Player Discussion: Rasmus Kupari

[Bob E]

Kupari never could contribute too much offensively for the Jets. Just brought high end speed which left you wanting him to contribute more with the skating gifts he has. Oh well, good luck in Switzerland.

Edit: Centre depth took another hit. Signing Toews would help that out, ideally.

 

[Gil Fisher]

Oh

Maybe for a team in Switzerland right?

that quote was two years ago. did you have it filed away?

 

[Buffdog]

Kupari never could contribute too much offensively for the Jets. Just brought high end speed which left you wanting him to contribute more with the skating gifts he has. Oh well, good luck in Switzerland.

Edit: Centre depth took another hit. Signing Toews would help that out, ideally.

Kind of a wash with Barron switching to C towards the end of the year... still have Gus at 4C, or sign someone in UFA for that role (if Toews goes elsewhere)

 

[Xavier Laflamme]

Both were drafted in the first round ... I'm pretty sure at least one of them will be a top 6 centre.
It would not surprise me either if Chevy trades one of them for a top 6 centre with term at the draft.

Well we would hope at least one of them does both skill guys with top 6 C potential but we all know it's not even close to being guaranteed, mid to late first rounders don't always work out like we would hope.

As for trade yeah also possible, I wouldn't be against trading Lambo but his stock is not exactly soaring right now.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

In the sense that we need top six centres yeah we really do, Lambo and Yager are it for top 6 centre potential in our pipeline, once Scheifs declines we are in trouble unless one of these two can step up to the plate.

Yes, we certainly need a top 6 C or two. I don't see the top 6 C potential in Lambert. At least not yet.

 

[WolfgangPuck]

Best wishes in Lugano.
Probably best for him to develop where he can have more playing time
Do we still have his NHL rights in 2 years?

 

[Daximus]

Yes, we certainly need a top 6 C or two. I don't see the top 6 C potential in Lambert. At least not yet.

We could honestly use a solid 3 top 6 Cs. Scheif is the only true top 6 C right now. Perfetti is unlikely to be that at this point, Lambert and Yager are our best hope but they are medium potential top 6 C's at best. And neither are likely to return a top 6 C in a trade without something more substantial like Samberg going the other way.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

We could honestly use a solid 3 top 6 Cs. Scheif is the only true top 6 C right now. Perfetti is unlikely to be that at this point, Lambert and Yager are our best hope but they are medium potential top 6 C's at best. And neither are likely to return a top 6 C in a trade without something more substantial like Samberg going the other way.

3 MORE top 6 Cs, on top of the 1 we have?
Right now, I would be happy with 1 more. I'm optimistic for Yager. Not so much for Lambert. And Yager is still a couple of years away, at best.

I haven't completely given up on Perfetti yet, but agree it is unlikely.

I think that Samberg alone, or with a small add, should return a 2C, but I wouldn't trade him. Bird in the hand. I also wouldn't trade Salomonsson or Yager. All other futures would be available. Still probably doesn't get it done though.

 

[Daximus]

3 MORE top 6 Cs, on top of the 1 we have?
Right now, I would be happy with 1 more. I'm optimistic for Yager. Not so much for Lambert. And Yager is still a couple of years away, at best.

I haven't completely given up on Perfetti yet, but agree it is unlikely.

I think that Samberg alone, or with a small add, should return a 2C, but I wouldn't trade him. Bird in the hand. I also wouldn't trade Salomonsson or Yager. All other futures would be available. Still probably doesn't get it done though.

3 including the 1 we have. It would be nice to have at least 3 in the top 6 in case of injury.

Edmonton has McD, Drai and RNH. Florida has Barkov, Bennett and Reinhart. I feel like ideally having 3 guys that can play C in your top C is the way to build a true contender. It also allows you to roll 3 scoring lines if you wish and have a shutdown 4th. Rather than the typical 2 scoring lines, shutdown 3rd, 4th grinding lines that less deep teams tend to have.

It opens up a lot more options having 3 guys you can slot in. Right now we basically have 1.

I'm not sure if Samberg alone returns a top 6 C. Possibly an older one but it's doubtful we could find a taker that has a developed top 6 C of or around a similar age that would trade one for a shutdown LHD.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

3 including the 1 we have. It would be nice to have at least 3 in the top 6 in case of injury.

Edmonton has McD, Drai and RNH. Florida has Barkov, Bennett and Reinhart. I feel like ideally having 3 guys that can play C in your top C is the way to build a true contender. It also allows you to roll 3 scoring lines if you wish and have a shutdown 4th. Rather than the typical 2 scoring lines, shutdown 3rd, 4th grinding lines that less deep teams tend to have.

It opens up a lot more options having 3 guys you can slot in. Right now we basically have 1.

I'm not sure if Samberg alone returns a top 6 C. Possibly an older one but it's doubtful we could find a taker that has a developed top 6 C of or around a similar age that would trade one for a shutdown LHD.

In terms of trade returns top 6 is too generic. We need a 2C, which is a top 6 C but not a 1C. Samberg should return a 2C, maybe with a small add. Maybe straight up. But, like I said, I would not do that trade. Dmen at that level are just as hard to get as 2Cs.

 

[Daximus]

In terms of trade returns top 6 is too generic. We need a 2C, which is a top 6 C but not a 1C. Samberg should return a 2C, maybe with a small add. Maybe straight up. But, like I said, I would not do that trade. Dmen at that level are just as hard to get as 2Cs.

I wouldn't do it either but I also can't think of a single team that is likely to also make that trade. It's the old "we could definitely get X if we traded Y" but no one can think of a single scenario where that could happen. So we obviously definitely can't. Our only hope is to draft some, we have 2 potentials and a long shot right now. Unlikely we find that player in this draft as well. More often than not you find those players at the top of the draft. So the most likely scenario for us getting a solid top 6 C or 2C at this rate is by being bad enough to draft one or being in the right place at the right time with the right assets to trade for one. A trade for one is most likely someone on the opposite side of 30 with limited to no trade protection as a rental and hoping they like it here enough to stay.

 

[Buffdog]

I wouldn't do it either but I also can't think of a single team that is likely to also make that trade. It's the old "we could definitely get X if we traded Y" but no one can think of a single scenario where that could happen. So we obviously definitely can't. Our only hope is to draft some, we have 2 potentials and a long shot right now. Unlikely we find that player in this draft as well. More often than not you find those players at the top of the draft. So the most likely scenario for us getting a solid top 6 C or 2C at this rate is by being bad enough to draft one or being in the right place at the right time with the right assets to trade for one. A trade for one is most likely someone on the opposite side of 30 with limited to no trade protection as a rental and hoping they like it here enough to stay.

The other option is a reclamation project... I liked the idea of Josh Norris before he was dealt, and I'm still curious about Dach

You have to go into a deal like that hoping it'll be a homerun but expecting it not to be... and to pay accordingly

 

[Daximus]

The other option is a reclamation project... I liked the idea of Josh Norris before he was dealt, and I'm still curious about Dach

You have to go into a deal like that hoping it'll be a homerun but expecting it not to be... and to pay accordingly

Yeah that's the kind of thing we have to find. Someone on waivers or someone whose just potentially undervalued or not being utilized correctly and trade for them without giving up much.

As far as trading for that player we likely need to target someone whose on a bad team, had bad usage but still shows some promise. And then somehow exploit them when their value is low.

 

[DRW204]

that quote was two years ago. did you have it filed away?

It's on the first page

 

[Buffdog]

Yeah that's the kind of thing we have to find. Someone on waivers or someone whose just potentially undervalued or not being utilized correctly and trade for them without giving up much.

As far as trading for that player we likely need to target someone whose on a bad team, had bad usage but still shows some promise. And then somehow exploit them when their value is low.

Chevy has done a good job with that with guys like Demelo, Names and Nino.. but we need to hit on a guy whose potential is much higher

 

[Hunter368]

Not big deal imo, easy to replace internally and externally

 

[Bob E]

3 including the 1 we have. It would be nice to have at least 3 in the top 6 in case of injury.

Edmonton has McD, Drai and RNH. Florida has Barkov, Bennett and Reinhart. I feel like ideally having 3 guys that can play C in your top C is the way to build a true contender. It also allows you to roll 3 scoring lines if you wish and have a shutdown 4th. Rather than the typical 2 scoring lines, shutdown 3rd, 4th grinding lines that less deep teams tend to have.

It opens up a lot more options having 3 guys you can slot in. Right now we basically have 1.

I'm not sure if Samberg alone returns a top 6 C. Possibly an older one but it's doubtful we could find a taker that has a developed top 6 C of or around a similar age that would trade one for a shutdown LHD.

Ideally Vilardi would be that player who could transition over to C for a different look or when injuries occur, like Reinhart and RNH do. But Arnie doesn't seem to like either Vilardi or Perfetti in that role. So, we definitely need 2 top 6 C's and hope that a guy like Yager gives us crazy depth in a couple of years and offers options when we have to transition from Scheif and Lows as they age out. Nelson would have helped a bit, but he's going to age out quickly too.

Reinhart is pretty much a full-time RW now and stapled to Barkov's wing. Nice when you have two forwards that can win a Selke while the other garners lots of votes. But don't worry, the Panthers are fine with Anton Lundell developing into a top 6 caliber C that's defensively sound as well.

 

[SUX2BU]

Best of luck, cupcake

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Probably best for him to develop where he can have more playing time
Do we still have his NHL rights in 2 years?

At age 25 I don’t think there’s a whole lot of developmental upside, and moreover I don’t see any skills to develop. Dude can skate like the wind and that’s about it.

Even with QO to retain his rights, I suspect he’s played his last game for the Jets.

 

[surixon]

Ideally Vilardi would be that player who could transition over to C for a different look or when injuries occur, like Reinhart and RNH do. But Arnie doesn't seem to like either Vilardi or Perfetti in that role. So, we definitely need 2 top 6 C's and hope that a guy like Yager gives us crazy depth in a couple of years and offers options when we have to transition from Scheif and Lows as they age out. Nelson would have helped a bit, but he's going to age out quickly too.

Reinhart is pretty much a full-time RW now and stapled to Barkov's wing. Nice when you have two forwards that can win a Selke while the other garners lots of votes. But don't worry, the Panthers are fine with Anton Lundell developing into a top 6 caliber C that's defensively sound as well.

This org for whatever reason hasn't had any patience for living with the growing pains of integrating a C in the top 6 since Scheifele.

We've had a number of young players who could have played C like Copp or Roslovic go on to play center full time in other markets. Vilardi looked good at times as a C in LA and I still maintain Cole plays like a center and should be able to handle the job but this org just doesn't give any these players a legit shot. Instead the org takes a very conservative approach in terms of playing vet centers above their capabilities or spends assets on real short term fixes.

Perhaps the org needs to reevaluate what it values in that position or expand their comfort zone. Sometimes you need to let a player show that your projections of them are incorrect.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Aside from Teemu Selanne, Teppo Numminen and Patrik Laine, the Jets have not had a lot of success with Finns (and Laine hasn't gone on to much success since leaving here). I guess Armia was fine.

But Jokinen, Miettenen, Luoto, Maenalanen, Vesalainen, Niku, Heinola, Kupari...eesh. Can Brad Lambert turn it around?

Maybe his very un-Finnish sounding name will save him.

Has HF Jets reached quorum on Heinola being a whiff? I think I’m almost there…

 

[Eyeseeing]

Another nonproductive forward who skated well.
Glad he took the decision away from Chevy

 

[Daximus]

This org for whatever reason hasn't had any patience for living with the growing pains of integrating a C in the top 6 since Scheifele.

We've had a number of young players who could have played C like Copp or Roslovic go on to play center full time in other markets. Vilardi looked good at times as a C in LA and I still maintain Cole plays like a center and should be able to handle the job but this org just doesn't give any these players a legit shot. Instead the org takes a very conservative approach in terms of playing vet centers above their capabilities or spends assets on real short term fixes.

Perhaps the org needs to reevaluate what it values in that position or expand their comfort zone. Sometimes you need to let a player show that your projections of them are incorrect.

I think we know exactly what the org values in the C position. Size, skating and ability to win board battles. You gotta check those boxes. If you don't you won't get much of a shot. I'd imagine Barron gets more of a shot due to having those attributes than anyone else currently on the roster or in the system.

 

[bustamente]

I don't see Lambert as a centre if he is to make this team for the upcoming season it will probably be as a 3rd line winger replacing Apples.

 

[Daximus]

I don't see Lambert as a centre if he is to make this team for the upcoming season it will probably be as a 3rd line winger replacing Apples.

Even then if we sign Rashevsky, he likely has the inside track on that role.