Fourth-Line Farabee: Why This Shouldn’t be Happening

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The NHL fourth line. The line that’s put out to grind down your opponent. Often referred to as the “energy line,” fourth liners are full of piss and vinegar, ready to grind and bring an energy boost to the rest of the team. They do that through their style of play.

Of course, the fourth liners aren’t put on the ice to score. The occasional goal is nice, but never exactly expected. Far too often, fans fall into the “NHL 2020” mindset, where all lines need to have the best available player on it. Every line needs to score, and a line that doesn’t is a waste of three roster spots. While not entirely wrong, it’s absolutely unrealistic.

The Flyers right now are tasked with…