He’s been easily our second best skater this playoffs after Trocheck. The passenger on his line has become Panarin and it’s Laffy and Troch driving things. I’m very close to saying he’s our second or third best forward. He’s outplayed Zibanejad and Kreider at even strength all year. If he got their power play time, how much would he score? I’m ready to see the DJ off PP1 and give Laf his spot. Tired of his bum ways, and firing muffins into goalies midsection and slowing down the PP.
As for what he’ll become, my hope the last few years has been he’d become what Buchnevich is. Thats the year by year comparison I’ve been using. Rangers and Blues fans will appreciate that comparison. To others that might sound like an ordinary player, but a 1PPG winger with size, average skating, tons of offensive ability, a solid physical game, and a very good defensive game is kind of my hope. They play a little differently (Laffy is more of a shooter, Buch more of a passer), but a PP1, PK1, PPG winger is very realistic, even if he probably won’t ever contend for a Hart trophy. Huberdeau is another comparison for his ceiling that I’ve used, although they also play the game differently.
