I'd have to disagree on Tage on the wing when you consider the stellar break out season he just had, seems 1 C is the place for Tage

Tage was able to break out when he was moved to C. It created more space for him to create plays and take shots, as well as play a bigger game.

I certainly don't mind Jokiharju as a player, but I do mind him being on the Jackets. He fills a role already filled by too many RHD for them. Mattias Samuelsson is the type of d-man the Jackets need, but I would assume he's completely off the table.

Anaheim would be the team interested in the Joker for a 3rd, but Colombus already has 4-5 RHD.

I don't think these past two years were completely attributed to a position change. As good as he is offensively, his defensive game hurt the team a lot.

Samuelsson would be off the table. In fact, I want a guy exactly like him, except right handed, to pair with power.

The more he plays that position the better he'll get, coaching him on the defensive end of the game is probably the next best step for Tage in the coming seasons, top 2 way Cs aren't natural they are taught and coached into that role

I agree with Tage on the wing, not because hes not a good C but because:
1. it lets you maximize Mittelstadt (he was ELECTRIC with Skinner and Tuch). He has been making more plays on the 3rd line since Christmas, but with 53/89 Mitts was on pace for 120 points(15 points in last 10 games)
2. They get crushed on cross-ice passes in the d-zone, having Tage defending in the slot (vs. the corners) to break up passes should help - see Alex Tuch.
3. Cozens already has the chops to be a great 2-way center vs. coaching it into Tage. 12-24-72 looked really nice together even with Tage not at 100%

Obviously though, you can only do any of this if you trust Mitts to pick up where he left off next year and you think Cozens+LW2 will still get Tage to 40 goals (I think I'm on board to try it out)

This is maybe the biggest misconception from the fan base. His defensive game actually took 2 steps back this year. Any defensive value from the kid line actually came from Jack Quinn, not from coens.

I don't disagree with this, but I think the reason you dont move him is because the way the offense is set up, it appears granato likes the play driving to come from his wingers and the finishing to come from the centres.

Thats at least what the analytics suggest. Tuch and Quinn did the two way heavy lifting for their respective lines. Skinner is a good play driver offensively. Tuch and cozens finished a lot of what they created.

This could change but for now it looks like thats how they want it set up.

I didnt say he had a great year defensively. No one really did. All i said was he has the tools for it and has shown it. Quinn looking better every day doesn't take away from the potential of the 21 y/o Cozens