm biased towards winning, so maybe my opinion doesn't matter. What do you all think about his latest comments regarding Tatar and the second line?
I say give Tatar a shot at the top line for one game. With 1 goal per game the last 3, can our offence be any worse with a shuffle? I don't think so. Aside from Hejda, Colorado's D aren't that big, so let Tats skate with Dats tonight.
I don't get what he is doing. Game against Chicago Tatar scores our only goal, and then he benches him for the rest of the third period? Make sense to anyone else? He keeps saying he'll give Tatar a chance, but then shuns him to the third line. When he got called up he was supposed to play with Datsyuk and Filppula, after a few shifts he was put on the third line. Three shifts isn't long enough to get a rhythm with new line mates you've never played a game with. Then recently it came out that Tatar was going to get a chance at the second line, and be the net front guy on the first power play. That never happened, as the next game he was on the third line. It's unfair, the kid is producing with the minimal ice time he is getting. He has 4 goals and 3 assists and is +2 in 14 games. That's tied with Cleary who took 22 games to get 7 points, and that's not fair behind Ericsson/Franzen's 9 and Filppula's 10.
GIVE THE KID A CHANCE.
I can understand the hesitation on putting Tatar on the 2nd line. That line needs size. This is the only reason Abby is on it. To open up room for Pav to be Pav. Tatar is small and gets tossed around all the time. He checks are almost pointless as he bounces off everyone. He does have some of the best hands around the net that I have seen but that is why he runs so much train on the 3rd line. Other 3rd liners can't compete against that skill level. Imagine if Tatar went up against the other team's top D every night. If Bert ever gets back then maybe I can see Tatar on the line with Pavel.
@JOHNxJOHN first of all, Abby isn't giving Pav any room. Defenders are swarming him knowing he's a one man army. Second, Tatar has looked fine on the second PP unit. Just needs someone worth a damn passing it to him. Third, Tatar's left nut > all Abdelkaders past present and future.
@Twig @JOHNxJOHN I was hoping once Franzen came back they would put him with Pavel and Cleary with Z and Brunner. At least then Pavel can have some skill to play with and there will be enough size up front to warrant playing Tatar. I also heard the reason Babs says not to Tatar up front is because his defensive game isn't up to snuff.
I think out Uncle Mike is a stubborn, ahem... individual, wearing this t-shirt at night: https://www.lolshirts.com/shirt/5152621782d/no-t-shirt#close-facebox
