Player Discussion Brendan Lemieux

[True Blue]

You know it's funny, I said 15 and then realized that for his career he already averages out to about 14 over an 82 game schedule, and this year he'd pop approximately 16 over a full season.

And still developing. Not comparing the two, but look how long it took Tom Wilson to further develop.

 

[RGY]

I dont know about you guys, but I really like the combination of Lemieux-Lias. Just two sheer competitors that will constantly play hard and can get under the oppositions skin in different ways. Both are physical, although Lias to a lesser extent. You saw that line work all night long. They worked all night long against arguably the best team in the league that has a group of players who have been together for awhile and/or are established NHL vets by now. We have mostly young guys finding their way and they took it to the best team in the league. Sure it sucks we came away with a point because we want to fall in the standings but it is a great sign for the development of these kids. And I also think the play last night, especially the 2nd period, is a testament to the job DQ has done here just 75% of the way into his first season

 

[RGY]

And still developing. Not comparing the two, but look how long it took Tom Wilson to further develop.

And he gets to play with Ovechkin

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I believe you, and would love to know what the agent knew.

My guess?

Nothing.

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

If Kournianos doesnt like him that's all I need to know. I'm officially on the Lemieux bandwagon.

 

[Edge]

How are we to compare what Nashville and Vegas did to what the Rangers did?

Granlund would not be compared to anything the Rangers sold, he had a year left on his deal. Had they sold Kreider perhaps that would be closer to apples to apples and even then I'd think the preference and value would have been pro Granlund.

Who did the Rangers sell who was on par with Stone? Who also subsequently extended? I don't see any comparison there o what the Rangers sold or even could have sold.

Being upset about the Rangers rebuild, not getting in the best lottery position concerns me as well, yet that clouding up what happened at the deadlines to the point of making comparisons that should not really be made seems fruitless.

As far as Lemieux and the rebuild, in my opinion they added a pending RFA, one who will likely be bridged, same as ADA, Pionk, Buch.

If it turns out Lemieux is good enough to really effect their draft position now or next year, wouldn't that mean this trade was pretty good?

People want bigger returns?

That's what you get if you trade Kreider or Zibanejad.

Those are probably the only two guys that return a boatload, and in Kreider's case it comes with an extension.

But for all the talk about wanting those kinds of returns, if we actually went that route, a good portion of people (majority?) would absolutely lose their ever-loving minds.

 

[Sarge13]

Like I said, I watched Lemieux extensively before the trade. He was a nondescript prospect. Am I not allowed to voice my legitimate concerns — concerns echoed by the analytics community?

Did anyone on this forum either know Lemieux existed, considered him a legit prospect or coveted him during trade rumor talks? Nope. But magically, one game is all it takes for everyone to anoint him the next Avery.

You can’t deliver a hit if you have possession of the puck. No surprise Lemieux had seven hits.

I watched Lemieux extensively as well this season cause I'm a big Winnipeg Jets fan and like I said earlier in this thread there were games where he was the best forward Some Nights.

Stevie k I really like talking prospects with you, usually a reasonable guy but today you're having an off-day I think, it's time to pull a Quinn and make you ride the pine

Maybe if you would have put it in the context of Gorton not being very creative then I'd say you'd maybe have a legitimate gripe, but I don't know where you were but Lemieux's name came up plenty of times around here, for months. I was hoping for Lemieux and Virtanen, Lemieux and the pick will do just fine.

The first two years of the rebuild I'm okay with getting back some conservative returns because we're building a base. After the first two years you should start to get a little more creative, I think the league will be a little more cooperative, should be a lot of player movement especially with expansion on the horizon.


And I echo the sentiments that we had to trade Kevin Hayes, his price tag was too high for a guy who I feel is going to have a sharp curve down as he starts to age.

 

[Mac n Gs]

How about Gustafsson? Spacek? Virtanen? People talk about an “added dimension”, so why not add a playmaking winger like Petan, a skilled forward who was blocked in the top nine because of Winnipeg’s depth? Plenty of room for him to grow with the Rangers.

Hayes trade was made at the very beginning of the deadline. Wonder if Winnipeg’s package increases if Gorton makes the move after seeing what Vegas and Nashville did. I got a DM from an NHL agent right when the trade was made and all it said was “amateur hour again” and I didn’t even ask.

Because all of those guys would be a worse prospect to have acquired than Lemieux? Why are they better? Because they’re slightly younger? Gustafsson isn’t a great skater who isn’t having a great D+1 in the SHL. The Rangers could have drafted him and they passed on him, and if I had to guess, he will probably just end up being a depth guy. Sure, Spacek is a good playmaking wing, but if you want to go by his numbers, Lemieux is ahead of him for his AHL scoring pace and produced in limited NHL minutes this year. Factor in the different skillsets and I can easily see why they go for Lemieux. Virtanen is scoring at the same level as Pajuniemi this season. Look, I didn’t even want to go one year on Hayes to begin with, so this entire situation frustrated me to no end.

Gorton got an NHL body that Maurice never played because of how he rolls his lines. Why did that agent say amateur hour? Hayes has been out there for months so it’s not like these negotiations happened overnight. He got the best value he could for a rental that was never staying long term in Winnipeg. It seems like the main issue is what your expectations were.

 

[E-Train]

Can you imagine the reaction if the deal was Petan and a 1st. Lemieux was on the radar all along. I wanted Virtanen in addition to Lemieux and the pick. A rental in this market was not worth the extra prospect. Gorts did very well, Lemieux could have Ferland upside.

 

[Off Sides]

People want bigger returns?

That's what you get if you trade Kreider or Zibanejad.

Those are probably the only two guys that return a boatload, and in Kreider's case it comes with an extension.

But for all the talk about wanting those kinds of returns, if we actually went that route, a good portion of people (majority?) would absolutely lose their ever-loving minds.

I assume most people would, most of the hot takes should come with syrup.

I was of the belief that the Rangers should have sold Kreider had they been able to get more than rental like returns for him, then I saw the market did not provide that.

I still see the Rangers faced with two not great options, sell him for less than anyone will like (including myself), or extend him to something no one will like after about half of that extension.

Yet given the returns this deadline, they may as well likely have held on to him as the difference between those returns, this deadline versus even next, did not inspire me to say it was a mistake to not sell him.

This deadline no team could have traded for him and instant extended him, maybe that changes his value, maybe the draft is a better market, albeit with one less playoffs, I'm not so sure, yet at the very least I understand the plausibility that them holding on to him this deadline could make more sense.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I missed the game last night, how did he look? It would seem people seem to have liked his game?

You’d be proud.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Won’t lie, loved watching him last night.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Can you imagine the reaction if the deal was Petan and a 1st. Lemieux was on the radar all along. I wanted Virtanen in addition to Lemieux and the pick. A rental in this market was not worth the extra prospect. Gorts did very well, Lemieux could have Ferland upside.

"JEFF GORTON SUCKS AT TRADING. HE TOOK A GUY WHO CAN'T SCORE AT THIS LEVEL, OUT OF THEIR TOP 10 PROSPECTS, HES #10. AGENT SAID AMATEUR HOUR, MUST HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT MY WEBSITE"

I imagine it would have gone something like that.

 

[Machinehead]

You know who else I really loved? Robin Kovacs.

I'm shocked that he couldn't even carve out a career.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

You know who else I really loved? Robin Kovacs.

I'm shocked that he couldn't even carve out a career.

Off ice shit happened.

 

[Machinehead]

Off ice **** happened.

We heard a lot about his shit attitude on the ice and how it was such a tool of his, but apparently he took it with him after the game.

 

[dangsLITE]

Usually when you get a great skater who isn't seen as top line potential, you get someone with terrible to mediocre hands. Lemieux's are actually quite good, and I have a feeling that even if he doesn't score that many goals, he will be able to finish on breakways more consistently than someone like Grabner or Hagelin.

He doesn't have quite that level of speed but think his skillset might translate better to finishing on plays created by his skating ability.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

You know who else I really loved? Robin Kovacs.

I'm shocked that he couldn't even carve out a career.

He’s doing really well in the SHL this year. From a personal maturity stand point, he might’ve been brought over too early

 

[Machinehead]

Usually when you get a great skater who isn't seen as top line potential, you get someone with terrible to mediocre hands. Lemieux's are actually quite good, and I have a feeling that even if he doesn't score that many goals, he will be able to finish on breakways more consistently than someone like Grabner or Hagelin.

He doesn't have quite that level of speed but think his skillset might translate better to finishing on plays created by his skating ability.

Man, imagine like a Hagelin or Grabner but with tons of grit?

That sounds f***ing spicy.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Thought he had a fantastic game yesterday. Reports were right about him never taking his foot off the pedal. He's going to be a great addition to this team moving forward.

The only little thing I saw that needs to be improved is he does seem to go out of position ,especially in the offensive zone, kind of just running around following the puck but that can be easily corrected. He was probably just very eager to be involved yesterday.

Also didn't realize he was as fast as he is.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

If anyone here thinks Jeff Gorton didnt take the best deal he was offered then you are living in a dream world. If anything it shows once again how we value our own players too much compared to the rest of the league. The market spoke and we got the best deal available. Hayes and Zuc are nice players but they arent elite in any way. I wish them well but I'm happy we didnt continue to accept mediocrity and are atleast doing something to try and change things.

 

[Edge]

Like I said, I watched Lemieux extensively before the trade. He was a nondescript prospect. Am I not allowed to voice my legitimate concerns — concerns echoed by the analytics community?

Did anyone on this forum either know Lemieux existed, considered him a legit prospect or coveted him during trade rumor talks? Nope. But magically, one game is all it takes for everyone to anoint him the next Avery.

You can’t deliver a hit if you have possession of the puck. No surprise Lemieux had seven hits.

Now, I say one thing; in fairness, Lemieux was a name that's popped up on here for a while.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Man, imagine like a Hagelin or Grabner but with tons of grit?

That sounds ****ing spicy.

Jake Virtanen
I wish we’d make a move for him, right handed shot too which we severely lack

 

[JimmyG89]

Was at the game last night and Lemieux was noticeable all night. He was unafraid to go to the corners and get to the net.

He dragged the team into that mini brawl that happened where Buch got into the fight.

If we're going to talk about how he has been as a pro, Lemiuex has barely seen the ice in the NHL. He has played less 5v5 minutes than Boo Nieves has this season. He was on the 4th line for Winnipeg, playing mainly with Mason Appleton (36 NHL games) and Jack Roslovic (94 NHL games). It's hard to cut your teeth in the NHL when you get limited ice time. That should not be an issue on this team.

I would have liked to see them go after Petan as well, possibly even in a separate trade, but we didn't.

I believe we're looking at a future 3rd liner for us for a while. We have wing spots open for the taking on this team. It's not the strength of our prospect pool either. He's proven everything he could at the AHL level. We're the team to give him ice time and hopefully it pays off.

Based on style and his build, he reminds me a little bit of Michael Ferland. His draft year player comp was Chris Kunitz. You can see it, but he has a ways to go before he gets to that level of a player.

 

[aufheben]

Re hits: Lemieux had a 9.64 CF% Rel last night. It was his first game here, so I’m not going to assume that was a standard game for him, but he was effective.