Empoleon8771
Registered User
okay. You're missing the point though. Bones centering Kessel and Hagelin is asking him to play a completely different role than Sheahan centering Guentzel and Kessel. That's all I'm saying. It's not apples to apples.
Bonino played with both Guentzel and Kessel in 2016-2017 too. It wasn't as much, but it wasn't insignificant. I also think you're grossly overstating how often Guentzel-Sheahan-Kessel was together, it wasn't even together for 200 minutes last season.
Bjugstad is a winger. Pageau and Faksa are younger players. You’re essentially comparing what players did in their prime with a player in his late 20s and early 30s.
Bonino put up 49 and 39 when he was 25ish. The same age as most of these players you and Rip are listing.
I’m fine with saying Faksa and Pageau are better centers, but let’s be honest. Someone has to score on those **** teams.
And that 49 point season includes 20 powerplay points. He had 1 season of being above 30 ES points, which was the year he was the 2C for Vancouver. He had 25 ES points in 80 games in 2016-2017, 25 ES points in 71 games in 2017-2018 and is on pace for 29 ES points through 82 games this season.
When Bonino was the same age as Pageau and Faksa, he wasn't used like a defensive 3rd line center. He was used like an offensive 2C and he wasn't very good at it. Go look back at the 2013-2014 Ducks and 2014-2015 Canucks roster. He's 2nd in ice time among centers on both of those teams, he wasn't getting Malkin 2C minutes, but he was their 2nd line centers.