On the Fiala-Byfield-Kempe line I am curious to see who will step forward to do the dirty work. If someone does, that line could be lethal. I'd personally rather see something like Turcotte-Byfield-Kempe. As VCRW mentioned, Byfield has been weak on faceoffs while Turcotte has been strong, so perhaps Turcotte could step in to handle the faceoffs for that line.
Juice has also become a 50% faceoff guy over the years. QB needs to play a more controlled game and rely on his wingers to score. If Q plays more like a true center and less like a rover, this line should be able to dominate while still creating meaningful chaos in the o-zone.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
Since Kuz doesn’t seem to be the answer what if they try going younger?
Jets forward Brad Lambert given permission to seek trade partner
Lambert has one goal in four games with the Jets to start the 2025-26 season.
Yeah he is currently waiver exempt. I agree, a 3rd or 4th seems about right for him.
Interesting, last time we got a player from them that they had issues with and that player wanted out, well..... That did not work to well for the Kings.Since Kuz doesn’t seem to be the answer what if they try going younger?
Jets forward Brad Lambert given permission to seek trade partner
Lambert has one goal in four games with the Jets to start the 2025-26 season.
Or maybe it’s time to concede that, like Kempe, QB is just not suited for center at the NHL level.
Actually I looked it up and the idea that Juice is a 50% faceoff guy is ambitious. The concerning thing about Byfield, in the faceoff circle, is that while his FO% is under 50, it also seems to be getting worse season over season. Hopefully he can turn it around.
Missing all those back checks and leaving opponents wide-open in the slot for slam dunks.
I haven't noticed that but I'll keep an eye out for it during tonight's game. Thanks
Kempe was doing better this year until Kopi got hurt. Then he had to take more draws and his percentage plummeted. He is a 45% guy at best.
He does seem to be puck focused at times and has lost his assignment on to many occasions. I am hoping he grows out of that rather quickly.
That’s and he’s too damned small, and got pushed off the puck by Kurushev of all people
Plays like a gazelle, not a 6’5” 225 lb dominating center.
He’s a liability and should be traded. We are going to have to give up a pick for somebody to eat the $4.5M on his contract for the rest of the season
