Injuries and Consequent Line Changes for the Cats
Concussions are tricky and no one knows how long they might keep a player out injured or how it will affect any one individual. Hence, there is no timetable for David Booth’s recovery from the hit in Philadelphia. It’s more a time to wait and see for now.
There’s no point in rushing Booth back prematurely. Teammate Cory Stillman learnt the hard way last season that that is not such a good idea. So the staff will closely monitor Booth whilst he gradually recovers.
David has said that he still suffers from headaches and can’t concentrate for any length of time. Dizziness and fatigue has meant Booth has been resting a lot recent days. He did however take-in yesterday’s training session—as a spectator.
Radek Dvorak meanwhile has got some good news in that his injury, also suffered in Philadelphia against the Flyers, won’t require surgery or sideline him for the rest of the season as first feared. An MRI showed that he has a slight tear in his knee and will be out for (only) a few weeks as a consequence.
These two injuries meant that wingers Michal Repik and Kenndal McArdle have been called up from Rochester. Both players have started well in the American Hockey League. Repik leads the scoring chart with 6 goals and 5 assists in 9 games. Former first round pick McArdle has 6 points meanwhile and no less than 54 penalty minutes in 10 games played.
The forward lines used in Tuesday’s practice have thus looked like this:
Olesz-Weiss-Frolik
Stillman-Reinprecht-Horton
Campbell-Moore-Repik
McArdle-Kreps-Koistinen
At first sight these forward lines look a bit on the fragile side, but just the fact that lines have been juggled a bit and people are given a chance to impress—can create some much needed momentum for tonight’s game against the Senators. We’ll see I suppose.
McArdle is a tough energy guy that should easily slot into the fourth line. Repik on the other hand I would have liked to see on one of the top two lines; considering his knack for notching goals. I’m also unsure if he has the grit to help the third line in its primary task.
Personally I would have preferred Repik swapping places with Olesz and make the Weiss line the secondary line, I think that would balance the lines a bit better: on paper anyway. But, hopefully the coach knows what he’s doing—better than myself and the rest of us armchair coaches out there…
Nonetheless…
It would be interesting to hear what you ‘all think the Panthers should/need to do/ to change their season around?
We can only hope that this line up can bring some chemistry into the team, and hopefully rekindle the hockey spirit for the games to come!!
@Tab
One can always hope…