almost verbatim what my post was gonna be. Maybe would’ve went with “heart” over “guts” lolMy gut says Grits, but my brain says Holtz. Went with Holtz.
On the one hand it's kind of safe to assume Holtz won't be an impactful player outside the offensive zone, on the other hand, how much do we really know much about Gritz in this regard?It’s between Holtz and Gritz for me on the next two. If Gritz comes over I think with time he becomes the more impactful player on all 3 areas of the ice.
…is a name that…Tyler Ekford
We also know that guys like Goose(also not a great skater) and an old shot out kovy, can tear it up in the KHL.i get why Gritsyuk is enticing but he’s still gonna be way down the list on my personal ranking. If the KHL season were 82 games long, Gritsyuk played at a 58 point pace last season at 21 years old. I feel like the KHL gets less competitive every year, and that production doesn’t scream “future top-6 winger” to me.
I’d put Mukhamadullin and most of the players who’ve shown some AHL success ahead of him, maybe even Casey.
At Gritsyuk’s age Zetterlund wasn’t doing much. Development is a tricky thing and hard to evaluate. I trust @Guadana who has given us the details on Gritsyuk. If he says he’s the real deal he’s in a better position to know than the rest of us with the possible exception of @StevenToddIves.We also know that guys like Goose(also not a great skater) and an old shot out kovy, can tear it up in the KHL.
Which is not to say I think Grits is a Goose type player, because I truthfully don't know much about him, (I certainly hope he brings more defensively), but it's just being a little cautious about a guy who we've seen very little of.
Where as by comparison, Zetterund, like I mentioned above, his #'s last year were really good, both in the AHL and his short stint in the NHL.
Wait till you hear what @xigon has to say about Tyce ThompsonAt Gritsyuk’s age Zetterlund wasn’t doing much. Development is a tricky thing and hard to evaluate. I trust @Guadana who has given us the details on Gritsyuk. If he says he’s the real deal he’s in a better position to know than the rest of us with the possible exception of @StevenToddIves.
yeah and it’s not like i don’t think his ceiling is still high, the possibility is there that Grits IS a top-6 winger, i just personally value the prospects that have proven they can be productive at a high level. For me that’s Zetterlund, Thompson, and Daws.We also know that guys like Goose(also not a great skater) and an old shot out kovy, can tear it up in the KHL.
Which is not to say I think Grits is a Goose type player, because I truthfully don't know much about him, (I certainly hope he brings more defensively), but it's just being a little cautious about a guy who we've seen very little of.
Where as by comparison, Zetterund, like I mentioned above, his #'s last year were really good, both in the AHL and his short stint in the NHL.
I don't really get the whole, "productive at a high level" argument. The kid literally produced at a 60-point pace in the 2nd best league in the world as a 21 year old. That is absolutely fantastic production for someone so young in a league that is notorious for being ridiculously tough for young players to break out in. He was one of the best 5v5 forwards in the entire KHL this past season. I don't know what more you could possibly ask for production-wise out of him. Did you consider Yegor Sharangovich to have "proven himself at a high level" before he came over? I know everyone hear loves these little Twitter cards, so here was one for Gritsyuk done a little while back.yeah and it’s not like i don’t think his ceiling is still high, the possibility is there that Grits IS a top-6 winger, i just personally value the prospects that have proven they can be productive at a high level. For me that’s Zetterlund, Thompson, and Daws.
Probably not Foote cuz i think his ceiling is Bastian 2.0.
I don't really get the whole, "productive at a high level" argument. The kid literally produced at a 60-point pace in the 2nd best league in the world as a 21 year old. That is absolutely fantastic production for someone so young in a league that is notorious for being ridiculously tough for young players to break out in. He was one of the best 5v5 forwards in the entire KHL this past season. I don't know what more you could possibly ask for production-wise out of him. Did you consider Yegor Sharangovich to have "proven himself at a high level" before he came over? I know everyone hear loves these little Twitter cards, so here was one for Gritsyuk done a little while back.
If you want to rank Daws ahead. I could 100% understand an argument for that. But Thompson and Zetterlund? Both are two years older and neither have had a season anywhere close to as impressive and promising simply looking at the numbers as Gritsyuk's season this year. To be fair, neither has Daws, but he's a goalie in his D+2 so we gotta give some leeway there. And this is not even considering their actual play on the ice (for which Gusev could not be a more terrible/lazy comparison to make, they play completely different games which bodes quite well for Gritsyuk). I feel like you might not realize how good of a season Gritsyuk had and how much promise he showed in the KHL.
I get that Zetterlund and Thompson had good seasons in the AHL, and of course there is some promise in those numbers, but there's more to the game than just putting up points in the AHL at age 23. Zetterlund at least showed well in his NHL stint, albeit a small sample size.