Edited Sep. 18, 2021 at 9:24 p.m.
Assuming you watched the rookie game with a thread title like that.
1. Norlinder had a really tough start... but it's his first game on North American Ice and rookie games are sloppy. He was awful at the start, but he settled in and his strengths showed as the game went on... finished with 1G and 1A (Powerplay). He's a gifted offensive defenseman... he will probably never be good defensively but I think he needs to learn the North American game. He will need to leave that 1st half behind him and continue playing like he did in the 2nd half of the game.
2. If you did indeed watch the rookie game how could you not have Guhle in your 2022-23 lineup, especially with Chiraot gone? The kid is already NHL ready but he is only 19 so a full year in the WHL and another WJC showing would only benefit his development.
3. If you say Norlinder is not ready, and you have Harris in your 2022-23 lineup, and Guhle is probably more ready than Norlinder... then in your opinion when is Norlinder ever going to be ready? If Norlinder is behind Romanov Harris and Guhle on the depth chart, with Edmundson, Savard and Petry all signed for 2 or more years then there is no path for Norlinder to the NHL. If Norlinder shows he can QB a PP while playing 3rd pair minutes at RD for MTL then it is in both sides best interest that he plays this season IMO. This year is Norlinder's opportunity, there is a spot for the taking.
Edit:
With a lineup of Edmundson - Petry, Chiarot - Savard, Romanov - Kulak / Wideman... MTL is not deep at defense. One injury to Petry and your powerplay is shot, unless you have Norlinder. Wideman is a question mark in the NHL. Savard was not good last season and while I'm sure management is confident he will bounce back maybe he cannot handle a top 4 role. There is no reason Norlinder cannot bring his talents to help MTL's PP / offense while learning the North American game on the 3rd pair with a reliable partner like Savard or Chiarot assuming he has a solid camp (ok start so far - we will see).
Edmundson - Petry
- Reliabe top pair.
Romanov - Savard
- Romanov needs to take a bigger role with Chiarot likely leaving after this season. The team is committed to Savard as well.
Chiarot - Norlinder
- Reliable defensive partner to help Norlinder adjust to the North American game. Norlinder can play RD, Kulak cannot.
Kulak - Wideman
- Depth D for injuries.
At the very least MTL should give Norlinder a look at the start of the season, if it isn't working they can send him home before he plays 9 games... either way the NHL experience will be immensely valuable for him. This is the only way he will learn what it takes to defend in the NHL... he won't learn that in Frolunda it's a different game there.