The Zetterberg Era
Ball Hockey Sucks
How big of a gap in PPG is significant enough to matter? I'm looking at PPG since 17/18 and Barzal has been pretty solid producing at a .89 clip. Toews at .85, Seguin at .89, Backstrom at .90, ROR at .85, William Karlsson at .79. Larkin has put up .83 ppg. The difference between Larkin and Backstrom is about 20 points. Over 3 seasons. With Larkin being on significantly worse teams with less help. If Toews, Seguin, Backstrom, ROR, and Karlsson can be guys who lead their teams at center to the Cup finals and multiple playoffs, I'm not sure why Larkin couldn't. If he elite? No, he's not McDavid, Crosby, etc. But neither are Seguin. Or Backstrom. Or ROR. Or Karlsson.
We don't necessarily need a guy who produces better than Larkin at center. We need someone to slot in behind him that is pretty close. Or a wing who can slot in on that second line who can work as the center (even if I don't like that set up).
I think they are a great second line on a contender, I think the reality is when it is time to do some winning, Bertuzzi is the guy that isn't going to be up that high in the lineup. It isn't really Larkin or Mantha that don't have top line ability to me. I love Bert and his game, I like that he can play up the lineup and I think there is a ton of skill to him. But for me he isn't a top line winger. They have great chemistry, but I think one of our building moments with now three big time skill wingers is going to be Larkin and Mantha getting one of the young guns at some point and that really being the line shortly. We will see though, because I can see the argument for Raymond and Zadina running a line together with Ras/Veleno/Trade/Draft Pick/UFA. But I think people get locked into this.
Larkin might not be a top 15 center, I don't think he is all that far off though. He has the ability to dominate. He was good after he got over the injuries to start the year. I am curious to see how he responds to the C next year. I agree you don't really need more than him. What you likely need is another guy in a similar stratosphere as Larkin though behind him. Think Bergeron/Krejci as an example. But we will have to see how the next couple drafts or free agency goes. I believe Mantha and Larkin have 1st line talent and play at that level often enough for me. I think Bert is still more your 2nd/3rd line tweener that can play up and down the lineup.
Had we drafted Byfield it is likely Larkin would have taken the most forward minutes anyway. People can get locked into first or second line, they can be fluid on certain teams. Larkin needs help, the guy doesn't need to be better than him, but he needs to have more than just his line rolling over the boards that can hurt you, which was the problem last year not really him or his line.
@AintLifeGrand welcome aboard. There have been brighter times in the franchise and actually darker times, but just barely on the darker ones. The Wings have a ways to go, some nice pieces and the lots of flexibility right now for building. We are going to need some luck and a few more developments that are hard to guess. It is an organization with a proud history and I am always glad to hear about another fan making the right decision and rooting for my favorite team in all of sports.
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