Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2023-24: Hotel California
- Thread starter PK Cronin
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leeroggy
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- Jan 3, 2010
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So, if he finishes with 5 goals and 95 assists that’s not an acceptable season?
Let’s say he hits 95 posts and Bailey and Wahlstrom score on the rebounds. Is that a failure? I suspect Throttle might say yes . . .
So would I.
Then you guys can load up on Barzy superlatives like heady, unselfish, cerebral.
leeroggy
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- Jan 3, 2010
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100 points is 100 goals for the team, no matter who put the biscuit in the basket
The Wahligator
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Is what he said not true? Whether his statline is 25-55 or 10-70 he’s still facilitating 80 goals for the team. Not sure what the problem is.
If he ends the season with something like 10-50, THEN we’d have a problem. But until then who cares who’s scoring the goals.
I think a guy getting paid that much money, the highest salary on the team, should score GOALS. I’m just funny that way.
The Wahligator
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It’s really not worth getting worked up over. If Barzal is PPG+, goals or not, this team will be in VERY good shape.
Mike C
Registered User
Seriously, it throws your teams salary structure a bit out of whack if Barzy makes that much to not score goals.
If he really were to have a silly stat line like 1-95-96, that means that one of his wingers likely has 45+ goals. HE would be the guy who should be the highest paid player on your team as he would likely be the team’s leading goal scorer.
Mike C
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SI
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- Feb 16, 2013
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Wait! What is Shattenkirk doing your List?! LOL.
If history shows us anything - Landeskog, Forsberg, Gaudreau, Klingberg all were not dealt and went into the off-season as a UFA.
NOW, there is no way Pasta is going anywhere, so scratch him off that list. I also believe that Larkin is going nowhere.
as for the others Next to Kane Horvat and Larkin - Tank is right there and anyone who loses the Kane sweepstake and can get Tank for a similar price and he would be cheaper in cap, even at 50% of Kane and Tank.
Your being ridiculous- do you really think he is not scoring a goal this season? It’s 10 games in.
The Wahligator
Registered User
We also have a ~35-40 goal 2C, which makes up a bit for Barzal’s lack of goal scoring. Still, points are points and points are goals for the team. Barzal generates offense the best of any of our forwards whether he’s the one putting the puck in the net or not. Non-issue in my book.
SI
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- Feb 16, 2013
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We all get your Barzal criticism but seeing player value only thru lens of goals is quite narrow minded.
I don’t think you only see the game through that and I believe it is your way to still bend the narrative to why Barzal isn’t right for this team.
It is quite transparent.
The team is winning and the team has a strong distribution of goals - Barzal’s goals will come - he may never be a 30 goal scorer but as long as he is driving play, setting up goals, and being fun to watch- I’ll take that.
Throttle
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- Sep 22, 2020
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PJGooch
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- Aug 2, 2005
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Because when he is a complete non-threat to score goals, and the opposition knows his tendencies, it suppresses the potential output for him and everyone around him. Goalies can cheat, defenders can focus on passing lanes instead of leaving position to block a shot. It adds up to goals not being scored by anyone, not just him. Eighty total goals accounted for is great, but it's less great when it should be 90 or 95.
Think how easy the opposing penalty kill is when they know the Isles' best player, who has the puck on his stick the most, is simply not going to shoot.
The Wahligator
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3rd on team in shots, 3 behind team lead. Can’t use that argument this year.
Throttle
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- Sep 22, 2020
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You missed the point, there are a lot of quality UFAs of crappy and soon to be crappy teams this year, a known premium draft year, and with a cap going up. That all says a bunch of those players are gonna test the market.
The past several seasons the drafts were less than what is expected in 2023 and the cap forced players hands on salary and mobility in the league.
If the cap goes up $4-6M, that gives a LOT of room for teams to maneuver cap space and also sign up those UFAs.
And yes, typically premium UFAs resign with their teams, however this summer might be different due to the above.
I’m glad you see what I’m doing because I’m making a point, not bending a narrative. And after this shutout to the Red Wings it’s even more salient than my post from earlier. Mat Barzal was our best player today. His wheels were the only ones going. He sets up his linemates. He takes shots. And nothing goes in. Sooner or later something has to go in the net. Right now he’s on a 12 game goal drought. We bitched (and rightfully so) about Jordan Eberle’s deep slumps. It’s fair to point out Barzal has this streaky history in his game too.
Agents and GMs also see the game through the value of goals. I’m not pushing an agenda. We need Mat Barzal not to fail. I want him to succeed. Mat Barzal is thought of by many here as our best player, and now he’s getting a goal scorer’s salary. I think where he’s going to end up, around 18-55-73, is underperforming for him. And if that’s as good as it gets for Barzal, Lou overpaid him by about $2M/yr.
The Real JT
The percentage you’re paying is too high priced
Mike C
Registered User
That save on Wahlstrom was a good example of your point. Husso was able to edge over and be in position for the shot by Wally. Barzal simply has to take open shots just to keep goalies honest
Mike C
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