Rumour, Trade & Free Agent Discussion

[Mortimer Snerd]

Ehlers-Copp-Laine scored 5 goals in their 59 minutes together. The sample size is small for stats, but even moreso for the eye test. I like Copp much better than Eakin as an option for C in the top 6. He's produced about the same as Eakin 5v5 over the past few years.

Anyway, my opinion is "no" on Eakin. Redundant for the Jets.

And I have already conceded that. You and others have convinced me. I never touted Eakin. I used him as a possibility in the absence of anything else. I think Little is still a possibility but I don't have a lot of confidence in him. It will be almost a year since he played, unless the season is delayed, then it will be longer. Will he be as good as before? We will have to wait and see. But that was not considered good enough for the last 2 seasons he played.

Copp is not an option, IMO. I pushed for him to be given a chance for quite some time. I think he got his chance this year. I thought it was a lot more than just 59 min. How much of his time at 2C was with wingers other than the Ehlers/Laine combination?

 

[Jets]

And I have already conceded that. You and others have convinced me. I never touted Eakin. I used him as a possibility in the absence of anything else. I think Little is still a possibility but I don't have a lot of confidence in him. It will be almost a year since he played, unless the season is delayed, then it will be longer. Will he be as good as before? We will have to wait and see. But that was not considered good enough for the last 2 seasons he played.

Copp is not an option, IMO. I pushed for him to be given a chance for quite some time. I think he got his chance this year. I thought it was a lot more than just 59 min. How much of his time at 2C was with wingers other than the Ehlers/Laine combination?

Agreed. I thought Eakin was gonna be another Perreault for us (guy being paid for past success and is now a bottom 6er making 4x his value), but he's actually an ok contributor if put in the right spot. Copp - Lowry - Eakin might have legs as he's more of a gritty/cycle guy than Perreault slotted on that wing.

As for Copp at 2C you're bang on here too. Others have mentioned the highly positive advanced stats when Copp is 2C, but he's never going to be the guy that gets the most out of Ehlers and Laine on that line, and as such we should be looking for someone with more offensive upside than a safe defensive minded guy.

Rather have a line of 100 point guys that give up an extra few shots and get scored on an extra time every handful of games than a defensively sound 2nd line where guys are stunted offensively at 60 point caps.

Going forward it would be nice to bring Eakin back for 1-2M, but it might not be in the cards with all the young guys we have in the bottom 6. Either way, Copp and Lowry should both definitely be part of that bottom 6 as well and not looked at as top 6 options.

I also respect what he's done for the team and hope nothing but the best for Bryan Little, but selfishly if he has to LTIRetire then it's probably a net positive.

 

[ps241]

Agreed. I thought Eakin was gonna be another Perreault for us (guy being paid for past success and is now a bottom 6er making 4x his value), but he's actually an ok contributor if put in the right spot. Copp - Lowry - Eakin might have legs as he's more of a gritty/cycle guy than Perreault slotted on that wing.

As for Copp at 2C you're bang on here too. Others have mentioned the highly positive advanced stats when Copp is 2C, but he's never going to be the guy that gets the most out of Ehlers and Laine on that line, and as such we should be looking for someone with more offensive upside than a safe defensive minded guy.

Rather have a line of 100 point guys that give up an extra few shots and get scored on an extra time every handful of games than a defensively sound 2nd line where guys are stunted offensively at 60 point caps.

Going forward it would be nice to bring Eakin back for 1-2M, but it might not be in the cards with all the young guys we have in the bottom 6. Either way, Copp and Lowry should both definitely be part of that bottom 6 as well and not looked at as top 6 options.

I also respect what he's done for the team and hope nothing but the best for Bryan Little, but selfishly if he has to LTIRetire then it's probably a net positive.

Not saying this about you specifically but I think one challenge most people have when they think of lines in the top 6 is many focus on optimizing scoring and discount optimizing stopping the other team from scoring. For instance Connor looks great on the attack with Scheif and Blake but those three look like horse shit far too often in their own zone and they defend too much for my liking.

Do I think Copp is the best centre for Ehlers and Laine when it comes to flashy plays on offense......I wouldn’t go that far. Do I think he makes them way tougher to score against and he helps them play in the offensive zone more......yes. I think he helps tilt the ice.

It’s great when a line can produce offense and fans cling to those moments and remember how it looks. It sucks when the top players get scored on but somehow fans seem to forget this part and blame the D men or the goalie. I think Copp helps them increase their differential between how much they score vs how much they get scored on.

Copp produces decent points per 60. He is not a high end offensive talent but he is far from a black hole. He is a high end defensive talent and that drives value to any line. One has to remember who Andrew has traditionally played with in what role (With Lowry in a shut down role) and ask yourself how would even an elite goal scorer like Connor produce with Lowry on the 3rd line and with zero PP time? Would KC get 15 goals in a season?

If we go out and land a good 2nd line centre then great.......let’s just make sure they tilt the ice and can play some D because our top 6 is not good enough at that part of the game.

 

[KingBogo]

What are you trying to prove here? Why are you arguing this line with me? I asked a question. Might he get another chance? How do you argue with a question? I suggested that if he gets another chance he will need it to be with a team that can offer him favourable conditions for him to succeed.

You aren't arguing with that. You are arguing with me as though I had said he was a great player who was robed of a chance. Where did I say anything like that?

Some players can play their way up from a checking role. Some cannot. Do all players need to be cut from the same cloth? That path did not suit Petan. Never would. That doesn't mean he is not fit for a different role.

Just my pet peeve, and now that things have slowed down for me a bit after going 10-12 hour days 7 days a week for over a month with COVID preparedness I'm getting back involved in some discussions. There are literally 1000's of players that were on the edge of making it and had the potential to be regular NHL players that never quite achieve it for whatever reason. I always find it odd when we select out 1 or 2 of them and decide to lay blame on an organization, management or coach instead of leaving it at the player falling short as disappointing as it may be if we had high expectations of the player.

The NHL has a whole system in place to redistribute players that fail to catch on with the team that drafted them, so by the time they get kicked to the curb of lower level pro leagues they have had a least a couple kicks at the cat and just never pushed through. At least IMO saying a player couldn't find a role that best suited him just doesn't cut it.

 

[Whileee]

Not saying this about you specifically but I think one challenge most people have when they think of lines in the top 6 is many focus on optimizing scoring and discount optimizing stopping the other team from scoring. For instance Connor looks great on the attack with Scheif and Blake but those three look like horse shit far too often in their own zone and they defend too much for my liking.

Do I think Copp is the best centre for Ehlers and Laine when it comes to flashy plays on offense......I wouldn’t go that far. Do I think he makes them way tougher to score against and he helps them play in the offensive zone more......yes. I think he helps tilt the ice.

It’s great when a line can produce offense and fans cling to those moments and remember how it looks. It sucks when the top players get scored on but somehow fans seem to forget this part and blame the D men or the goalie. I think Copp helps them increase their differential between how much they score vs how much they get scored on.

Copp produces decent points per 60. He is not a high end offensive talent but he is far from a black hole. He is a high end defensive talentNd that drives value to any line. One has to remember who Andrew has traditionally played with in what role (With Lowry in a shut down role) and ask yourself how would even an elite goal scorer like Connor produce with Lowry on the 3rd line and with zero PP time? Would KC get 15 goals in a season?

If we go out and land a good 2nd line centre then great.......let’s just make sure they tilt the ice and can play some D because our top 6 is not good enough at that part of the game.

Agree completely. It doesn't really help if your top 6 scores a lot but gives up more goals against. Ehlers and Laine can produce goals, but they would benefit from a player that consistently keeps time in their own zone to a minimum. Copp is our best option, there. His offense isn't great, but it's underrated and improving. It's not an ideal solution, but worth a longer try. I think Maurice would have stuck with it longer if he had another option to play with Lowry in a shutdown role. Maybe Harkins can work into that role.

Another possibility is that Harkins or Roslovic takes another step or two forward and can play in a 2C role.

It's hard to know how Little will be when he comes back, but the Jets do need to consider alternatives at 2C if they can't nab a good one somehow in the offseason.

 

[10Ducky10]

KC Little Wheeler would be a nice line.

 

[TheGovernment]

I want no part of Eakin. Let him walk.

 

[surixon]

But getting a 2C is the reason to buy him out. There is no point in buying him out if the cap space is not needed. But it will be needed if Jets get a 2C, or if they sign an FA D man.

Sure if we get a good 2C and need that cap space to make it happen then sure buy him out.

 

[Jets 31]

This is kinda cool. I would say Chevy did a good job overall too .

 

[10Ducky10]

This is kinda cool. I would say Chevy did a good job overall too .

I thought Buffalo got bent over when I heard of that deal and I still think they got bent over....great trade by Chevy.

 

[GaryPoppins]

I thought Buffalo got bent over when I heard of that deal and I still think they got bent over....great trade by Chevy.

Great explanation but Steve Dangle is too over the top to watch on a regular basis.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

Great explanation but Steve Dangle is too over the top to watch on a regular basis.

I grew up on Sam Kinison. Steve Dangle seems calm and rational in comparison.

 

[Gm0ney]

Great explanation but Steve Dangle is too over the top to watch on a regular basis.

The camera needs to back off a little bit...but otherwise a fun video.

 

[Daximus]

This is kinda cool. I would say Chevy did a good job overall too .

I love looking at these trade tree's. Some go so deep it's crzy but this was a nice visual to go along with it. Safe to say that we didn't do to bad at all and Chevy even made up for some blunders here and there. If somehow Chisholm, Blaisdell and Heinola all hit Chevy looks like a genius.

 

[ps241]

This is kinda cool. I would say Chevy did a good job overall too .

This is a pretty comprehensive overview of this trade.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I miss Joel Armia. I know he’s not a first liner, but I absolutely hated that trade. Losing him and then Tanev were serious blows to the bottom 6.

 

[civic204]

I miss Joel Armia. I know he’s not a first liner, but I absolutely hated that trade. Losing him and then Tanev were serious blows to the bottom 6.

Did we make that trade to try and sign Statsny? If we knew he wasn't staying, could we have resigned Armia?

 

[Whileee]

I miss Joel Armia. I know he’s not a first liner, but I absolutely hated that trade. Losing him and then Tanev were serious blows to the bottom 6.

I liked them, too, but I think Appleton and Harkins will fill those roles adequately going forward.

 

[Adam da bomb]

I miss Joel Armia. I know he’s not a first liner, but I absolutely hated that trade. Losing him and then Tanev were serious blows to the bottom 6.

I miss Tanev more.

 

[Adam da bomb]

I love looking at these trade tree's. Some go so deep it's crzy but this was a nice visual to go along with it. Safe to say that we didn't do to bad at all and Chevy even made up for some blunders here and there. If somehow Chisholm, Blaisdell and Heinola all hit Chevy looks like a genius.

Remind me who Blaisdell is. We talk about Chisholm and Heinola quite alot not so much Blaisdell.

 

[surixon]

Remind me who Blaisdell is. We talk about Chisholm and Heinola quite alot not so much Blaisdell.

He was our 5th round pick last year. He is a very good skater with soft hands and a plus shot. He had a solid freshman year for North Dakota playing predominantly in the bottom 6 this past season.

He's a player to watch going forward.

 

[Jets 31]

Remind me who Blaisdell is. We talk about Chisholm and Heinola quite alot not so much Blaisdell.

 

[Adam da bomb]

When was the last time two Canadians were picked top 2 in draft? 2014.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Did we make that trade to try and sign Statsny? If we knew he wasn't staying, could we have resigned Armia?

We had to package Armia to Montreal to get them to take on Masons contract. But I think we needed to shed salary regardless of the attempt to sign Stastny.

 

[BatVader]

He was our 5th round pick last year. He is a very good skater with soft hands and a plus shot. He had a solid freshman year for North Dakota playing predominantly in the bottom 6 this past season.

He's a player to watch going forward.

But is he any good skating backwards?