The last guy that fit that "desperate to off-load" thing was Kap and this team dealt the 15th overall for him.
I can't f***ing stand the thought of this team paying another smaller, 40-50pt, middle-6 winger $5 million with term. I know you've got a soft spot for Garland, but I'm pretty much the opposite end of the scale as far as he goes. Hope he's dealt before this team even has a chance to make an offer, tbh.
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Dude, it's not a soft spot. He's literally excellent at 5v5. 7% worse than Guentzel for his career, who is historically a great ES player. He has a 15% better career rate than Zucker and Rakell.
And his defense, while not special, is much better than a lot of the guys people want, like Bertuzzi or Barbashev's. It's like mid-level, which is a big step up from Zucker in that regard. I'd prefer it if L2 didn't get cratered again.
I don't suggest acquiring players based on feelings. Never have. I just look at the numbers and probability of fit.
The dude just hit 46 points with Sheldon Dries as his primary Center.
A GOOD player at what we need our winger to do.
Nobody is coming here and putting up 60+ points in a PP2 role. Zucker couldn't scrape 50 points during the best even-strength season of his career. PP2 was brilliant, yet it still wasn't enough.
If you're looking for a 60+ point player then you're gonna have to pay a higher AAV, and it will have to be someone that the coaching staff would put on the 1st unit in Letang, Guentzel or Rakell's stead. I'm totally down with that, but let's hear some names that fit that bill.
Or that guy fills in during lengthy injuries on the 1st unit. Also possible, but that's luck based for him.