Florida Panthers should move Denis Malgin to the wing
The Florida Panthers have an abundance of centers on the team, and should consider moving Denis Malgin over to the wing.
If Denis Malgin wants to have any significant role during his stay with the Cats, then he’ll really need to consider switching over to the wing. The Swiss native can play on both the wing and down the middle, which should provide flexibility for the Panthers.
As it stands, Barkov, Trocheck and Bjugstad (in that order) will all fill up the top spots down the middle. This leaves little to no room for Denis, as he’ll have to settle for a spot on the bottom line. Malgin is certainly not a bottom line player, and should not be used as one either. He has the skill set to be placed on the third line at least.
Standing at 5’9 and 177lB, I’ve always viewed Denis as more of a traditional winger. Known for his speed and skill, the wing will certainly be a better fit for the youngster. During the 47 games in which he dressed for the Cats, you occasionally saw brief moments of young Denis blowing by his opponent on the wing. We unfortunately did not see enough of last season. However, if he’s given more of a chance on the wing, surely you’ll see more of it.
Another factor we should throw in is his size. I am not saying you need to be 6’0+ in order to become a center, but you certainly do need to be able to hold your own physically. Sadly, I cannot say this for Malgin. During the times he played as a center, he often lost puck battles along the boards and was easily beat at the faceoff dot. I honestly believe that playing him as a Centerman is truly the wrong choice.
What he lacks in size, he makes up for in skill. Malgin has a great shot and even better release. Placing him on the wing will only increase his production (offensively) even further. Teeing him up one timers is where Denis strikes gold. Whether it’s in the slot or just above the blue line, you can surely bet that he’ll be giving the goalies a hard time. Below is a clip of Denis the menace sniping one past
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If you have a look at the Panthers current lineup, you should know (see) that we’re really thin on the wing position. With enough depth down the middle, many youngsters who are naturally Centerman’s (like Denis) will have to switch over to the wing if they want any chance of seeing ice in the NHL.
For the Cats sake, they could really use all the help they can get on the wing. Moving him to the wing would benefit both parties in the end, and would provide for some much-needed help in a position they’re lacking in.