He carried us in the playoffs and almost beat the Lightning by himself. Pacing 40 goals and 90 points is not a genuine elite 1C?
This discussion is bizarre.
All of the guys I mentioned also put up those kind of numbers. They are/we’re all elite. They just also got to play “in the shadow” of a bigger star - team’s game plan for MacKinnon and Makar and then Rantanen runs wild. Crosby was always top focus when healthy. Every team tried to shade Ovechkin and take away that option which left Backstrom more space to operate - with less spotlight and pressure.
What I’m saying is that Mika may be every bit as elite as you say but he would benefit from an alpha type to take pressure and attention off of him. He’d probably hit the net more. He’d honestly probably produce even more (not that I have a problem with his production). Panarin isn’t that guy. He should be with his numbers and cap hit, but he isn’t. And paying someone 11.6M to not be an actual play driving, pace dictating threat that other teams have to plan to neutralize is a problem.
I guess my point was simply that some guys are better suited to the “elite sidekick” role than being the top dog. It doesn’t mean they’re not still elite. It means they’re at their best when someone else is getting all of the attention and they can just play their game.
There is no “top dog” in our forward group. No put the puck on my stick, I’m the threat every night, every shift, other teams have to plan for me type. So Mika has to be that guy when he’s just not really built to be. Everything you said is true - production is great, PKs, plays the most minutes. I’m not taking any of that away from him.
Panarin was supposed to be a superstar at 11.6M - he’s an irresponsible floater who racks up assists but does not take over games or dictate play. If (in a dream world) you reallocated 11M to any one forward with a top dog, alpha superstar mentality in the league, Mika becomes even better, IMO, because then he isn’t being asked to be “the” guy.
You can be an elite talent without being able to handle top billing. Kessel was at one point, but he preferred being a sidekick. Look what Nylander has been able to break out into in the shadow of Matthews/Marner. Does Rantanen turn out as elite if MacKinnon isn’t the main focus and engine on that offense? Does Draisaitl ever have the seasons he’s had if he was drafted to a different franchise and asked to be their go to guy? Backstrom had a hall of fame career but never had to be “the man” in Washington.
It’s not an insult to say Mika isn’t cut out to be the top dog on a championship team. It doesn’t mean he’s not an elite center. I’m just trying to say he’s forced to be THE guy when he’d be better as “that other guy”. There are plenty of elite supporting players who are still elite despite not being the main focus of their opponent.
nypost.com
