Ridly Greig looked right at home on Thursday night, skating between Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk.
As the Ottawa Senators approach the midway point of yet another lost season, it seemed more than likely they'd eventually begin to conduct experiments, giving certain men new opportunities and new linemates, as the club tries to evaluate which players should truly be part of their core long term.
The latest injury to Josh Norris may have expedited things.
Norris suffered an upper-body injury after falling awkwardly on the back of his head in Tuesday night's game in Calgary. Norris already has a long history of shoulder problems but, based on replays, this seemed more like a possible concussion or a neck sprain.
In his absence, as the Senators closed out another ill-fated five-game road trip in Buffalo on Thursday, Ridly Greig was moved up the food chain onto a fiercely competitive line, featuring Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux.
"I'm going to approach (the Buffalo) game the same as I would any other game," Greig told the media after Thursday practice. "I'm not going to change my game."
That's the right approach, but it wasn't just any other game for Greig. His performance in the coming days with two legitimate stars (11 all-star appearances between them) will help inform the decision-making of the new Sens' brain trust.
Norris and Shane Pinto are out, but both of them will probably be back soon. Pinto is eligible to return from suspension on January 21st and practiced with the club for the first time this season on Friday.
Is Greig ready for regular top-six minutes in the NHL? He certainly possesses a feisty, physical edge that Norris, Pinto and Tim Stutzle do not. What remains in question is Greig's offensive ceiling. In the 5-3 loss to Buffalo, he played over 18 minutes, helped set up both of Giroux's goals (although he only got credit for one assist) and a team leading plus 2 on the night.
Greig has a very small window to showcase what he can do with the best possible linemates, a chance that some young players never get. But people are starting to notice his compete level, and opportunity is now knocking loudly.