I don’t understand why Novak doesn’t get a long leash or more true top six minutes. Is his play away from the puck that bad? He’s a high-level producer in mediocre minutes - is that just who he is always going to be…a guy who loses impact or has too many deficiencies when he gets a bigger load?
Friedman: Predators looking for a center
- Thread starter Scoresberg
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I think he's the kind of guy that thrives against a teams middle six, but if you're expecting him to go against Crosby, Mackinnon, McDavid, Barkov, etc.. he's invisible offensively and incapable of containing them defensively
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
Fatass
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Kat Predator
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He's got superior skills and can carry/move the puck when it's on his stick. He's got a sneaky good shot. So his offensive numbers look pretty good.
But, yeah, the rest of the stuff you need from an NHL centre, he can be a liability.
As far as load, our coaches seem to play favorites. Some players get exaggerated TOI and others, like Novak, get short changed. It's not always clear why that is exactly. Every player seems to come with a very different length leash.
Same reason Fabbro Tomasino and Parssinen are constantly benched, just Brunette things.
Dotter
THE ATHLETIC IS GARBAGE
Does anyone want Red Wings Joe Veleno (24 years old at $2.2m)? Marco Kasper has pushed out a center in Detroit. Copp would be available, but he's overpriced and doesn't have + value.
OgeeOgelthorpe
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I think some of these names are missing the mark. The Preds have plenty of middle 6 and bottom 6 options. Theres no reason for them to entertain the likes of Veleno or Copp.
WolfOfBroadStreet14
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Flyers are short centers also but Frost seems to be on Torts Shit list again this year. He could be a fit.
I am not sure Zib would waive to go to Nash.
That said for discussion purposes:
3 way: Rs / Fs / Ps
step 1
Zib + Lindgren + Vesey + Jones + NYR 2024 1st + 2025 1st to Flyers
with
Sanheim + York + Frost + partially retained Johanson + Ana + Nash 2024 2nds to Rs
= 6 assets for 6
this gives Rs LD w/mo size at 2.25m less per for similar term
step 2
Zib/+ ________ instantly to Preds for ___________________
step 3
Frost + NYR future 3rd for
McCarron + future Nash 2nd
Rs would gamble either
Trochek + Chytil move up
or keep those lines kickin consider Edstrom or other for 1C
this presumes that in addition to pick upgrade and flipping Lindgren {w/2 3rds for 2 2nds somewhere] Preds pay enuf for Zib both Nash + Philly are good
also getting Frost for basically McCarron = upgrade
That said for discussion purposes:
3 way: Rs / Fs / Ps
step 1
Zib + Lindgren + Vesey + Jones + NYR 2024 1st + 2025 1st to Flyers
with
Sanheim + York + Frost + partially retained Johanson + Ana + Nash 2024 2nds to Rs
= 6 assets for 6
this gives Rs LD w/mo size at 2.25m less per for similar term
step 2
Zib/+ ________ instantly to Preds for ___________________
step 3
Frost + NYR future 3rd for
McCarron + future Nash 2nd
Rs would gamble either
Trochek + Chytil move up
or keep those lines kickin consider Edstrom or other for 1C
this presumes that in addition to pick upgrade and flipping Lindgren {w/2 3rds for 2 2nds somewhere] Preds pay enuf for Zib both Nash + Philly are good
also getting Frost for basically McCarron = upgrade
I never said understood the Duchene buyout. I understand getting rid of vets if you’re rebuilding/retooling which at the time was true. But buying him out obviously didn’t add any assets and the buyout cap hit is 5.5M this year and 6.5M next year. May as well have just kept in around and hope he could maintain his level of play which he has with Dallas. I’ve heard Trotz didn’t like him and Johansen’s more relaxed lifestyle maybe but still buying out Duchene seemed very short sighted. Now they’ve ultimately replaced him cap wise with Stamkos who’s a winger and isn’t any better at this stage.
I don't think O'Reilly comes here if Duchene is still here. I think it was more of a locker room thing. He didn't really play center either way.
glenngineer
Registered User
From what I've seen, he and Stamkos don't seem to mesh well as a duo. I liked that they played Stamkos, Nyquist and Novak together last night but it still had some issues. I'd like to see ROR center Stamkos and Nyquist with Novak between Forsberg and Marchessault. I think that could work.
Kat Predator
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I like the idea of Stamkos with ROR, but a line of Forsberg, Novak, and Marchessault would be weak defensively, eh?
benfranklin
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Another guy who, like Stamkos, is preferred on the wing
And he's phenomenal at the face-offs. He doesn't play the middle of the ice after the face-off though
glenngineer
Registered User
Fil and March are responsible, especially Fil. I also think this narrative that Novak is bad defensively is a bit of an over reaction. You know how our fan base is. Suter was an All-Star and Olympian and people still compared him to his first season or two where he wasn't all that great yet hung on that belief.
Is Novak ever going to be Bergeron, absolutely not but if you've got the puck more than the other team, do you have to be great defensively?
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Scoresberg
Perpetual Mediocrity
I am intrigued by Zegras although we could probably leave Hinds and Gibson off that trade. And also, considering the type of players Trotz and Bruno seem to value, I don't think Zegras would be a good fit in Nashville, especially at center.
Pius Suter for a 2nd, cost controlled can play up and down in lineup, 2 way guy that suits Preds system
Trotz spent 20 million in free agency and didn’t get the one position this franchise has been lacking since inception. Well done trotzy
BB88
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