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Convert Loui to D?

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VforVasili

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Given our situation, wouldn't it make sense to convert one of our most experienced and defence minded forwards into playing Defence until we get some veterans back?

 

What do folks think would be better or worse than using a rookie laden AHL defence lineup like we may have to on Saturday?

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Even a forward in his prime would have difficulty making the transition.  There's a reason why it rarely happens in the NHL.  Heck, a far easier move (defenseman to winger) isn't itself done alot.  Now you're asking a guy who's best years behind him make that major a switch?

 

 

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Not impossible, but a little late in his career now.

 

There were a couple of times the Canucks did move a forward to play defense (usually due to in-game injuries).  Alex Burrows was apparently pretty decent at it.  Mike Santorelli was surprisingly pretty okay at it as well.  

 

Brent Burns was drafted originally as a forward IIRC, but Jacque Martin immediately switched him to play defense.  Then there was Sergei Fedorov that probably could have switched to defense too.  

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I'm not against the notion - from a practicality point of view, though, playing a defensive style as a forward is a lot different than playing defence as a position.  The mindset is different, because you're not only trying to break up passes, prevent opportunities, backcheck, and win puck battles, but you're now also tasked with clearing the crease, making the breakout pass from the d-zone, and acting as stand-in goaltender when the guy with the big pads is out of position.

 

This kind of move would be a last-resort move in my opinion (ie. if all taxi-squad D have been deployed and the call-ups from the AHL aren't available yet to join the team due to quarantine or similar).

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Remember we lost game one in the playoffs - then LE came back and we won five in a row.... lol.   Desperate times need desperate measures but the OP is going way over board.   LE doesn’t like contact remember? 

Just give him a game and put Hogs with AG.... see how it goes 

 

Edited by IBatch
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