Nine games is indeed a small sample, which is exactly why I want the Avs to play Middleton more, so we know for sure what he is. I'm honestly worried they are going to waive him and another team will take him where he'll become a regular NHL player.
I was referring to his first year (2018-19) when he had only played in the AHL at that point. You know, like Middleton. I don't think I honestly want to deal with you any more. You're judging him based on 3 games from 4 years ago, and the fact that he's been in the AHL until now. It's like you're not aware that players are capable of getting better over time. It also seems to me like you're biased against him because he reminds you of McDermid.
My whole point is that in his 9 games this year, he looked better than CDH. That's all. I'm not saying he's some great player, just that he's our best option for our bottom pair LD right now based on the small sample size we have. I'd like a larger sample size before deciding anything about him long-term.
Yeah, I kinda of have that same feeling. Not that Andreas Englund is a world beater or anything but we actually developed that guy and he promptly let him go the moment he became reliable. I really don't want to see it, but I think Keaton is also a UFA after this season.
I just don't get why he wasn't in the mix from the beginning with Kylington and de Haan. It's not like he just woke up and became a better player over night. It's more like the Avs never had the intention of playing the guy until it became absolutely necessary. He wasn't even in consideration to play until after Ludvig was aquired.
I don't want to get back into the Prischepov thing, but is this another case where the Avs have a perfectly acceptable NHL'r but just aren't using/developing him. He doesn't play the Avs style... he actually finishes checks and looks before he passes. He's a meat and potatoes type of player and should be comfort food for whoever he's playing with.
He throws up a bunch of zeros though. 9 games played: 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points, +1, 7 PIMs while putting up a 46.24 xGF%. Obviously not great stat lines, but he also plays a much different game than our other defenders and its a game I think is worth keeping around. In fact, I'd rather see him in and out of the lineup than Ludvig/Kylington. I've somehow come to appreciate de Haan. Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather have an improved player over CDH but out of all the folks that have actually been allowed to fight for the poisition he's done okayish. I'd just prefer a bit more meat and physicality on the bottom pair.
Middleton-Malinski is the pairing I would be trying like hell to get going between now and the deadline. I think the Avs are going to pick up a defender at the deadline no matter what, but it would be nice to know if Middleton can be trusted to play in the playoffs before hand.
If things get rough and we need to get nasty, we can always swap it up and go Middleton-Girard and just start running folks.
