Yeah, prime Wheeler was definitely very much in the mode of Rick Nash when it came to skating. He was such a big hulking guy that it didn't look like he was skating very fast but he would routinely burn players every single game. Even still, watching him last season, this is a guy who sure has lost a step but he his foot speed is still more than fine and his smarts and skill can more than make up for it in the right system and with the right line mates. Wheeler even at 37, for an 800k AAV is an absolute heist.
Not from a team in the postseason race. Wouldn't shock me if he already talked to Drury about it. He can get the extension in the new year.
It is under market for him. His market was probably 2m. It's fine. I still don't think he's a fit here and one of my initial issues was that I said he would be crammed into a top 6 role and the pp. You're saying he's going into the top 6. If you think laffy and wheeler are on line 2 with Vinny or chytil then you're saying the other like will be panarin zib and kakko which just doesn't work. If wheeler was coming here to be the 3rw then that's fine but he's not. And what 38 year old that hasn't won a cup isn't chasing a cup? How is there any stock put in that comment? It's like talking about a rookie and saying "he's really trying to make the team." Absolute shocker that a guy without a ring would like to get one bc the teams he has led haven't been able to get it done.
Weird then that he was stripped of his captaincy and then tried to talk back at a coach through the media when the team was properly called our for no showing in an elimination game. Call me negative but that not what I'm looking for in a personality to add to a room half filled with entitlement already.
Laffy is going into season 4 as a 1oa pick. If he can't be in a top 6 role then get him out of here. If you need him on the low then figure it out w Kreider and panarin and one switching sides now. If you are looking at wheeler to be a top 6 then there will be burnout happening in February.
He went to a playoff team with an obvious hole at rw that he knew he would get a top 6 rw job rather than potentially being pushed down a lineup where he is now better suited at this point in his career. Players want to play and ice time matters, but he's not at a point of his career that he can manage those minutes like he use to.
bingo, and halfway through the season we will hear that the issue all season was his stick was 1/2" too long. That was beyond comical when they tried to promote that about boyle's struggles
If he destroys Brooks during a postgame press scrum, then he'll have earned his entire $800k!
Can't hurt to try it. So far so good.
Probably the only line that had any chemistry. Maybe we can get another complete line if Kakko gets a chance to stick with Kreider and Zib.
We shouldn't have to work this hard to figure out which 2 players should be on a line with someone as naturally gifted as Panarin, but it is what it is...
People here are going to underrate this kid until they wake up one day a year or two from now and Will is their favorite player.
He has things we need. He is young. He is big. He is coachable. He has a year of AHL experience. He is not a pushover. He probably will never score 50 goals but he has been a 20 plus goal scorer at every level so far. With any luck he will be one in the NHL also. When all is said and done it was a really nice pickup for Lias.
