Marek and Friedman have said that the few healthy Av's usage (Makar and Ranatanen in particular) could cost the Avs in the near future if those guys get hurt or burned out.
Chychrun is more than just an offensive defenseman.
Roster thread: Get To Work (2022-2023 Season)
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Marek and Friedman have said that the few healthy Av's usage (Makar and Ranatanen in particular) could cost the Avs in the near future if those guys get hurt or burned out.
Chychrun is more than just an offensive defenseman.
Ekholm falls outside the commentary for having players in their competitive window/age range. Chychrun does not. Since they don't have the players to "block" on the defensive side, it's an augmentation.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
There is a difference between asking whether Dahlin can play at his best playing the minutes he has so far this season and saying it is hurting his development.
I do think burnout from playing too much is something to be slightly worried about. And upgrading over Bryson/Clague/Boosh should be something that Adams is looking at to make the team better.
I just do not expect that the TOI/GP for those three guys to change too much. And I really do not think it is hurting development.
The tough part with Chychrun is that you are going to be paying a premium in trade because of the offensive numbers he puts up. And he is unlikely to get 3 min/GP in PP time in Buffalo.
One thing that adding Chychrun would do is give Granato a lot of options.
He could go with either of these pairings depending on the situation:
Samuelsson-Dahlin
Power-Chychrun
Clague-Jokiharju
Samuelsson-Dahlin
Power-Clague
Chychrun-Jokiharju
2024 instead of 2023 with nadeau and a 3rd so 2024 1st + bloom + nadeau + 3rd should be enough for ekholm 2 b prospects a 3rd and first seems close we also have 2nds if need be also have neuchev who should have some value as a prospect
Do they want a RD or LD? The already have a RD who has been mostly okay with Power in Jokiharju and a third pairing RD in Lyubushkin who has struggled with injury and some very third-pairing plays. If it is a LD, they have Clague who has looked okay in offensive deployments as Power's caddy but has struggled elsewhere and Bryson who has struggled since the injury bug spiked his TOI in a fashion that he hasn't reset his game. The weaker pair of players are the LD.
Improving the third pair is then living with style complaints about the Power-Jokiharju pairing who are going to give up goals like Beniers' GA3 last night since neither are a mangler in front of the net in the least.
Improving the third pair is then living with style complaints about the Power-Jokiharju pairing who are going to give up goals like Beniers' GA3 last night since neither are a mangler in front of the net in the least.
Chychrun - great fit to me. Just because he could take or split time on the PP with Power doesn't mean he's not a fit. I mean, having too much of a skill isn't a problem. He's good defensively and like @Jim Bob posted, can be slotted on 2nd or 3rd pair as needed. The only issue is cost and next contract, which is definitely worth some tough consideration.
Fabbro - I just don't see him being a significant add. He costs a lot less because he's not going to be much impact. Seems like a cheap move with little result.
Ekholm - great in the short-term but not a long-term player. Won't "grow" with the team, and might be a cap anchor in 2-3 years. Still a heavy price despite that.
Basically I don't see any perfect options, or anyone near perfect that's actually available (Peeke, Roy, Graves). I don't expect a move (regardless of any potential options) and we're going to be wasting a lot of energy talking about something that won't happen...like usual.
I'm putting my hopes into Ryan Johnson and maybe drafting Reinbacher, with on-ice improvements at least 1-2 years away. I'm not bashing KA in general, but whether it's orders from above or his own patience or reluctance to pay futures in a trade, I just don't see him making a move we want.
Fabbro - I just don't see him being a significant add. He costs a lot less because he's not going to be much impact. Seems like a cheap move with little result.
Ekholm - great in the short-term but not a long-term player. Won't "grow" with the team, and might be a cap anchor in 2-3 years. Still a heavy price despite that.
Basically I don't see any perfect options, or anyone near perfect that's actually available (Peeke, Roy, Graves). I don't expect a move (regardless of any potential options) and we're going to be wasting a lot of energy talking about something that won't happen...like usual.
I'm putting my hopes into Ryan Johnson and maybe drafting Reinbacher, with on-ice improvements at least 1-2 years away. I'm not bashing KA in general, but whether it's orders from above or his own patience or reluctance to pay futures in a trade, I just don't see him making a move we want.
IMO, they need a whole new 3rd pair, LHD and RHD. I just wish I knew what KA's mentality is on how to address it. Patience to build through the draft is great. I'm all for it, but does that timeline jive with the rest of the roster?
Building through the draft for the immediate needs of the team do not match as you said. They do need to get a better balance on their prospect pipeline. Johnson is a nice prospect but no one should be thinking he's just stepping into a spot (himself included) and the end of his season is months away. In the meantime, they need to find a way to fix what they have in the NHL.
Der Jaeger
Generational EBUG
He's fighting for the same minutes Dahlin and Power are taking. Someone like Ekholm or Fabbro would now.
I think they aren't interested in 2024. It'll hurt. I proposed an unprotected 2023 1st and Bloom. That's what it'll take. Might even take adding Lyubushkin.
Der Jaeger
Generational EBUG
I think you add to Power's pairing and have Jokiharju on the 3rd pairing.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
That's certainly an idea. Power's issues at Michigan and now in the NHL often involve battle moments in front.
The concern then would be who are the 3rd pairing defense? Do they run a RHD-RHD pair with one or the other of Jokiharju and Lyubushkin playing their off-hand side? Bryson and Clague away from Power or Dahlin are not having better seasons than Lyubushkin IMO - not that any of the three have had great seasons thus far.
Zman5778
Moderator
Personally, I'm OK with the Power-Joker pair for now and maybe even long-term. They have the same side-swapping kismet that Dahlin and Sammy seem to have. I'm OK living with the moments that they'll play guys in front of the net non-ideally in the hopes that Power learns how to deal with those more effectively.
I'm also OK (for now) with Boosh as the 3rd pair RHD and one of the PK go-tos.
For me, the position that needs to be upgraded is 3rd pair LHD. Maybe Johnson becomes that, but it's not happening this year and might not happen next year.
Bryson to me is best-suited as a swiss-army-knife-type #7 Dman.
So what I'd be looking for is a LHD who can effectively play about 15-17 min a game and hopefully brings something to the PK. Given that he'd be paired with Boosh, some semblance of puck moving skill would be nice. So....who's out there that fits that bill???
joshjull
Registered User
Unfortunately I have to agree
I don’t know what happened to Bryson. He was much better last season. As for Boosh, I don’t know enough of his game prior to being here to say if what we see now is what he is. Or is he still not 100%? Either way the effect is the same, a piss poor bottom pairing
Der Jaeger
Generational EBUG
I don't know if you trade for Chychrun and not use him on the power play. At that price tag, it makes it even steeper. Which is why Ekholm or Fabbro is a better idea.
In an ideal world, the Sabres trade for Ekholm (unprotected 2023 1st, Bloom) and let him cover for Power. Issue #1 solved, plus this idea aides in Power's development.
Jokiharju on the 3rd pairing allows him to be the roaming defenseman and be more creative.
I'm good with putting any of Lyubushkin, Clague, or Bryson into a trade offer for Ekholm, or any other defenseman. Nashville wants to stay a heavy team, so maybe your send Lyubushkin their way?
I can't see Buffalo trading away an established NHLer like Lyubushkin who they signed as a UFA in the first season of his contract. Very few teams do that sort of thing and it tends to build up animosity with agents and players.
Der Jaeger
Generational EBUG
I'm good with this:
Trade 2023 1st (unprotected), Clague, and Bloom to Nashville for Ekholm.
Samuelsson - Dahlin
Ekholm - Power
Bryson - Jokiharju
x Lyubushkin
toddkaz
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2022
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I would rather keep the first and bring in someone like Schenn for a 2nd and they can take Fitz or Bryson with it.
I like the idea of Schenn with Power.
Try to extend Schenn for 2 years. He is 33 so its a bit of a risk but Schenn only makes 850k.
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Zman5778
Moderator
I think Bryson got into his head too much. Because when the rash of injuries hit, he stepped up really well and was a legit 2nd pair D for a week or two.......and then his play completely fell off the cliff.
I think he was trying too much. When Bryson is most effective, he keeps his game simple -- he plays sound positionally and can either pass the puck out or skate it out. He got away from that.
Hopefully a little spell in the pressbox will reset his brain.
Beerz
Registered User
- Jun 28, 2011
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His game changed after the injury. Weird.
At least when he was taking dumb penalties before they were physical penalties..now they're just lazy ones
Zman5778
Moderator
No. No. No.
We are NOT in a position to trade away our 2023 1st without protection. We are a BORDERLINE playoff team with more of a chance to miss than make. Teams in our position do not trade unprotected 1sts. Ekholm does NOT guarantee that we make the playoffs.
Butt Ox
Registered User
He's playing his offhand side this year (so lining up at RD), but what he does best is on the offensive side of the ledger.
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