Around the NHL — Episode XLXVII

[bicboi64]

Give Zibanejad arguably a top three offensive defensmen like Hughes and Petersson and we'll see. Maybe Zibanejad is inferior or maybe it's always been his environment and supporting cast?

I'd say both Zibby and Panarin have choked in the playoffs. They were pretty much ppg in their last ECF but only one goal from the two of them against the Panthers. Dunno if its the pressure of NYR but maybe a change in scenery could bring out the best in them (post season wise)

 

[Tuna99]

Remember last season all the smart commentators were saying Byfield over Timmy. Byfield has 21 points.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Remember last season all the smart commentators were saying Byfield over Timmy. Byfield has 21 points.

No, don’t recall that.

 

[Xspyrit]

kakko with 13 points in 14 games

Sometimes i feel like GMs don't like doing their jobs

Yeah it was another very easy call to make. I had a conversation about it last month and was told that Kakko was a slightly better version of Amadio. My response was :

"Kakko is a much much better version of Mike Amadio. The only reason there's a negative aura around him is because of draft position. The guy has averaged 33 pts per 82 games (mostly at ES) in the NHL despite starting at 18 y/o and being still only 23 y/o. Amadio is a 4th liner who was in a very good situation in Vegas, which got him a nice "retirement contract" and we fell for it. Kakko is not a bust/semi-bust like the guys you mentioned.

Kakko - Stutzle - Batherson"

We could also have gone Greig - Pinto - Kakko

I really don't understand why we're never on these guys given away.

Kovacevic for a 4th
Carrier for Barron
Kakko for Borgen and picks
Gustavsson for Talbot
DeMelo for a 3rd
Etc

 

[Micklebot]

Yeah it was another very easy call to make. I had a conversation about it last month and was told that Kakko was a slightly better version of Amadio. My response was :

"Kakko is a much much better version of Mike Amadio. The only reason there's a negative aura around him is because of draft position. The guy has averaged 33 pts per 82 games (mostly at ES) in the NHL despite starting at 18 y/o and being still only 23 y/o. Amadio is a 4th liner who was in a very good situation in Vegas, which got him a nice "retirement contract" and we fell for it. Kakko is not a bust/semi-bust like the guys you mentioned.

Kakko - Stutzle - Batherson"

We could also have gone Greig - Pinto - Kakko

I really don't understand why we're never on these guys given away.

Kovacevic for a 4th
Carrier for Barron
Kakko for Borgen and picks
Gustavsson for Talbot
DeMelo for a 3rd
Etc

We don't have cap space to accommodate adding more than a ELC or equivalent right now. Hard to be in on guys when you don't have room.

 

[Qward]

Would we be talking about Kakko if he had 1 point in 14 games?
I get it, everyone here would make all of the awesome trades and none of the bad ones.

 

[Xspyrit]

We don't have cap space to accommodate adding more than a ELC or equivalent right now. Hard to be in on guys when you don't have room.

Yeah we painted ourselves in the corner too many times. Another reason why it's good to have good prospects. Start the season with a younger guy on ELC instead of signing Amadio a t2.6 AAV and if he doesn't work out, then you got out and grab a guy.

I would have went and grab Kakko anyway then figure it out after.

Would we be talking about Kakko if he had 1 point in 14 games?
I get it, everyone here would make all of the awesome trades and none of the bad ones.

Then it would have not worked out, but these calls/predictions are based on player ability and potential, particularly if the player is placed in a better position to succeed. It's absolutely part of what people like with sports, hence why betting is a multi billion dollars business. I personally pay attention to individual players more than team results.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Remember last season all the smart commentators were saying Byfield over Timmy. Byfield has 21 points.

Byfield certainly has stepped back, but with his size he is going to have a different development curve.

I don't think he will surpass Stutzle, and I don't recall many people putting him above Stutzle last year. But I think it might be a few years before he really peaks.

Talking about Zibanejad, his career trajectory should teach us something about bigger skilled players. It took even a few years into the Rangers trade for him to reach his ceiling.

My favourite quote about Stu VS Byfield was Jeff Marek pre-draft saying Byfield is the player people think Stutzle is and Stutzle is the player people think Byfield is. Meaning, people assume Byfield is a power forward because of his size, but he really plays a less aggressive or physically engaged game than Stutzle who people assume is the pure skill player.

 

[Tuna99]

If Edmonton is this freaked out by McDavid getting a 3 game suspension then if the rumours are true and he leaves, Edmonton will go into a 10 year depression.

 

[Beech]

If Edmonton is this freaked out by McDavid getting a 3 game suspension then if the rumours are true and he leaves, Edmonton will go into a 10 year depression.

why is that a bad thing?

Heck a 20 or 30 year depression is good.

we have been in one for 17 years and counting.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Yeah it was another very easy call to make. I had a conversation about it last month and was told that Kakko was a slightly better version of Amadio. My response was :

"Kakko is a much much better version of Mike Amadio. The only reason there's a negative aura around him is because of draft position. The guy has averaged 33 pts per 82 games (mostly at ES) in the NHL despite starting at 18 y/o and being still only 23 y/o. Amadio is a 4th liner who was in a very good situation in Vegas, which got him a nice "retirement contract" and we fell for it. Kakko is not a bust/semi-bust like the guys you mentioned.

Kakko - Stutzle - Batherson"

We could also have gone Greig - Pinto - Kakko

I really don't understand why we're never on these guys given away.

Kovacevic for a 4th
Carrier for Barron
Kakko for Borgen and picks
Gustavsson for Talbot
DeMelo for a 3rd
Etc

missing on Kakko i guess i can understand since we did not have a piece that NYR would be interested in + they prob would have wanted to send him far away.

but Kailyev was a free asset, and we needed to desperately find someone that can play with Stutzle.

at least try y'know, worst case you waive him, but naw lets continue rolling out Gaudette and a 37 year old Giroux with our franchise player hoping they can catch up.

 

[GCK]

missing on Kakko i guess i can understand since we did not have a piece that NYR would be interested in + they prob would have wanted to send him far away.

but Kailyev was a free asset, and we needed to desperately find someone that can play with Stutzle.

at least try y'know, worst case you waive him, but naw lets continue rolling out Gaudette and a 37 year old Giroux with our franchise player hoping they can catch up.

Did we put in a claim for Kaliyev ?

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Did we put in a claim for Kaliyev ?

idk but we could have traded him for futures or a 6th/7th before he was waived.

LA would have done that rather than lose him for nothing.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

idk but we could have traded him for futures or a 6th/7th before he was waived.

LA would have done that rather than lose him for nothing.

I'd have preferred Tomasino

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

I'd have preferred Tomasino

would have been great too.

i just realized Kaliyev + Tomasino combined cap hit would have been 1.6 mill.

 

[bicboi64]

Next time we play Washington, we need fans to come clutch with Nachos. Perfect way to distract Thompson

 

[Xspyrit]

would have been great too.

i just realized Kaliyev + Tomasino combined cap hit would have been 1.6 mill.

Much better to have Amadio at 2.6 AAV

Seriously, don’t want to pile up on Staios, it’s not really his fault he inherited an handcuffed situation. He has started fixing up some problems and can’t bat for 1,000

I just wish he would have kept some flexibility and not sign Amadio at all.

 

[Boud]

Much better to have Amadio at 2.6 AAV

Seriously, don’t want to pile up on Staios, it’s not really his fault he inherited an handcuffed situation. He has started fixing up some problems and can’t bat for 1,000

I just wish he would have kept some flexibility and not sign Amadio at all.

To be fair I think this team is better with Amadio than without him or with anyone else internally replacing him. He’s the type of player that goes a bit under the radar but provides a steady and sound game every night.

He’ll produce more going forward I have no doubt. I think for him it didn’t help that Pinto was cold to start the season, then Perron got hurt when they were starting to find chemitry and then he got injured himself.

Amadio has a wildly different role than guys like Tomasino or Kaliyev. This team was trying to improve defensively and bring that winning mindset of focusing on the defensive side of things before going for offense. Amadio as a player encapsulates that vision and it’s paid off. In that sense Staios hit the mark with the additions he’s made, including Green. The team is top 10 defensively in shots allowed and goals against which is night and day compared to last season.

Now that Staios has at least in part solved the defensive struggles that have forever plagued this team, he’s lost some offense in the process. We need an upgrade on Giroux and probably another “wildcard” type add and we should be in good position next season. To me Staios did great with the hand he was dealt. Adjustments are always required along the way, that’s where we are right now.

With Yakemchuk coming in on defense and Greig/Pinto/Ostapchuk coming into their own we should be a playoff team next season without any major changes (replacing G is the one move I see here that needs to happen).