Player Discussion: Ehlers

[Adam da bomb]

I would definitely re-sign Pionk and Apples. I think Pionk and Samberg are showing themselves to be a decent top 4 pairing, competitive. And the two are close, so I think it makes sense to keep them.. The Jets defense doesn't have a lot of depth. I see the potential for Salomonsson to jump up on the top pair, and a bottom pairing of Stanley-De Melo has some value, and is proven. Colin Miller may or may not be part of the future of the Jets, he's only signed for 2 years, so I wouldnt bank on him. Losing a d-man would leave the Jets with zero depth on defense. Lundmark is the only guy who would be in the system next year with any value, so it would be plugs, and if you can pass waivers, you are probably not a top 4 potential d-man. Or even a good NHL defenseman. I do think Heinola may get traded this year to address this issue.

Appleton is the underrated guy on the Lowry line. Lowry has had good numbers with him, and the Jets have made the playoffs every year with that duo being healthy. So that's a chemistry thing for me, where the actual value of the player is relative to his linemates and role.

I don't see Chibrikov and a defensively responsible player to offset Appleton. I think he's a guy who maybe gets on a defensively sound 4th line, and adds some offense on the PP, like Iafallo. Could play his way on to the 2nd line as an injury replacement. I think the Jets need to make room for him, because I don't know if he will do another tour in the A or ask for opportunity elsewhere.

Ehlers is the toughest one for me. The Jets run the risk of spending upwards of $30 million in the future on top 6 wingers (if Perfetti gets a nice raise too) and that gets to be dangerous territory because wingers are generally the easiest to replace. Vilardi is important because he is big and physical and the Jets can't be too optimistic about Barlow being able to fill his shoes. KC is the best pure scorer on the team , when he is on that's when the Jets are most dangerous.

I absolutely love the way Ehlers is playing this year, but I don't know if he can sustainably play that way. Seeing him in the crease poking at pucks, taking shots after whistles, I've waited years for that. That's playing to score goals. Zone entries and all that is nice, but scoring goals takes a bit of courage and some lumps. I don't have a solid opinion on this one, I'll watch it play out.

I've really come to appreciate Namestnikov's game. He's even been a fairly reliable centre on the draw, but I like the way he plays away from the puck, I think his versatility is something the Jets would like to keep.

I'm not the boss, just a fan, and I don't know the inside of the locker room, so I'll trust the qualified people to make the decisions.

I think that you are overrating Appleton. Lowry has always been able to elevate the bottom 6 he is with. They were just as good with Copp, Tanev Lowry.

I think Ehlers is the only player we have a ready replacement for in Lambert.

Villardi is unique, would like a bit more meanness and dirtiness in him after all if you aren’t cheating at that level you aren’t trying hard enough. Look how mean Rantanen is.

The team has decided that Connor is the star so getting him to sign is extremely important.

 

[voyageur]

I think that you are overrating Appleton. Lowry has always been able to elevate the bottom 6 he is with. They were just as good with Copp, Tanev Lowry.

I think Ehlers is the only player we have a ready replacement for in Lambert.

Villardi is unique, would like a bit more meanness and dirtiness in him after all if you aren’t cheating at that level you aren’t trying hard enough. Look how mean Rantanen is.

The team has decided that Connor is the star so getting him to sign is extremely important.

Maybe in regards to Appleton. I think those years where Lowry had to carry Bourque or guys like Vesalainen, Reichel, Poganski made him a substandard 3C. I certainly remember those being the years when people said that the Jets couldn't win with Lowry as a 3C. Who is actually the 2C, in terms of home matchups.

There's also roles to consider. You can't drop all of Appleton, Iafallo and Namestnikov and not replace them with PKers. That's a specific role that everyone's next favourite offensive player can't necessarily replace. Replacing Iafallo with Chibrikov seems feasible, because I would see the PK as Barron-Lowry, Namestnikov-Kupari, Appleton-Connor, with Gus or JAD as an injury replacement, and that's pretty seamless. Take out two more of those guys, without adequate replacements, and I don't see how special teams doesn't suffer.

 

[Adam da bomb]

Maybe in regards to Appleton. I think those years where Lowry had to carry Bourque or guys like Vesalainen, Reichel, Poganski made him a substandard 3C. I certainly remember those being the years when people said that the Jets couldn't win with Lowry as a 3C. Who is actually the 2C, in terms of home matchups.

There's also roles to consider. You can't drop all of Appleton, Iafallo and Namestnikov and not replace them with PKers. That's a specific role that everyone's next favourite offensive player can't necessarily replace. Replacing Iafallo with Chibrikov seems feasible, because I would see the PK as Barron-Lowry, Namestnikov-Kupari, Appleton-Connor, with JAD as an injury replacement, and that's pretty seamless. Take out two more of those guys, without adequate replacements, and I don't see how special teams doesn't suffer.

I also think u can replace apple with Barron. And bring in a league minimum guy for that 4th line role. Give ehlers more pk minutes. Get Nino to pk. Ways to make it work if Appleton wants too much.