Kuhlman's 1 game:
12:36 TOI, 46% attempts, 38% shots, 33% scoring chances, 29% xGF%, 1-2 in actual goals.
Small sample size caveats apply, but to me, this is making a change for the sake of making a change. I don't think it's going to make much of an impact. Charlie Coyle is the problem but they can't afford to take him out of the lineup. Moving around the wingers is just window dressing. I would've left all of the bottom 6 in but made some adjustments:
DeBrusk - Kuraly - Coyle
Ritchie - Lazar - Wagner
Kuraly - Coyle worked in a brief stint post deadline. I think that's more likely to produce a positive impact than taking out DeBrusk for Kuhlman. If it doesn't work, they can basically bench the 3rd line and go back to 52 - 20 - 14.
They really need goals. They scored 3 in Long Island in 6+ periods. They have 11 goals this series, 7 of which came from the top line/PP. The remaining 4 are McAvoy, Hall (ENG), Coyle, Smith. There really hasn't been much outside the top line here. If they *had* to make a change, I would've rather they went for the hail mary. Put in Studnicka and maybe this is when it clicks for him. He got some playoff experience in the bubble last year and got 20 games under his belt early in this season. They are envisioning him as a top-2 center and he's put up 56 points in 71 AHL games. It may be boom or bust with him, but at least there's some evidence he could help them score. I like Kuhlman's game but goal scoring is not his thing. He has 7 goals in 70 career NHL games, including post season. In all honesty though, I'd rather just bet that Jake will find the net at some point than anyone else.