One common thread of the Checkers’ 2015-16 season was that Mark Morris was not afraid to shuffle his lineup.
It wasn’t uncommon for the Checkers to trot out different line combinations game in and game out, oftentimes even in the middle of contests. Whether it was out of necessity due to injuries and call ups or whether it was simply an attempt to find a spark, Morris, who was recently hired as head coach of St. Lawrence University, had no qualms about shuffling his group of forwards day to day. But while most of the forwards were mixed and matched throughout the season, one trio in specific was kept intact nearly the whole year.
The trio of Patrick Brown, Brendan Woods and Brody Sutter was a part of the 2014-15 squad, but didn’t play a ton together that year as they all served mostly as centers. With an increase in depth down the middle this season, the opportunity arose for the three to play alongside each other.
“I saw that grouping as something that brought us stability and reliability,” said Morris. “You need that in order to build on.”
“It took us a little while to get the chemistry going, but once we did, I think we were a pretty successful line,” said Woods. “We’re kind of similar players and we all have the same tendencies. We worked together and things panned out.”
“We had great chemistry,” said Brown. “I think we all play a similar game, we like to play in their end, get the puck deep and play below their goal line.”
As three of the biggest forwards on the team, the trio carved out a specific role, one that they thrived in.
“We were very responsible defensively,” said Sutter. “I think at one point we went like six weeks without being scored on. Obviously that was our main role, to be good defensively and be physical and hold the puck down in their end and kill as much time as we can. I thought we did pretty well at that.”
“On any successful team, you have to have those big, heavy lines that can play against the other team’s top players,” said Morris. “Those are the building blocks for the lines that play above them that are maybe a little more offensively inclined. They were able to carry those heavy minutes and play a good, solid defensive game.”
This was a new role for all three players, the downside of which was a downturn in point production for Sutter and Woods, who were both coming off big offensive seasons.
But with an influx of offense coming in during the offseason, they were needed in a different capacity.
“It’s something I discussed with the coaches,” said Sutter. “It’s just the way the team was built, that’s the role they needed me in this year. And that’s perfectly fine. You do what you need to do to help the team win.”
“After having a big year like I did last year, you come in hoping to keep that progress and have an even bigger year,” said Woods. “Unfortunately for me, my role was changed. And that was totally fine.”
Morris pointed to the balance of offensive roles versus what works best for the team as a whole.
“In our meetings, the question came up that perhaps some of the offensive roles that people had had in the past were diminished,” said Morris. “My retort was, ‘Pin that on me,’ because on any successful team, you have to have those big, heavy lines that can play against the other team’s top players.”
Neither Woods nor Sutter saw the change in roles as an issue, though, as both acknowledged it as being a good step for their careers.
“As far as embracing the role, that’s the role I’m going to have to play at the next level,” said Sutter. “I know what type of player I have to be at the NHL level. So I’m going to work and improve on that.”
“If I’m going to play in the NHL, it’s not going to be in an offensive role,” said Woods. “I’m going to be a third or fourth line guy. So I think that only helped me out for the betterment of my future.”
Morris assuredly reiterated the positive nature of the role shift going forward, as did the Hurricanes, who recalled and gave NHL stints to all three players over the course of the season.
“For their own personal development, in my opinion, it may have cost a guy a few goals here and there, but in the big scheme of things those types of players become depth players at the NHL and help win championships,” said Morris. “So learning to take pride in that aspect will only accentuate or expedite their rise to the next level, as opposed to five more goals.”
That’s not to say the line was completely inept in the offensive zone. Sutter and Woods both came away with clutch points all season and the third member of the group, Brown, saw his point total more than double from his rookie campaign, including 13 goals.
In Brown’s eyes, that production came from the grinding of the entire trio.
“I think we were able to make a lot of plays and create a lot of offense just out of outworking the other team,” said Brown.
It was evident that Morris had an affinity for the line of Brown, Sutter and Woods just from the fact that he seemed to do everything he could to keep them together. But the biggest compliment the coaching staff paid the line was putting them out in any situation. Variations of the trio were often used to kill penalties, they could be utilized to lock down a lead, or they could be counted on to spark a comeback. Wherever they were needed, the coaching staff trusted in their ability to deliver.
“Mo was confident with putting us out there against any line,” said Woods. “That’s a good feeling for us, knowing that we could play against anyone down here.”
