The problem isn't Demko or even the D, it's how much the forwards buy into going into the corners in the defensive zone and winning the puck battles to gain possession. Something which will be key since we don't have Bo to win 60 percent of the faceoffs anymore. Also, Demko is going to need a good backup that can play at least 40 percent of the games and at least be serviceable in the role so that Demko doesn't get injured or burnt out.
- DariusKnight

Yeah even my dad who is a more casual fan identified this. I mean the last iteration of our D was terrible no doubt, but adding a few guys on D ain't going to change the play on the whole ice. The forwards turn away on the forecheck and are constantly blowing the zone, or even more commonly floating back hoping for a quick turnover and break.

There were a couple/few in here that posted "Rathbone makes Hughes expendable". There's always a couple making these claims. Even recently we had the "Silovs makes Demko expendable, they should trade him" posts.
- boonerbuck

I think I said in the past that having both Rathbone and Hughes is redundant. They both play that rover style, Hughes obviously much more established and better than Bones. I like Rathbone, I just don't think the league is geared towards having two undersized moreless strictly puck-movers who are always going to struggle down low against bigger forwards. That's a lot of time on ice between the two where it's going to be a struggle to get the puck back in our own zone - especially when factoring in how the forwards don't help out enough as discussed.