C Adam Fantilli - (2023, 3rd, CBJ) Part 2

[Isaac Nootin]

The season isn’t as young for everyone. Michkov has played 14 games for Sochi (and 1 for SKA). He’s 1PPG exactly for Sochi. He’s on pace for the best D+1 season ever in the KHL. That league has had a very long and successful history of producing NHL superstars.

Just a small point, but the KHL hasn't been what it once was in years past. The level of play has really dropped off, especially the last few seasons.

 

[BB88]

But you are missing here. Michkov was great and played with huge smarts, khl players were never on the draft because its hard for them, even for Kucherov. Kucherov level winger is more important and Kucherov even more successful on nhl level than mostly any modern nhl player. Its okay to say "first center is important and is okay reason to draft" but when you call them "more important" than winger of Kucherov level talent (or may be even more) you just lie to yourself.

You think Colorado is trading Mackinnon for Kucherov?
Or Edmonton would trade Drai for Kucherov?

I didn’t say 1st line center is more valuable than any winger in the league don’t write it like I did.
I said top5 or C in that range gets traded for absolutely no one

& again why on earth is it given Michkov will be like Kucherov while Fantilli and Carlsson end up below their ceiling?

Michkov hitting Panarin or Gaudreau level would be massive, but guess what?
You don’t build a team around either.

As great as Kaprizov is Minnesota would be scarier with Mackinnon instead

 

[Guadana]

Just a small point, but the KHL hasn't been what it once was in years past. The level of play has really dropped off, especially the last few seasons.

It isn't. Young players still have the same problem to play in khl, euro players still there, scoring rate close to the same, north American players are there and actually the same amount, real talented euros who left khl are 6-8 players, only lopss is jokerit, and even they were not top dominant team. Mhl level is getting better and better, belorussian players starting to be bigger part of nhl draft day is a huge mark that khl level is getting even much stronger, because belorussian players are close to be a part of mhl khl hockey system.

When you are saying KHL not the same, you are making mistake because you are not watching it and you don't know what are you talking about. Like any other "expert". But every "Michkov is producing because KHL is not the same" copioneer will understand mistake when Michkov will join NHL and will adapt.

 

[stevo61]

You think Colorado is trading Mackinnon for Kucherov?
Or Edmonton would trade Drai for Kucherov?

I didn’t say 1st line center is more valuable than any winger in the league don’t write it like I did.
I said top5 or C in that range gets traded for absolutely no one

& again why on earth is it given Michkov will be like Kucherov while Fantilli and Carlsson end up below their ceiling?

Michkov hitting Panarin or Gaudreau level would be massive, but guess what?
You don’t build a team around either.

As great as Kaprizov is Minnesota would be scarier with Mackinnon instead

Because its easier to cause a stir if the prospect they like reaches their maximum potential and ours doesnt.

Should probably be off worrying about how much better Stutzle is than Laf

 

[BB88]

It isn't. Young players still have the same problem to play in khl, euro players still there, scoring rate close to the same, north American players are there and actually the same amount, real talented euros who left khl are 6-8 players, only lopss is jokerit, and even they were not top dominant team. Mhl level is getting better and better, belorussian players starting to be bigger part of nhl draft day is a huge mark that khl level is getting even much stronger, because belorussian players are close to be a part of mhl khl hockey system.

When you are saying KHL not the same, you are making mistake because you are not watching it and you don't know what are you talking about. Like any other "expert". But every "Michkov is producing because KHL is not the same" copioneer will understand mistake when Michkov will join NHL and will adapt.

KHL has and has had plenty of players dominating who wouldn’t stand a chance in the NHL.

You can hide your weaknessess easier there, kt isn’t as unforgiving for your skating as NHL would be. That level of defensive effort wouldn’t be accepted by a real NHL team

 

[Guadana]

You think Colorado is trading Mackinnon for Kucherov?
Or Edmonton would trade Drai for Kucherov?

I didn’t say 1st line center is more valuable than any winger in the league don’t write it like I did.
I said top5 or C in that range gets traded for absolutely no one

& again why on earth is it given Michkov will be like Kucherov while Fantilli and Carlsson end up below their ceiling?

You think Tampa Bay will trade Kucherov? Especially if he is healthy? Do you think Ottawa would trade Stuzle for Robertson? Do you think Dallas will trade Robertson for Stuzle?

It is working greatly in other way. Reason why I'm saying thats okay to draft great center over elite winger. And in the same time its okay to admit that elite winger is better in vacuum. CBJ hardly need in center, I understand why they drafted Fantilliz they would not find any center with this level of talent in the next drafts. Kaprisov and Panarin can't crack the limit because of their weak teams, Kucherov did and did it greatly, better than most very talented centers, but because he had great teammates centers. Without centers it doesn't work. Was he more important? Yes, he was. Kuznetsov isn't top center and wasn't, but he was good enough to help Ovechkin win the cap, without him they can't. Is Ovechkin better player? Ofcourse. But without Kuznetsov they wouldn't won it, and some teams won it without Ovechkin. Centers are really important, even if some wingers are really better then them. When this teams with good centers have elite wingers - watch out. Kucherov and Ovechkin.

 

[BB88]

Because its easier to cause a stir if the prospect they like reaches their maximum potential and ours doesnt.

Should probably be off worrying about how much better Stutzle is than Laf

Are we sure it isn’t still too early to tell?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Because its easier to cause a stir if the prospect they like reaches their maximum potential and ours doesnt.

Should probably be off worrying about how much better Stutzle is than Laf

You think I’m not aware and don’t say it routinely that Lafreniere isn’t what he was expected to be? I don’t agree when people say he’s a bust or that the Rangers should give him away for free, but yes obviously he’s not what he was billed as.

Why is this some type of team war and why do people attempt to make it personal instead of just responding specifically to the points being made?

It’s not personal. No need for anyone to take any of this stuff too seriously. We are debating hockey. All of us are all amateur pundits.

 

[Guadana]

KHL has and has had plenty of players dominating who wouldn’t stand a chance in the NHL.

You can hide your weaknessess easier there, kt isn’t as unforgiving for your skating as NHL would be. That level of defensive effort wouldn’t be accepted by a real NHL team

We are talking about young players. Every league has dominant players who is average or vet for this leagues, but can't crack NHL. Again you are messing with facts.

 

[BB88]

You think Tampa Bay will trade Kucherov? Especially if he is healthy? Do you think Ottawa would trade Stuzle for Robertson? Do you think Dallas will trade Robertson for Stuzle?

It is working greatly in other way. Reason why I'm saying thats okay to draft great center over elite winger. And in the same time its okay to admit that elite winger is better in vacuum. CBJ hardly need in center, I understand why they drafted Fantilliz they would not find any center with this level of talent in the next drafts. Kaprisov and Panarin can't crack the limit because of their weak teams, Kucherov did and did it greatly, better than most very talented centers, but because he had great teammates centers. Without centers it doesn't work. Kuznetsov isn't top center and wasn't, but he was good enough to help Ovechkin win the cap, without him they can't. Is Ovechkin better player? Ofcourse. But without Kuznetsov they wouldn't won it, and some teams won it without Ovechkin. Centers are really important, even if some wingers are really better then them.

For value Stutzle brings more than Robertson.

& what nonsense are you writing?

Top5C is more valuable than a top5 winger, they bring so much more to the table when it comes to winning and playing in the playoffs.

Kuz was the real MVP the year Caps won the Cup, he was the catalyst for that team, not Ovy.

& no one would see Minnesota the same if they had Mackinnon over Kaprizov.
Or Rangers with Mackinnon instead of Panarin.
They are part of the problem, elite talents but especially Panarin not a player you build around

We are talking about young players. Every league has dominant players who is average or vet for this leagues, but can't crack NHL. Again you are messing with facts.

I’m saying it’s easier to hide your weaknessess in the KHL than it is in the NHL, be a vet or a kid.

That last years game from Michkov would get nowhere in the NHL, nowhere.

 

[stevo61]

You think I’m not aware and don’t say it routinely that Lafreniere isn’t what he was expected to be? I don’t agree when people say he’s a bust or that the Rangers should give him away for free, but yes obviously he’s not what he was billed as.

Why is this some type of team war and why do people attempt to make it personal instead of just responding specifically to the points being made?

It’s not personal. No need for anyone to take any of this stuff too seriously. We are debating hockey. All of us are all amateur pundits.

You are clearly trying to stir the pot because you like Michkov more. Most dont. You are trying to say Fantilli has been disappointing because his stat sheet says so or hes played a couple games on the wing. He's not been disappointing at all. You dont even need Columbus fans saying it, look at the Minnesota/Anaheim and fans of whoever else talking about how noticeable hes been. Then to top it all of you bring up low end comparables for Fantilli and high end for Michkov. What if Michkov becomes Zherdev and Fantilli becomes MacKinnon?

 

[HanSolo]

Sorry, but your examples make no sense. Most of those players either had very good rookie seasons or weren’t high draft picks.

If Fantilli or Carlsson are comparable to the rookie seasons of players like Slafkovsky, Lafreniere, Kakko, Dach, why shouldn’t they be scrutinized?

This was a scenario where their teams passed up on the best Russian prospect since Ovechkin and Malkin.

I’m not saying they are going to be good or bad. Look how Carlsson had a goal in his first game. He could turn around and score 25 points this year. It’s too early to know, but the idea that it doesn’t matter how they are doing and we gotta wait a few years to discuss how they’ve been doing makes no sense. The pressure has to be on, given the talent at the top of this draft.

Stop being intentionally obtuse. I'm not saying people shouldn't pay attention to how these kids are doing, but jumping to conclusions about one of them only having two points in five games is over the top. Especially when the underlying proposition is that a kid who hasn't even played in the NHL was the better pick at 3rd overall and the former's first five games in the NHL somehow lends credence to that proposition.

As to my examples I really don't think it matters to my point that not all of them were top 3 picks. They're superstars in the league now. The point is not supposed to be looking at rookie production in a bubble because my point is the exact inverse. Whether Fantilli or Carlsson score 25 points, 50, or 90, it wouldn't tell us anything about who will be better of the guys selected after Bedard when these guys are settled and developed.

We're not going to know exactly how elite these players will be until they hit their primes and in Michkov's case we won't know how he looks in the NHL for at least a couple more years. So you really can't make the comparison one way or the other just based on a small sample of start-of-career stats against Michkov's current KHL production. There's too many factors to consider like quality of competition, deployment, difference in ice surface, opportunity, quality of teammates. It's all speculative unless you're a hockey analytics savant who watches every minute these respective players play, and no one on HFboards is that.

As to Fantilli for purposes of this thread, only having two points in 5 games means very little for what he could one day become. Hence the examples. It could take him until he's 22-24 to really take off and if it turns out that once he really hits his prime he's a 100 point player while Michkov is only an 85 point player, hypothetically speaking, all the handwringing over these first five games will mean f*** all. I really don't know how to elucidate my point more than that.

 

[Guadana]

For value Stutzle brings more than Robertson.

& what nonsense are you writing?

Top5C is more valuable than a top5 winger, they bring so much more to the table when it comes to winning and playing in the playoffs.

Kuz was the real MVP the year Caps won the Cup, he was the catalyst for that team, not Ovy.

Weak answer. It is your view without arguments.

Top 1 Ovechkin was more important than some number 5 center.

For Ottawa Stuzle is more important. For Dallas Robertson is more important with what they are having. You can ask most of fans of both teams, its not that hard.

Again, it is your view with Ovie and Kuznetsov.

Words about going nowhere is fun too. Sorry, but you can believe in this thing, its okay. Its the same if I would say "he would be ppg player right from the start) sorry, but it doesn't work even if you will repeat it three times. Players with iq of Bedard and Michkov will always find a moment once or twice in the game to create real chances, even if they can't be competent enough. And we are talking about draft and potential. Im not the man who blame 18yo kids in nhl for their game. You are messing it again and again.

So I don't think we are going somewhere here, if you are believing, you can do it. I understand it.

 

[BB88]

Weak answer. It is your view without arguments.

Top 1 Ovechkin was more important than some number 5 center.

For Ottawa Stuzle is more important. For Dallas Robertson is more important with what they are having. You can ask most of fans of both teams, its not that hard.

Again, it is your view with Ovie and Kuznetsov.

Words about going nowhere is fun too. Sorry, but you can believe in this thing, its okay. Its the same if I would say "he would be ppg player right from the start) sorry, but it doesn't work even if you will repeat it three times. Players with iq of Bedard and Michkov will always find a moment once or twice in the game to create real chances, even if they can't be competent enough. And we are talking about draft and potential. Im not the man who blame 18yo kids in nhl for their game. You are messing it again and again.

So I don't think we are going somewhere here, if you are believing, you can do it. I understand it.

Everyone that watched that run knows how lights out Kuz was.

Are you drafting for skill or need now?

Because I say I’d rather have prime Stutzle than prime Robertson if Stutzle keeps this development.
Just like I’d rather have Mackinnon over Panarin/Kaprizov if I’m building a team from the start.
As you should probably say you pick the player you think will be more valuble in his prime, the needs of a team will change constantly

I’m sorry that it hurts that your golden boy isn’t perfect or isn’t the same as Bedard either.
Michkov definitely wasn’t an NHL ready player last season again I’m sorry having to say that.

You saying he could be ppg isn’g based in any reality where as pointing out his flaws is based on actually following him and seeing it on tape and getting called out by scouts as well.

 

[Guadana]

Everyone that watched that run knows how lights out Kuz was.

Are you drafting for skill or need now?

Because I say I’d rather have prime Stutzle than prime Robertson if Stutzle keeps this development.
Just like I’d rather have Mackinnon over Panarin/Kaprizov if I’m building a team from the start.
As you should probably say you pick the player you think will be more valuble in his prime, the needs of a team will change constantly

I’m sorry that it hurts that your golden boy isn’t perfect or isn’t the same as Bedard either.
Michkov definitely wasn’t an NHL ready player last season again I’m sorry having to say that.

I would agree with you, but Dallas fans can not. And my point was different. I would easily prefer Mckinnon over Panarin. But over Kucherov? This is a different conversation.
If I have Point/healthy Stamkos? Easily Kucherov. If I don't? Its McKinnon.
I'm not "draft for need" and I'm not "draft for talent". And even you are not. We are have different preferences of the balance of this things. So let's imagine if Bedard with his talent and iq but is a true winger only? As Columbus I could prefer Fantilli over Bedard and Michkov. Or may be not - for me its okay to think about it. As ... Devils? With Hughes and Hishier and I would draft winger Bedard and Michkov easily. Even without Hughes I would prefer Michkov over Fantilli if I have only Hischier. If I don't have Hughes and or Hischier(like jackets)? Its okay to draft Fantilli.

Michkov is NHL ready this season. This is what we are talking about. If you think "he wasnt" you are wrong because we are having actual games and he is competent enough. Fantilli wasn't great on WC last year, but on my taste he is good enough to play in nhl now. When you are using "golden boy" epithet, you are bot making good job for yourself. I don't think about Fantilli or Carlsson as bad players, not nhl players, mediocre players etc. Be more classy, please.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Why is this some type of team war

The kickoff to this “war” was you coming in here saying Fantilli is nowhere near the prospect of Michkov and the Blue Jackets (and others who passed on him) should be publicly shamed and laughed at for passing on him. You literally started this narrative. You came in guns blazing and were met with the response.

If you came in here talking about Fantilli and just mentioned at some point in it that you preferred Michkov, you might have gotten some push back, but it wouldn’t have been like this. You started all of this.

 

[HairyKneel]

Why are we still talking about Michkov in here?

Because a clown who probably can’t even skate keeps bringing him up.

I like how all these “experts” who’ve watched a few games on their couch and have cheesie dust all over their face are able to educate everyone about 18 year old prospects.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You are clearly trying to stir the pot because you like Michkov more. Most dont. You are trying to say Fantilli has been disappointing because his stat sheet says so or hes played a couple games on the wing. He's not been disappointing at all. You dont even need Columbus fans saying it, look at the Minnesota/Anaheim and fans of whoever else talking about how noticeable hes been. Then to top it all of you bring up low end comparables for Fantilli and high end for Michkov. What if Michkov becomes Zherdev and Fantilli becomes MacKinnon?

I never said not playing center every game means he's disappointing. You are misinterpreting what I'm saying if you are taking that as something I'm saying. The reason why your team supposedly could not draft Michkov is because you needed a center. If Fantilli isn't always a center, does the team need a center that badly? I'm asking. Maybe there's something I'm missing about this.

And the stat sheet matters. To argue otherwise is crazy. For my team, Kakko is great defensively and has great analytics, but the dude doesn't put up enough points. The big separator with him and Hughes is the points. Hughes scores a million points. Could score 100 this year. He's going to be one of the leading scorers in the league for a long time. Kakko scores like a low-end second line player.

Now obviously I'm not saying that Fantilli won't be able to put up a lot of points and potentially he will be doing so this season, but if we are looking at a player who is a slow-burn type where he's going to progress from 25, to 30, to 35, to 40, and maybe when he's like 25 he reaches his potential, obviously that's unlikely to keep up with Michkov. I'm not saying that will be the case, but it's a slow start. The stat sheet matters a lot. I don't know how you can try to argue he's actually doing great and not putting up big totals means he's doing as expected. Anyone who tries to make an anti-points argument knows they're fighting a losing battle.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Stop being intentionally obtuse. I'm not saying people shouldn't pay attention to how these kids are doing, but jumping to conclusions about one of them only having two points in five games is over the top. Especially when the underlying proposition is that a kid who hasn't even played in the NHL was the better pick at 3rd overall and the former's first five games in the NHL somehow lends credence to that proposition.

As to my examples I really don't think it matters to my point that not all of them were top 3 picks. They're superstars in the league now. The point is not supposed to be looking at rookie production in a bubble because my point is the exact inverse. Whether Fantilli or Carlsson score 25 points, 50, or 90, it wouldn't tell us anything about who will be better of the guys selected after Bedard when these guys are settled and developed.

We're not going to know exactly how elite these players will be until they hit their primes and in Michkov's case we won't know how he looks in the NHL for at least a couple more years. So you really can't make the comparison one way or the other just based on a small sample of start-of-career stats against Michkov's current KHL production. There's too many factors to consider like quality of competition, deployment, difference in ice surface, opportunity, quality of teammates. It's all speculative unless you're a hockey analytics savant who watches every minute these respective players play, and no one on HFboards is that.

As to Fantilli for purposes of this thread, only having two points in 5 games means very little for what he could one day become. Hence the examples. It could take him until he's 22-24 to really take off and if it turns out that once he really hits his prime he's a 100 point player while Michkov is only an 85 point player, hypothetically speaking, all the handwringing over these first five games will mean f*** all. I really don't know how to elucidate my point more than that.

This discussion started when he had 1 point in 4 games. It's now continued into a time he has 2 points in 5 games. Whether it's 1 in 4 or 2 in 5, that's a little bit of a slow start for a player that was talked up as a Calder Contender. Of course no one is saying it's permanent or a huge point of worry yet, but it's kind of something to watch out for, considering the high expectations. We should know in the next few weeks to next month or two where all these rookies look like they are trending in their rookie season.

I also don't know how it's being held against Michkov that he hasn't yet played in the NHL. Why can't we look at how he's doing in the KHL? Tell me this, have any of the last 5 or so superstar young forwards from the KHL not become at least like top 6 players? The idea that it's some complete lottery how good he'll become because he's not playing in the NHL immediately makes no sense to me.

The other thing is that I am not disagreeing that we won't know for many years who turns out the best, but I just don't get the idea that in this draft where it was viewed as the best top 5-10 of a draft in forever that the scrutiny about how each of the players are doing and the pressure that comes with picking one over the other shouldn't start immediately. Of course, no one is calling anyone a bust after a few games. You are right that it will take years for us to know who was right, who was wrong, what decisions were the right call and which were a mistake. At the same time, it just seems like some people want like a dilution of discussion for the time being to take all the pressure off who their team's picked. If I was a fan of a team that had one of these picks, I would be on pins and needles right out of the gates for this season. I would want to observe closely with an open-mind what is unfolding as opposed to blindly putting faith and backing the cause of what my team did.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

The kickoff to this “war” was you coming in here saying Fantilli is nowhere near the prospect of Michkov and the Blue Jackets (and others who passed on him) should be publicly shamed and laughed at for passing on him. You literally started this narrative. You came in guns blazing and were met with the response.

If you came in here talking about Fantilli and just mentioned at some point in it that you preferred Michkov, you might have gotten some push back, but it wouldn’t have been like this. You started all of this.

Well no, I am neither a Flyers or Blue Jackets fan. I'm quite literally a neutral to this that is just giving my opinion on this situation.

I don't see how you've deduced from my posts that I'm saying the Blue Jackets should be publicly shamed and laughed at. You (and other CBJ fans) are trying to distort my arguments into saying I'm calling Fantilli a bust because I think it's important to actually scrutinize how each player is starting their D+1 as opposed to acting like there's nothing to discuss here, and he'll have the season that he has and you'll love him regardless. I never said either that anything is decided. These are completely red-herring arguments.

Trying to make this out to be that I'm some fan-boy that is coming in here to pump up my guy and put down your guy when it's really a level playing field is wrong. My opinion as a neutral is that these players were never equal level hockey players. One is putting up another historic season. The other is a player that I think will become a very good hockey player, but I think we're seeing that maybe he isn't some immediate NHL superstar and he's like most of the players we've seen play in their D+1 that can't light the league up from their first game. I think it will take him time. Feel free to tag me if I'm wrong. I got nothing against the Blue Jackets or Fantilli.

 

[TLEH]

Pre-war Michkov was the better prospect. The war DID happen, he DID NOT interview with all teams. No one in their right mind is taking a guy at 3 whose country is in the middle of a war, who wouldn't interview with you.

Full stop. Anything else is delusion. Also its been 14 games for Michkov and 5 games for Fantilli. Neither are large enough sample sizes to make any sort of bad season or historic season comments.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I guess the NHL is still a pretty hard league for 18/19 year olds. Who could've guessed?

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Trying to make this out to be that I'm some fan-boy that is coming in here to pump up my guy and put down your guy when it's really a level playing field is wrong

I never called you a fan boy or a Flyers fan. I don’t know you. However, the fact you are certain and adamant on this so much that teams deserve to be hated on for it, it’s not exactly “neutral” either. All I can go off of is your initial post. Which was…

People here were saying he’s as good as Michkov.

Michkov is PPG player in the KHL this year.

Nothing is proven yet, but Fantilli probably needs to score 40-50 for that to be remotely considered plausible. If he scores 25 points, I don’t know why only Reinbacher gets hate for his team passing on Michkov. Same stuff should apply for Fantilli and Carlsson.

Nobody said anything about Fantilli-Michkov for months. You did. The conversation was about how he was playing and then you came in and “overshadowed” his first NHL goal.

You came in with a sledgehammer and were returned with one.

You are free to feel how you feel and people are free to call you out on that. The personal insults aren’t right, but your posts are also overly aggressive too.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

Well no, I am neither a Flyers or Blue Jackets fan. I'm quite literally a neutral to this that is just giving my opinion on this situation.

I don't see how you've deduced from my posts that I'm saying the Blue Jackets should be publicly shamed and laughed at. You (and other CBJ fans) are trying to distort my arguments into saying I'm calling Fantilli a bust because I think it's important to actually scrutinize how each player is starting their D+1 as opposed to acting like there's nothing to discuss here, and he'll have the season that he has and you'll love him regardless. I never said either that anything is decided. These are completely red-herring arguments.

Trying to make this out to be that I'm some fan-boy that is coming in here to pump up my guy and put down your guy when it's really a level playing field is wrong. My opinion as a neutral is that these players were never equal level hockey players. One is putting up another historic season. The other is a player that I think will become a very good hockey player, but I think we're seeing that maybe he isn't some immediate NHL superstar and he's like most of the players we've seen play in their D+1 that can't light the league up from their first game. I think it will take him time. Feel free to tag me if I'm wrong. I got nothing against the Blue Jackets or Fantilli.

Could have fooled me… you have a weird obsession with hate towards an 18 year old. It’s actually quite creepy.

Well no, I am neither a Flyers or Blue Jackets fan. I'm quite literally a neutral to this that is just giving my opinion on this situation.

I don't see how you've deduced from my posts that I'm saying the Blue Jackets should be publicly shamed and laughed at. You (and other CBJ fans) are trying to distort my arguments into saying I'm calling Fantilli a bust because I think it's important to actually scrutinize how each player is starting their D+1 as opposed to acting like there's nothing to discuss here, and he'll have the season that he has and you'll love him regardless. I never said either that anything is decided. These are completely red-herring arguments.

Trying to make this out to be that I'm some fan-boy that is coming in here to pump up my guy and put down your guy when it's really a level playing field is wrong. My opinion as a neutral is that these players were never equal level hockey players. One is putting up another historic season. The other is a player that I think will become a very good hockey player, but I think we're seeing that maybe he isn't some immediate NHL superstar and he's like most of the players we've seen play in their D+1 that can't light the league up from their first game. I think it will take him time. Feel free to tag me if I'm wrong. I got nothing against the Blue Jackets or Fantilli.

Fantilli has more points than PLD did 5 games into his first season and he turned out alright…

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I never called you a fan boy or a Flyers fan. I don’t know you. However, the fact you are certain and adamant on this so much that teams deserve to be hated on for it, it’s not exactly “neutral” either. All I can go off of is your initial post. Which was…

Nobody said anything about Fantilli-Michkov for months. You did. The conversation was about how he was playing and then you came in and “overshadowed” his first NHL goal.

You came in with a sledgehammer and were returned with one.

You are free to feel how you feel and people are free to call you out on that. The personal insults aren’t right, but your posts are also overly aggressive too.

If you took my use of the word "hate" towards the rhetoric surrounding Reinbacher and the Habs, I see how you could've viewed it that way, but I wasn't saying that they should be publicly shamed, laughed at, or that Fantilli should be called names.

I think it's a discussion surrounding these players that should be taking place and these players should be scrutinized for how they are doing compared to each-other. That's all.

Do I think the terms should be positive towards the decision Columbus made? No, but I see though how you might've took that term the wrong way. I meant it as a figure of speech, not literal hate.