I was just looking at Subban's stats. In his first two seasons (in about the same amount of games) he had fewer points than Skjei. Obviously doesn't mean that much, but shows how impressive that type of season for a young player is.
Player Discussion Brady Skjei
- Thread starter Pavel Buchnevich
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What I saw in Skjei a year ago was what looked like an ability to grow. Hey, I didn't predict offense, but when you skate well and you have confidence (note that both of these things are things that Del Zotto did NOT possess) you might just become good.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
I've maintained this. I think you can rule out his floor, barring a big step back.
Hits his ceiling: Nick Leddy
Hits his floor: John Moore
Hits somewhere between his ceiling and floor: Jake Gardiner
I'm a little late with this pun but when Leddy was in Chicago, was he Leddy in red?
Amazing Kreiderman
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Mac n Gs
Drury plz
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I think he'll end up being better defensively than Leddy and Gardiner, but I see what you're saying. A hybrid between both of them would be great, which is why I love that he's looking to be a better offensive version of Brett Hedican. That draft-day comparison to Hedican was spot on.
Get out.
Amazing Kreiderman
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JT Kreider
FIRE GORDIE CLARK
Leddy is a good comparison. He's really f'in good.
Moore or Gardiner would be... fine?, but we should have way higher expectations that.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Hedican never scored more than 29 points in a season. If he's Hedican, the points probably drop dramatically.
I break down the top tier of defenseman by two areas. Offense and defense. Most 1D's I think are above average in one of the two categories, and elite in the other category. There are only like one or two who are elite in both areas, like a Doughty, and thats why he's the best in the game, my opinion, of course. A player who's not elite in one of the two categories can not be considered a 1D to me, nor can you be considered a 1D, if you aren't at least above average in both areas. Two above averages though does not equal 1D territory, its fringe 1/2D area, you need a real carrying tool to get yourself to the top tier. Thats kind of where I see Leddy at.
Skjei had a great season offensively, but defensively, he was spotty for a lot of the season. He's a rookie, so of course thats acceptable, but to ascend to elite level defense, you'd have expected more. I personally don't see eventual McDonagh level defense from him. I always thought he'd eventually be above-average defensively and average offensively, but I've never thought he was so good defensively at any level that you could say McDonagh level defense is a possibility where he can have above-average offense and elite defense. McDonagh's a 1D because his offense holds his own in 1D category, but his defense carries him. I don't see any elite level potential that'll carry Skjei into true 1D territory. Given the season he had, I still would not up my assessment of how good his defense can become. If this offense is for real, which I think is better than anyone expected it to be at the beginning of the season, I think it could get him to his ceiling eventually, maybe that fringe #1D/#2D category, which is kind of where Leddy is. If not, he'll probably be in that Gardiner category where he can put up 30 points and play good, not great defense, but without any standout area, besides skating.
And I should say this is all just hypothetical, a few seasons down the road.
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Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
He's past Moore. A good athlete who can really skate, but can't do anything else well. Unless he takes a big step back from this season, he'll reach higher than his floor.
Leddy is really good. I completely agree. He's one of those fringe #1/2D's, so if Skjei reaches his ceiling, he could get into that category.
Gardiner is also a fairly good player. A good #3D. Not really more than good at any one thing, but good at a number of things. I would say after his rookie season, Skjei is trending towards closer to his ceiling than somewhere between his ceiling and floor, obviously way past his floor, but he'll need to show defensive improvements in years 2 and 3 and keep the offense up to distance himself further from the Gardiner level.
JT Kreider
FIRE GORDIE CLARK
Skjei also reminds me of a young TJ Brodie with his skating ability. If we can get anything remotely close to Brodie or Leddy we have a very good defenseman on our hands.
But then again me comparing Skjei to Brodie shows how big my expectations are for him.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Yeah, Brodie's another good comparison for his type of game, although I think Brodie might be attaining a level Skjei's not capable of, maybe just slightly.
Mac n Gs
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That's why I said a more offensive Brett Hedican
Overall, I agree with you. He won't be McDonagh defensively, but do think Skjei will be a very good, unique player in his own right.
How about he becomes Brady Skjei?
His combination of size, strength, skating and improving puck skills are very few and far between among D men in the NHL. Once he gets the D down, look out...
The only thing I would like to see is a little bit of an edge, or more bite to his game. But that is nit-picking...
His combination of size, strength, skating and improving puck skills are very few and far between among D men in the NHL. Once he gets the D down, look out...
The only thing I would like to see is a little bit of an edge, or more bite to his game. But that is nit-picking...
haveandare
Registered User
He threw a few nice hits last game at least. Maybe playing with smith will help him in that regard
Personally think the kid is a stud. Time to gut out the Staals' and Girardis' of the world in the offseason and make room for young talent like Brady. May not be able to provide too much offense at times but he's able to lock it down in front of Henrik and I'm ok with that.
Leddy never impressed me in the playoffs. Guys like him and Fowler are too easy to punk.
Haven't seen that at all with Skjei.
TheTakedown
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I know this sounds insane, but if Skjei is this good, I'm ready to move McDonagh for a #1 top echelon RHD like Trouba...
Skjei-Trouba
Smith-Shattenkirk
Bereglazov-Clendening
I know that 3rd pairing is rather inexperienced, but you can afford to have a pairing like that if the top 4 is configured in such a way.
At this point even if we bought out both Girardi AND Staal, the buyout numbers give us 50-60% of that $11.2M... Bite the bullet, admit the mistake, and move on
This team needs a whole new makeup. I can't imagine a better way than moving out the captain, the primary piece of this core, for a piece that is a few years younger and addresses a serious position of need.
Shattenkirk is PART of the solution for the defense, but not THE solution.
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Arguable that Trouba is a top echelon #1. McDonagh is still better than Skjei as well
Tough to make that call and the peg might be more interested in Skjei than McDonagh at this point (younger, cheaper)
Tough to make that call and the peg might be more interested in Skjei than McDonagh at this point (younger, cheaper)
TheTakedown
Puck is Life
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There is a price to pay for a defenseman in his prime. That's McDonagh right now. A team that needed him as their final piece would pay a LOT of money for him especially given that he's signed for 2 more years.
The Rangers, as currently constructed, aren't going to contend this year or next in my opinion. Now is the time to move McDonagh, get a RHD that can grow WITH Skjei, then go sign Smith and Shattenkirk. Move Nash for futures and cap relief, then do a Stepan for Duchene swap
If the Rangers aren't going to contend then why bother signing Shattenkirk? At any rate my point is that Winpeg might want a younger and arguably cheaper player than McDonagh in exchange for Trouba, and they are also not even vaguely just a final piece or so away from contending or even making the playoffs.
cd211
Registered User
bc shattenkirk iis a RHD and they are rare as ever to find..
Skjei-Shattenkirk
Smith-Trouba
Id move Mcdonagh for Mackinnon
Stepan for Trouba and there you go!
haveandare
Registered User
I think they can easily contend next year if they play this offseason right.
If they can sign Shattenkirk, Smith and Berezgalov, lose one or both wonder twins and maybe even Nash if necessary for cap they'll have a very good team next year.
If they can sign Shattenkirk, Smith and Berezgalov, lose one or both wonder twins and maybe even Nash if necessary for cap they'll have a very good team next year.
Revel
Dark Sky Enthusiast
Yep. I'm starting to see an edge, honestly. He's stood people up and knocked people down several times in the series so far. He looks almost eager to bang people. It cost us on that 2 on 1 goal where Holden blew a tire...as Brady probably should not have gone for the hit...but he's definitely bringing an edge. This kid is close to becoming a complete package. Skating, passing, shooting, hitting, etc... Needs to work on his D a hair, but nothing he can't cure. How nice it is when your first rounders work out when you have so few of them!
