I don't think you're wrong, Nash is better as a two-way forward, but I don't think it is necessary in this case. Marchand is already responsible. Nash could be the defensive mind for Vatrano and Belesky/Heinen.

And Dougie, I disagree about Belesky. I enjoy his game more than Kuraly or Schaller. He should be a grinder on the 3rd line complementing some skill, or a 4th liner mucking it up with Nash and Acciari or Schaller.

Personally I think Kuraly needs to be banished. He had good "heroics" in the playoffs for a game, but he is basically the reason we got scored on Sunday. And he takes stupid penalties too often.
- Videoj

Nash could be on that line. Cassidy feels different. The other issues are they're missing Bergeron and Backes. Backes played the majority of his career as 1C or 2C in St Louis and could have been the substitute had he been able to.

Kuraly is young and inexperienced however he supposedly impressed in camp. He was most likely given a shot based on that with Accari's absence.