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Time for Fistric to get his due?

At what point do we move Fistric up on the top D-line?  He is the only Stars player that seems to be even or + every night, and he continues to play a much needed physical game.  He has really stepped up his game this year and is proving that he should be getting more than 16min a night, IMO.    And any D-man that beats someone over the head with a helmet (completely unintentional if the NHL brass is reading this, I might add) gets brownie points from me!

I say move him up now and let him ply his wares against some of the top lines.  We can't get any worse at this point.  Robidas looks beaten down to me, and Skrastins can block shots all day but seems to be really struggling in the other aspects of his game. 

This is my first fanpost so bear with me.  I've added a poll below to get the general consensus.

Poll
So, who would be your top two pairing D-men if you were the coach?
Robidas/Skrastins
2 votes
Robidas/Grossman
18 votes
Robidas/Fistric
22 votes
Robidas/Daley
5 votes
Grossman/Fistric
16 votes
Other, describe in comments
1 votes

64 votes | Poll has closed

This is a user-created FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Defending Big D. FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable hockey and Dallas Stars fans.

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If you give him more minutes

Can he keep his effectiveness?

Don’t you still trust Grossman more?

by Brad Gardner on Feb 1, 2010 12:30 PM CST reply actions  

That is what I want to find out...

I am not totally giving up yet on this season, but I would like to put some guys in key situations at the end of this year to see what they can do. This way going into next year we have an idea. For example, if we put Fistric on the first line and he takes off and dominates and becomes a true #1 or #2 dman (not that this will happen) then I would want to know before the off-season so I know how to develop the roster.

As far as trusting Grossman more, I am not so sure. In my book they are pretty even, but I would give the slight edge to Grossman. I think I would like to see a Grossman/Fistric top line, even if it is just for one or two games (can you imagine all the punishing hits while they are out there!). Stir the pot a little and shake things up. Give Robidas a break. Move Skrastins down to the 3rd line. Daley has been playing better lately.

by chichitao on Feb 1, 2010 3:07 PM CST up reply actions  

Want to test Fistric

put him out there with Niskanen to see if he can help Matt turn his career around.

Fistric deserves a lot of praise for the giant leap forward he’s taken this season. Let’s hope Niskanen does the same before management finally loses patience.

by Hull Fan on Feb 2, 2010 3:39 PM CST reply actions  

grossman/fistric is the new hatcher/matvichuk.

sign me up.

The Other 6 Seconds hearts Defending Big D
http://www.theother6seconds.com/

by ColeJ. on Feb 5, 2010 12:41 PM CST reply actions  

I think you leave Grossman/Robidas up there. But that’s not to say you can’t reduce their minutes slightly and let Fistric play a few more important minutes to reward him and take the weight off Robi. But I think it is important to keep that Robi/Grossman together because they are working very well together.

by brendan1 on Feb 6, 2010 7:02 PM CST reply actions  

Agree

Grossman Robidas is effective, and I’m not seeing Robi as being worn down this season.
I do have faith that a Fistric/Skrastins combo can also be a shutdown team.
Niskanen… why would you want to inflict him on Fistric?
But really we have to separate Fistric/Skrastins just so our third pairing won’t be Daley/Niskanen.
Every time I start feeling up on Niskanen, watching him actually clear a puck well, or pinch and keep the play going offensively…. an opposing winger just barely nudges him and pushes him all the way out of position, or he fumbles and does a Hatcher impersonation (the “Oh God Derian, don’t touch that PUCK!” Hatcher not the “HULK SMASH” Hatcher. Or maybe it’s KHatch not DHatch…)
I still feel Nisk has more upside than Daley… if he can develop a spine and a lil more patience.

by Waywardstars on Feb 12, 2010 10:52 AM CST up reply actions  

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