Player Discussion: Neal Pionk Part 2

[DRW204]

 

[10Ducky10]

I thought Chevy was over paying him!!! Boy was I out to lunch...

 

[snowkiddin]

I thought Chevy was over paying him!!! Boy was I out to lunch...

My favourite part about the trade was everyone was panning Chevy for the move (myself included) but it now looks like he ended up ripping NYR off. Hard. Love to see it.

 

[ps241]

To be fair to Trouba, I think he's largely suffering the same fate as Pionk did last year in certain respects. He's (Trouba) a capable top pairing D which I'm not convinced Pionk is just yet (he's young yet and may get there). So under similar usage on largely similar teams they both struggled. So Trouba's lack of production this year is likely related to going to a lesser team that has defensive struggles. He was never going to be a savior but then neither was Pionk.

Partly because of circumstance I think the Jets are using Pionk in the appropriate pairing for his current abilities and he's doing well with the reduced responsibilities relative to his time in New York. That's making his numbers look pretty good, in addition to substantial power play time. But I consider him to be playing on the second pairing more often than not, not the top pair. If he truly is playing in the top pair for this team, he's doing remarkably well considering how for much of the year many of our forwards have been rather allergic to playing team defense (not of late perhaps).

I also agree that Morrissey is missing Trouba quite badly. I think there's more to it (injury effects) but he had a really solid partner that balanced him very well in Trouba. We're still a better team with Trouba here.

The trade looks like it will end up working out quite well for us, particularly given the circumstances around Trouba's departure and his handcuffing of the team. And in a salary cap era it might well be for the best as it allowed us greater flexibility in signing our young forward studs.

There was a pretty good article in the Athletic about how Trouba and Morrissey are both missing each other. I think quality of partner is a pretty big thing when you are playing against the other teams best. Poolman is a 6-7 type NHL talent and Josh has had to play way too many minutes with him on the top pair.

That being said Morrissey was trending up before his injury. I look at this as an adjustment season for Josh and I think he will continue to improve his results once he is paired with Demelo.

 

[Jet]

My favourite part about the trade was everyone was panning Chevy for the move (myself included) but it now looks like he ended up ripping NYR off. Hard. Love to see it.

I wasn't

 

[KingBogo]

I wasn't

Me neither.

 

[MrBoJangelz71]

While Pionk has been excellent this and one of the best surprises this season, Trouba is still the better player, imo, regardless of the stats.

But if this trade netted us 2 dmen that are slightly below Trouba, and both are cheaper , then we win this deal.

I actually think Pionk can grow his game. If we can improve the partner he plays with next year, along with providing a consistent partner, not this revolving carrousel of partners, could help in that regard.

 

[Whileee]

While Pionk has been excellent this and one of the best surprises this season, Trouba is still the better player, imo, regardless of the stats this season.

But if this trade netted us 2 dmen that are slightly below Trouba, and both are cheaper , then we win this deal.

I actually think Pionk can grow his game. If we can improve the partner he plays with next year, along with providing a consistent partner, not this revolving carrousel of partners, could help in that regard.

Pionk has been better this season, at much less cost. That's already a strong positive, since the Jets would have had to move out another player otherwise. Timeframes are short in the NHL, so a season on the + side of the ledger is significant.

 

[Jet]

There was a pretty good article in the Athletic about how Trouba and Morrissey are both missing each other. I think quality of partner is a pretty big thing when you are playing against the other teams best. Poolman is a 6-7 type NHL talent and Josh has had to play way too many minutes with him on the top pair.

That being said Morrissey was trending up before his injury. I look at this as an adjustment season for Josh and I think he will continue to improve his results once he is paired with Demelo.

Also, when you consider Pionks lack of NHL experience I think he's doing extremely well and there's nothing to suggest he won't continue to get better, whereas Trouba probably peaked.

 

[ps241]

Also, when you consider Pionks lack of NHL experience I think he's doing extremely well and there's nothing to suggest he won't continue to get better, whereas Trouba probably peaked.

Two things I did not anticipate this season were Pionk’s level of play and Harkins dropping out the sky.

 

[KingBogo]

Also, when you consider Pionks lack of NHL experience I think he's doing extremely well and there's nothing to suggest he won't continue to get better, whereas Trouba probably peaked.

I'm not sure where his ceiling will end up? He is offensively gifted, and was able to show case it this season as things played out. He is currently tied for 9th in league scoring for defenseman which is very impressive. He is on pace for 53 points this season and likely has the potential to be the rare 60 point defenseman within a couple years. Doing it with strong underlying numbers is as equally impressive. I'm hoping he really likes his situation in Winnipeg and Chevy gets him on a reasonable long term deal this summer.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

Me neither.

Have you ever criticized any move made by the Jets?

 

[larmex99]

Two things I did not anticipate this season were Pionk’s level of play and Harkins dropping out the sky.

You anticipated Buff bugging out the day before camp started? Wow! The force is strong within you......

 

[KingBogo]

Have you ever criticized any move made by the Jets?

Yup. But I do it by asking questions and trying to figure out the underlying rational. And when I disagree I merely suggest what I'd prefer, advocate for it then and leave it at that since I have no control over making changes. For example I advocated every off season after Trouba held out we should trade him as the return would drop with each passing season. I've advocated over and over that Scheifele and Laine should always play together. I was even fine with firing Maurice if the intent was to hire a forward thinking coach rather than another old school dinosaur. I realize advocating for something through discussion is in direct contrast to those who like to yell, scream and ridicule things they dislike.

 

[ps241]

You anticipated Buff bugging out the day before camp started? Wow! The force is strong within you......

Two was not meant to be my entire list. The only red flag for me on Buff was when he did it play in that summer tournament in Minneapolis.

 

[Jet]

Yup. But I do it by asking questions and trying to figure out the underlying rational. And when I disagree I merely suggest what I'd prefer, advocate for it then and leave it at that since I have no control over making changes. For example I advocated every off season after Trouba held out we should trade him as the return would drop with each passing season. I've advocated over and over that Scheifele and Laine should always play together. I was even fine with firing Maurice if the intent was to hire a forward thinking coach rather than another old school dinosaur. I realize advocating for something through discussion is in direct contrast to those who like to yell, scream and ridicule things they dislike.

Exactly.

Having the maturity to understand you don't know what you don't know is lacking here.

 

[larmex99]

Two was not meant to my entire list. The only red flag for me on Buff was when he did it play in that summer tournament in Minneapolis.

Just pulling you leg, mate!

 

[Jet]

I'm not sure where his ceiling will end up? He is offensively gifted, and was able to show case it this season as things played out. He is currently tied for 9th in league scoring for defenseman which is very impressive. He is on pace for 53 points this season and likely has the potential to be the rare 60 point defenseman within a couple years. Doing it with strong underlying numbers is as equally impressive. I'm hoping he really likes his situation in Winnipeg and Chevy gets him on a reasonable long term deal this summer.

His defensive acumen and physical play were eye openers to me

 

[Adam da bomb]

The trade sort of reminds me of the sergachev as Drouin was highly thought of and Serg came out of nowhere to be the better player.

 

[ps241]

Just pulling you leg, mate!

All good!

 

[ocdaddy]

Exactly.

Having the maturity to understand you don't know what you don't know is lacking here.

Shall we bow down and kiss your ring, sir?

 

[Jet]

Shall we bow down and kiss your ring, sir?

If you wish

 

[Whileee]

I'm not sure where his ceiling will end up? He is offensively gifted, and was able to show case it this season as things played out. He is currently tied for 9th in league scoring for defenseman which is very impressive. He is on pace for 53 points this season and likely has the potential to be the rare 60 point defenseman within a couple years. Doing it with strong underlying numbers is as equally impressive. I'm hoping he really likes his situation in Winnipeg and Chevy gets him on a reasonable long term deal this summer.

Yup. My hope is that he and Samberg become a really solid 1b level pairing.

 

[KingBogo]

Yup. My hope is that he and Samberg become a really solid 1b level pairing.

Yup. The Hermantown boys just might be a really good fit with each other.

 

[Whileee]

This season, Pionk compares favourably to Krug. Sort of the same role and style, too.