Main issue with Romanov is positioning and gap control. He has poor defensive instincts and should be much better given how bad he is offensively. He has poor hockey IQ as well, which goes with gap control and positioning issues. In the offensive zone, once he touches the puck, the play is basically over as it gets blocked or he does the least useful thing with it.
With that being said, I know he's young. He's not terrible. He's not good. He's an adequate bottom pairing defenseman. Again, this was all predictable based on his micro stats from his days with the Canadiens. The problem will always be the cost paid to get him. Frank Nazar was chosen with the pick he was traded for. At the moment, he has more trade value. The trade was bad at the time. Still bad now. Then we gave him 2.5 mil, which isn't a lot, but still an overpayment given he's an average bottom pairing defenseman. So we basically gave up a top 50 NHL prospect for a bottom pairing dman who is currently worth league minimum in terms of production.
Considering we could've had de Haan of Gustaffsson or about 100 other cheap defenseman to provide the same value at a lower cost cap-wise and costing nothing in trade value, it's infuriating to Isles fans like myself to have a GM who is so bad at talent evaluation. I'm still holding out hope that Romanov somehow becomes good, and I'd gladly take the L on that. Otherwise, it's another to a long list of moves Lou has made to set the franchise back.
de Haan initially left the Isles after years of the team investing time and money throughout his injury plagued years to join, Carolina, where he only knew one player at the time in Skinner. He specifically noted that him and his wife went there because they wanted to settle in and live in the area.
Carolina dumped him after one year and he still went running back at the first opportunity. That tells you all you need to know about him and his hockey priorities. The only way he might have returned was if the Isles overpaid significantly and that is foolish.
I actually liked Gustafsson and thought he might stick at the time. However, he didn't and Trotz was the coach. If Trotz wanted to keep him, I am sure the Isles would have. That isn't on Lou.
If you want to make a point and push your narrative forward, at least bring reasonable examples. And please look beyond the surface numbers.
Romanov is 23-years old and is learning on the job at the NHL level. He has had ups and downs but, even though people keep complaining about his offense, he is 79th in points among defensemen.
Last time I checked, with 32 NHL teams, he is right around your typical #3 among defensemen for points. That isn't bad.
To add further perspective, at Romanov's age, Devon Toews had just graduated from chasing coeds around at Quinnipiac and was starting his Bridgeport career. He took years to develop at the AHL level and really only took off once traded to Colorado and getting to play alongside a generational player in Makar. Romanov is playing alongside guys like Mayfield.
I really just can't anymore. Please apply some common sense and cast a wider gaze going forward.
The point is to win the Stanley Cup, not the President's Trophy. Teams are building their teams to win one of those trophies and not necessarily the other, but you're insisting on judging them on the one that doesn't matter.
Thank you for pointing out the obvious and that the Stanley Cup is the goal and not a participation trophy. That you even had to do that is mind-boggling. Wow. Just wow.
