Sam Hitchcock: The Expansive Usage of Erik Cernak

Cernak has so much potential. Thanks, Bishop!

Please don't be a Dotchin 2.0!

Please don't be a Dotchin 2.0!
- LightningMcKing

Nah. Cernak works out.

Nah. Cernak works out.
- OzBolts

Good point!

So I guess our defensive pairings will look something like this:

Hedman - Sergachev
McDonagh - Cernak
Coburn - Shattenkirk
Ruuta/Foote/Schenn

Not sure if it's much better than last year's group with Stralman and Girardi. Hopefully Sergachev and Cernak continue to improve.

Sam Hitchcock: The Expansive Usage of Erik Cernak
- Sam Hitchcock

Cernak could end up being the best defenseman of the bunch. He’s a stud.

So I guess our defensive pairings will look something like this:

Hedman - Sergachev
McDonagh - Cernak
Coburn - Shattenkirk
Ruuta/Foote/Schenn

Not sure if it's much better than last year's group with Stralman and Girardi. Hopefully Sergachev and Cernak continue to improve.
- jvar17

What I think will make all the difference and make this group better than last years is Cooper not having Girardi. Cooper's persistence to play Girardi with Hedman as much as possible instead of just a limited 3rd pair/PK role did not make sense to me. Sergachev (or Shattenkirk) will be an upgrade over Girardi and will allow Hedman more freedom.

What I think will make all the difference and make this group better than last years is Cooper not having Girardi. Cooper's persistence to play Girardi with Hedman as much as possible instead of just a limited 3rd pair/PK role did not make sense to me. Sergachev (or Shattenkirk) will be an upgrade over Girardi and will allow Hedman more freedom.
- LightningMcKing

Shattenkirk can’t play with someone offensively minded. He can’t be left holding the keys to the candy store alone....he needs a babysitter like he had in St. Louis to clean up the mess...If you want to have Hedman play his best in the O zone ya definitely can’t have Shattenkirk left to hold the fort

Cernak has so much potential. Thanks, Lombardi!
- OzBolts

Fixed.

So I guess our defensive pairings will look something like this:

Hedman - Sergachev
McDonagh - Cernak
Coburn - Shattenkirk
Ruuta/Foote/Schenn

Not sure if it's much better than last year's group with Stralman and Girardi. Hopefully Sergachev and Cernak continue to improve.
- jvar17

If Foote is not going to see regular minutes, it would be better for his development to be in the AHL.

That's a possible lineup, but I also could see Shattenkirk taking the 2nd line, with cernak on the 1st and sergachev on the 3rd. I have a hard time trusting a Hedman sergachev combo unless we're scoring like a machine again. Cernak is good defensively and I'd say mcdonagh and Coburn are the better defensively of the other 5.

That's a possible lineup, but I also could see Shattenkirk taking the 2nd line, with cernak on the 1st and sergachev on the 3rd. I have a hard time trusting a Hedman sergachev combo unless we're scoring like a machine again. Cernak is good defensively and I'd say mcdonagh and Coburn are the better defensively of the other 5.
- BoltsFan1993

Maybe Sergachev takes the second and shattenkirk takes the 3rd, but I for one don't have the utmost trust in Sergchev.