If players are making the same mistake over and over again, they shouldn’t play. Sit them out until they get the message. RT does that with Michkov, thats how they learn or don’t. The only thing the Canucks need to worry about is keeping the Blackhawks from out-tanking them.
Michkov had 63p 26g 37a in his 19yo rookie season. Then Tocchet joined the team and started halfing his ice time and dropping him to bottom 6 or even sitting him out and his game has suffered for it. I really don’t think it’s a good example. He’s not a young D or defensive forward that needs to sit and watch. He’s a elite forward… or was on that track before RT arrived. It’s the classic case of him trying to mold top 6 skilled forwards into bottom 6 defensive players. RT is cock blocking his development and we’ve seen him do this in Van.