Where we getting centers that can play a lot of minutes? Give him 2 years super high cap. Bennett Nelson Tavares Giroux Granlund are the only UFAs that can play bigger minutes.
A guy can nominally be on the "ES1" without being a "first liner". Tomas Kopecky at times for instance.
If John Tavares is around, I think a 3-year deal for him could work for both ends. He gets 1st powerplay minutes, can make good AAV, Hawks have a bit of a stopgap with a productive player and not a longterm commitment.
Wouldn’t be the worst idea but I think it’s far more likely he goes cup chasing and signs with a contender. Still could even be in Toronto to do that at a heavily reduced price, though to me they aren’t much of a contender.
Make a trade then. Its time to stop slapping bandaids onto an issue when were talking about development of the face of the franchise. Pairing Dylan Cozens with Bedsy would be something to greenlight
I get that but Brock Nelson is still a good player and can still skate even at his age. This would help the development of Bedard. The draft is where your really gunna have to get your top 6 center.
No he wouldnt he turned 33 3 weeks ago but ok. whats the solution at center?
Faceoffs aren't the reason but what I was eluding to is that the team in general doesn't do a great job of getting pucks back when they don't have it. So if you go 0-8 at the dot like he did in VAN, it doesn't help the situation.
McDavid was 41% at the dot his rookie year and 46% year two. Crosby was 45% and 49%. Connor is 38% and 29%
Pure FO numbers doesn't really tell the whole story anyway. This team is much worse than either of those teams and I would say Bedard is a worse skater than either of them. Starting without the puck is a bigger deal for him.
where did you find crosby's faceoff numbers from his first two seasons? hockey reference doesn't appear to track those numbers before 07-08, and i cannot for the life of me find it anywhere else.
