My thoughts from the moment we got Chychrun was move Chabot for a Zub or a better Zub. 5 AAV RD. If you can find one. Big. Physical. Pair the 2 stay at home RDs with the two PMD LDs and put the 3 AAV saved to use elsewhere.
I probably would have done it last summer with the idea of needing the cap for Pinto.
Where we are now, I'd want to know the Chychrun is staying.
It has more to do with the makeup of the team.
We can debate whether having Chabot on the PP over Chychrun or Sanderson is an upgrade or a sideways move or a downgrade. But it's at least a discussion with multiple points of view. Whatever one's view, running the PP with Chychrun and Sanderson wouldn't be a huge loss.
Then you have to look at overall balance. Maybe one of those LD becomes good on the right side. Maybe not. But if I could get a quality defensive defenceman they are cheaper than guys that post points. So I think you most likely could get a better balance in your pairs, be equal or better defensively, not lose anything on the PP and have 3M in cap space
I get it. Chabot is a pretty good player. But I think given what we've got, the play is moving him.
Fair enough. Personally I don’t view Chychrun as better than Chabot as an overall player, though I love having both for sure.
I think Chabot is currently our best creative player in the O zone, best transition forward, and fastest player on D. Too many attributes to give away for a brute to simply stabilize on the right.
I bet a smart coach plays Sandy on the right side with Chabby or Chych, and Zub with the other. We can run Kleven and JBD on the bottom pairing eventually as they continue to develop.
The problem with trying to trade for a good RD is that you have to over pay for the talent level because of position.
I think Sandy is a guy who is smart enough, elusive enough, and positionally sound enough to be that guy. Let Sandy transition the puck on one pair, and Chabby on the other pair and we’re good.
The problem with saving money to allocate elsewhere is that it isn’t an asset unless you find a way to use it effectively.
Spending more on bottom of the roster players who don’t play many minutes and don’t cost much for what they bring is a waste when we already have enough cap space for those players, and we have kids that need the opportunities we have and look to have the potential to fill those spots well, cheaply.
Downgrading on talent for position also seems like downgrading the team, when one of the LD guys should be able to mature at RD.
Throw in that Chabby is a core player and associate captains of the team and you’re looking at making a move that downgrades the team in several areas on and off the ice to free up money for no reason.
Gotta try the simplest things first, and at the end of the day should really try a new coaching staff as well before trading away a player of Chabot’s calibre for a guy like Larsson as an example.
