More to this point, we’re still waiting for Chytil to maybe emerge as a 2C option, let alone cement himself as an NHL player. Dubois had 61 points as a 20 year old. At Chytil’s current age he had 49 in 69, on a team that doesn’t put up big points.
I keep seeing posters saying PLD isn’t a 1C yet because he was outscored by 34 other centers but you have to keep in mind that those 49 points led his team. He is absolutely already a 1C at 22 years old. The next highest points on his team were 42. The Blue Jackets finished above the Rangers, yet had only 2 forwards and 1 defenseman above 40 points. The Rangers had 5 forwards and two defenseman above 40 points, 4 players above 50, 3 above 70. Do you really think PLD would rank 34th among centers if he played on this roster? I’d wager he’d find himself inside of or right around top 20 in scoring for centers. And he plays a very complete game with both his defense and physicality being above average.
And again, he’s younger than Howden and barely older than Chytil, both of whom we’re being patient for to improve, but we’re acting like PLD wouldn’t continue to improve for several years over the 1C that he already is? 48 points as a rookie, 61 as a sophomore, 49 last year in a shortened season on a team that only had one other forward break 40. He’s basically a lock for 60+ in an offensive system as is and easily projects as a 70+ point two way center.
I’m sorry, but I don’t think Kakko is going to be an above point per game winger. I’m not saying he won’t be a 65-70 point winger with a couple of bigger years mixed in, I’m not nearly as hesitant to move him for a center that is 22 years old as some of you. I wouldn’t do so for a 25+ year old center. But with Laf and Panarin, Kreider and Buch, and then guys like Kravstov, Gauthier, Barron, Berard... if we end up short a top nine winger that’s a lot easier to fill then a 22 year old top center. Wing is our position of strength. RD is our position of strength. I’d be fine dealing from these positions to fill this hole. PLD also insulates us if Zbad prices himself out of town in 2 years. If we’re able to keep both, we have amazing center quality and if Z leaves, you’re not stuck holding the bag hoping Chytil has turned into a top six, let alone top line center because you have no others in the organization.
If you're going to shit on a point that I made on the main board, at least tag me, bud. First, it IS clear that PLD is a better young center than Chytil. That's to be expected when one guy was drafted top 3 and the other guy was drafted in the 20s. I have three concerns with the argument you are putting out here:
1: You make a big deal about how PLD was the highest scoring player on his team (by a slim margin). That says nothing. Was Gomez a 1c in 08/09? Was Dubinsky a 1c in 10/11? They both led their teams in scoring. Columbus is built--as MOST Torts teams are built--to be scoring by committee. Also curious that you focus ONLY on last year. You want to talk about teammates, but somehow leave out the fact that PLD spent the first two years of his career stapled to one of the best players in the league (Panarin). You leave out the fact that yes, while PLD was his team's leading scorer, his most common linemates were Columbus's 2nd, 4th, and 5th leading scorers last year. Chytil? He's never played with top 6 wingers with any regularity. Last year, Chytil's most common linemates were Howden and Kakko. When he skated between Kreider and Buchnevich, his numbers went up exponentially. Chytil also played about 4 minutes less per game than PLD. Again, PLD is clearly the better young center, and if this were Chytil for PLD, then it would be an easy decision, but it isn't. Which begs the question of why you are trying to make your point by comparing PLD to Chytil.
2: The "Columbus factor"--I'm having Rick Nash flashbacks. Everyone thought that Nash would score 90 points if only he got to play with a better team. How'd that work out? Players tend to be what they are. There are cases where a player hadn't been getting a chance (buried on a 3rd/4th line, no opportunity for PP time, etc) and then improve, but if a player gets every opportunity, that's usually who they are, regardless of where they play. PLD has had every opportunity and then some. He came into the league with one of the best players in the world on his left side. He would have that here as well, but we already HAVE a player (Strome) signed for the same length for less money who can put up 60 points with Panarin. Why sell the farm to get something we already have?
3: You, as a LOT of people have been doing, are conflating being stacked on the LW with "we can deal wings because it's a position of strength." We had Jesper Fast on the 2nd line last year. I love the guy, but JESPER FAST. On a line with Panarin. This team has an embarrassment of riches on the LW. Kreider/Panarin/Laf/Lemieux is an absurdly deep left side with three players who could legitimately be seen as top line LWs. The right side is a whole other matter. Right now, Buchnevich is the
only proven RW on the team. We hope--and his pedigree suggests that it is likely--that Kakko becomes another. You then go on to mention another four guys, only ONE of whom has played an NHL game (Gauthier) and he's not even a lock to make the team. RW is this team's 2nd thinnest position after LD. You don't rob Peter to pay Paul. This would also be trading Kakko at his lowest possible value. Bad asset management.
I'm not opposed to getting PLD. He's intriguing as a player, even though I have my worries/doubts (see earlier comments about not showing up against top teams). Between his age and what he's already done, he's absolutely a player I'd roll the dice on. But I don't break the bank. He isn't a 1C yet. He's in that same realm as Stepan was when he was OUR 1c, but on a contender, he'd be an elite 2. If we're going to cash in our assets, I want it to be on something a bit better than that. If we can get him by dipping into one of the team's strengths, that'd be great (Lundkvist/Strome for PLD is something I'd do, for example, as that still leaves us 4 deep organizationally at RD). If not? I'm content to wait for a better option like Eichel.
