Enough with all the fluff and emotion you usually get from me. I got a plan.

The good news is Shanny’s off the schneid. I hope the flood gates open for him. He should just keep shooting the puck.

Jagr is a slow starter. He needs to develop a sense of urgency. He seems not to have the same commitment to playing defensive hockey as he did at the end of last season and in the playoffs. While the defense is in disarray, it is all the more important that all the forwards be more defensively responsible.

Having said that, I cannot help but reiterate Rodent’s mantra. If they cannot move the puck through the neutral zone by passing, if they cannot hold the zone at the opponent’s blueline, they MUST dump, chase and have someone in the slot or high to take the shot. (the glaring absense of an offensive defenseman who can pinch and not get caught. Could Tyutin become that?)

Malik and Roszival are what they are, for good or ill. They only work well togther. I say put them back together and bite the rag. They are looking terrible because Nylander “the Swedish Gretzsky” isn’t there handling the puck so they don’t have to. Keeping Drury (who has stickhandling skill) with Jagr and Hossa/? may be the only option with the Czech Brothers as first pair defenders.

Tyutin and Girardi are young enough and fast enough to be creative. Put them with Shanny centered by Straka with Avery/Dawes on the other side.

Lastly, Prucha, Gomez and Callahan are so fast there could be pylons with them on defense and they could get back fast enough on the transition. Wait, we’ve got a few pylons. Hmmmmm…..

What, you say Gomez is overpaid to be a third line center? Am I saying this line gets third line minutes? No! Third line minutes should go to the line that is the least productive at any given time. It could be Jagr’s line, it could be Shanny’s line or it could be the “kid” line.

Betts is not a third line center. He belongs with Orr and Hollweg/? on the fourth line. If that means Dubinsky goes down, that’s too bad. He can go up and down as necessary.

Coach Renney just has to make a commitment to keeping linemates together for now. Get a few wins under our belt before further experimentation is affordable.

Give the minutes to the lines and players that earn it. That’s accountability. Losses are more palateable if effort and accountability are evident. If everyone is accountable and puts in their best effort on both sides of the puck, win or lose, that’s all a fan can ask.