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I was at morning skate today and watched Backstrom very closely. He participated fully but did not take line rushes which indicates he probably is not going to play tonight. After practice he stayed on the ice and practiced with the healthy scratches. I believe he will be playing the next game. Watching him you would never know he was injured. I did not see him take faceoffs and most of the time when he shot he took it easy although I did see him shoot the puck hard a couple of times. I really think he could have played tonight but with us being up two games in the series they can be cautious.
If Backstrom isn't ready to go and Burakovsky were to be scratched, the choices for the 12th forward spot would be Gersich, Boyd, or Walker. Think any of them are a better bet than Burakovsky to be playoff-tested/playoff ready? Grecism has had almost no pro experience at all, never mind Stanley Cup experience. Boyd and Walker are limited-skill grinders. That's it.I'm still suspicious that Backstrom is more seriously injured than public statements indicate, and he will either be saved for an emergency situation where the Caps' backs are against the wall, or he may really be out for the season and all the talk about him is a smokescreen to keep him on opponents' radar.
I would choose any of the 3 over Burakovsky.
Which is why you're not the coach. If any of those 3 are so much better then they would have been in the game last night. I'm not saying Bura has outright earned a starting position but no one else has done enough to displace him, for now.However, when Backstrom returns, I wouldn't be surprised to see Bura scratched. I like his offensive potential but I'm starting to see him as a liability overall.
I’m also sure the contract he signed had something to do with him being in. The front office will not be happy scratching him after they signed him, even if we are better without him
His contract had absolutely nothing to do with his being in the lineup last night. To think otherwise is absurd.
Not at all. It’s the only explination for him to be in the lineup at this point, and it makes sense
If what you say is true I have lost all respect of Trotz as a coach. His job is to put the best players out there who he thinks gives us the best chance to win. Nothing else should matter. I have no reason to believe that is not what he is doing. Furthermore, if the reports are true that he does not get along with BMac then he could care less whether sitting Burakovsky would reflect badly on BMac.
I doubt he has a choice in it, but I doubt he cares how anything makes GMBetaMale look. I would imagine something like this coming from Dick and Ted as GMBeta as its their money and/or cap space they don't want benched.
If you really believe that Trotz is playing Burakovsky because this is what Ted and Dick want I don’t know what to say. There is no point in discussing it further. I believe Trotz desperately wants to win a Stanley Cup and he is playing the players he believes gives him the best chance to reach that goal.
So who's it gonna be? Chaisson, DSP, or Burt.. That's really the only 3 I can see in the discussion.. Probably could remove DSP as well.. Vrana's not getting scratched.. So, who? My guess is Chaisson..
