A few weeks ago the lineup was. Perreault-Gasseau-Leonard, Stiga-Hagens-Vote as top two lines.
Gasseau is not a center, but is forced to play there because we lack playmakers who can skate, pass and protect thru traffic. Andre has trouble skating thru center & maintaining possession and is easily stripped or ridden out. The solution was to head man the puck to Leonard who skates into the offensive zone with Perreault to set the table. It was starting to click and then Brown switched it up again late in a game to generate more offense.
Posma is a fourth line center at best, lacks speed & quickness, but forced up to line 3. He also is not really a center but ideally a winger, but is good on faceoffs.
I like Berard but only as a line 3 or 4 energy guy, who has a good shot. He is not a playmaker though and mostly a north south guy.
Sondreal is a guy who plays well and deserves a chance up with line two in place of Vote. He is gritty as heck, skates well, and very good on forecheck etc. Brown put him in recently in a OT game with Leonard ..
Brown asked for patience with Letourneau and he is at 0 goals with 3 assists, does not want the puck as a Center and his mates avoid passing it to him on breakouts because they sense his lack of confidence. Whether Brown feels pressured by Bruins or DL’s agent, I do not know. It really is embarrassing for DL. Brown, Bruins etc. He needs to go play in USHL or Canadian Jr. and see if he can develop there, lest he runs risk of having a short hockey career. Letourneau played only 4 minutes, Skahan 6 minutes, M. Hagens 3 minutes. NU basically played on 4 D men entire game.
Despite our lack of depth and missing Jellvik on line two, the team managed to run away with the #1 overall seed through the entire season.
I would put Michael Hagens back up at forward on line 3 or 4, as he can skate like wind, and has a good shot and offensive instincts.