Going forward: Holloway vs Protas vs Marchenko

[amnesiac]

who would you take going forward of the big 3 breakout stars?

 

[ViD]

Protas looks like a player that you can’t bet against

Still, I voted Marchenko as a blatant homer

 

[stevo61]

Ill say Marchenko. Dynamic and responsible in his own end. Slowed down with the broken jaw and wearing a bubble but still been a beast.

All 3 have had great seasons but I'd be the most comfortable expecting the same level or more from Marchenko moving forward.

Protas has been a wild surprise. Dudes goal total has matched his previous career high in points alone. Will be interesting to see what his point totals look like moving forward, can he keep in up or does he settle in somewhere a bit lower

 

[Coffee]

the future

Fantastic poll

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Marchenko is incredible.

 

[DatDude44]

Love all three.

Holloway brings a physical and freakish forechecking edge with his size and speed combo that I think puts him over the top, not to mention he’s been over a PPG since Monty has taken over and gets it done in 2nd line deployment not top line and does the major bulk of his scoring at 5v5. His puck skills and smarts are honestly underrated too. Hes been wildly impressive since late November.

Marchenko probly the most purely skilled of the bunch and Protas might be the smartest of the bunch.


Clearly I’m a biased blues fan tho haha. All three players I believe are legit tho and will sustain success

 

[centipede2233]

Marchenko.

 

[GRob83]

If Protas ever develops even the slightest bit of a mean streak and finds a way to play the body without cheating too much on defensive positioning, the threat alone would be terrifying. He's an absolute gargantuan. Can't wait to see him play with his brother in the near future.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Protas’s contract is highway robbery at this point.

 

[Jetcetera]

Crazy the poll is completely deadlocked

 

[HFpapi]

I'm going Marchenko here because I think he's the one with legit star/super star potential whereas I just see the other two being really good top liners.

Just purely a gut feel here but I think Marchenko can have a Kucherov-like (but also Kucherov-lite) kind of career progression. Come in with little notice or fan fare. Have a break out season (last year) where ppl sit up and take notice and say "ok, didn't know you had it like that," takes another step forward close to ppg (this season) and people are like wow ok he's a stud but then just never stops improving and keeps hitting higher and higher completely unforeseen heights.

Now he will not get to Kucherov heights with Ross trophies and Harts and 140 point seasons but I think he could become like a 90+ point super star.

 

[majormajor]

Marchenko's talent level is clearly higher. He's also got the best underlying stats to support his scoring totals. He might become a consistent 90 pt guy, we'll see.

I think Protas is very good but he's obviously riding a heater and those goal totals will come down. Rush scoring like that can fade.

Holloway is very good and I love his total package for the game, his build and his energy, but I would expect him to settle in closer to 70 pts and I'd give Marchenko better odds of being a 90 pt guy.

 

[dahrougem2]

Holloway is 6'1, 205. He's not small by any means but he's one of only six players in the league either at or on pace to get 25+ goals and 150+ hits.

I don't know if that kind of playing style is sustainable long term unless you are an absolute menace size wise, and he isn't.

I would take Marchenko here.

 

[BKarchitect]

I think Protas has the most unicorn combo of physical parameters and skill set (not saying “most skilled”) of the trio…so despite the unsustainable goal heater this year, I think the overall impact he has on the ice is not only sustainable - but something that is just being scratched. Unique, unique player.

As a supporter of recognizing the elevation of both Holloway and Marchenko as real breakout stars in the main forum - I also appreciate anybody picking them though too.

 

[Sasso09]

This might be the best poll i've seen in the 16 years i've been here... I changed my mind to each player when thinking about it.

Marchenko is the best now
Holloway imo is the most talented
Protas IMO has the highest ceiling


I think that size of Protas ultimately is too hard to turn down. He's "big for nothing" in the sense he's not very physical or mean but if that trait develops, he's going to be a problem

 

[Sasso09]

Love all three.

Holloway brings a physical and freakish forechecking edge with his size and speed combo that I think puts him over the top, not to mention he’s been over a PPG since Monty has taken over and gets it done in 2nd line deployment not top line and does the major bulk of his scoring at 5v5. His puck skills and smarts are honestly underrated too. Hes been wildly impressive since late November.

Marchenko probly the most purely skilled of the bunch and Protas might be the smartest of the bunch.


Clearly I’m a biased blues fan tho haha. All three players I believe are legit tho and will sustain success

Holloway is by far the smallest of the 3, but i do agree his talent and puck skills overall are grossly underrated. He's not as flashy as Marchenko but i think he has the most overall talent.

 

[ToastedRavioli]

Holloway is 6'1, 205. He's not small by any means but he's one of only six players in the league either at or on pace to get 25+ goals and 150+ hits.

I don't know if that kind of playing style is sustainable long term unless you are an absolute menace size wise, and he isn't.

I would take Marchenko here.

There is not really a wrong answer for this poll but this reasoning is super odd lol.

 

[dahrougem2]

There is not really a wrong answer for this poll but this reasoning is super odd lol.

How is it super odd? Players who have a super physical style of game don't tend to hold up long term. They can have great careers but unless they adjust, once they hit 30 it's usually downhill.

That concern isn't there with a player like Marchenko.

 

[ToastedRavioli]

How is it super odd? Players who have a super physical style of game don't tend to hold up long term. They can have great careers but unless they adjust, once they hit 30 it's usually downhill.

That concern isn't there with a player like Marchenko.

He's 23. Even if the Blues sign him to a max extension this summer that would only take him to 32 years old. His play degrading in his thirties from potential physical play today isn't really a meaningful factor in deciding who you'd rather have when that concern is a decade out. I think downgrading a player's value for having an extra facet of his game is odd. He's not only an offensive threat, he can grind teams down and play stellar defensively.

Holloway has been playing on a line right now with Brayden Schenn who has been a physical offensive threat for 16 seasons and is still putting up solid numbers at age 33. I have no issue with anyone picking Marchenko or Protas here, there really is no wrong answer. I just don't think Holloway having another positive aspect in his play that the other two don't is a negative.

 

[Coffee]

This might be the best poll i've seen in the 16 years i've been here... I changed my mind to each player when thinking about it.

Marchenko is the best now
Holloway imo is the most talented
Protas IMO has the highest ceiling


I think that size of Protas ultimately is too hard to turn down. He's "big for nothing" in the sense he's not very physical or mean but if that trait develops, he's going to be a problem

Seriously!

@amnesiac I always tag you in form of questions or requests. Now I'm just tagging you to tell you that you're very appreciated on these boards. Thanks for high level threads year in year out.

 

[Killakirillthethrill]

Could definitely go either way, but I'd have to go with Marchenko!
All 3 have an arguement going forward, and have bright futures for sure!

 

[dahrougem2]

He's 23. Even if the Blues sign him to a max extension this summer that would only take him to 32 years old. His play degrading in his thirties from potential physical play today isn't really a meaningful factor in deciding who you'd rather have when that concern is a decade out. I think downgrading a player's value for having an extra facet of his game is odd. He's not only an offensive threat, he can grind teams down and play stellar defensively.

Holloway has been playing on a line right now with Brayden Schenn who has been a physical offensive threat for 16 seasons and is still putting up solid numbers at age 33. I have no issue with anyone picking Marchenko or Protas here, there really is no wrong answer. I just don't think Holloway having another positive aspect in his play that the other two don't is a negative.

Because those types of players tend to rack up injuries and if they don't, tend to slow down even prior to the age of 30 and if you remove that physical dimension then it takes away a huge part of their game that they now must make up for in other areas, and it's no guarantee they are able to.