Aaaaaaaaargh. I turned this game off early to minimize my negativity and didn't hear how this happened. Hope the others can step in to fill his reliable availability.
I think they’ve got enough pieces to offset the loss of Jack Janicki. Greg Gard clearly trusts Hayden Jones. He’s talked repeatedly about the growth he’s shown over the course of the season, and you can see it. Defensively, he’s solid. He understands positioning and competes. Offensively, he’s not a major shooting threat, but he does get downhill fairly well, has good size for the position, and can handle it enough to keep things moving.
And then there’s Zach Kinziger. Different profile, obviously. He’s not going to bring the same defensive presence, but he has his own strengths, particularly as a shooter, and if called upon, he can provide a different kind of punch in short stretches.
That’s not downplaying the energy Janicki brought. He gave them juice. But I do think they have enough options on the bench to make do.
Aaaaaaaaargh. I turned this game off early to minimize my negativity and didn't hear how this happened. Hope the others can step in to fill his reliable availability.
I think they’ve got enough pieces to offset the loss of Jack Janicki. Greg Gard clearly trusts Hayden Jones. He’s talked repeatedly about the growth he’s shown over the course of the season, and you can see it. Defensively, he’s solid. He understands positioning and competes. Offensively, he’s not a major shooting threat, but he does get downhill fairly well, has good size for the position, and can handle it enough to keep things moving.
And then there’s Zach Kinziger. Different profile, obviously. He’s not going to bring the same defensive presence, but he has his own strengths, particularly as a shooter, and if called upon, he can provide a different kind of punch in short stretches.
That’s not downplaying the energy Janicki brought. He gave them juice. But I do think they have enough options on the bench to make do.