You can't teach Kuzmenko's skill level. I also believe in Kuzmenko's ability to play winning Hockey, even if it didn't work in VAN. He is still a developing player and is fully adapting to NHL-style play. Trading him is a knee-jerk reaction IMO; however, VAN is in the prime of their competitive window so they have to handle their assets this way.
You could also flip this around and ask how the magician Gaudreau has done without Lindholm? Gaudreau has 7 goals this season. He's -53 without Lindholm. He was +64 in his last season playing with Lindholm. Do you think defensive play doesn't matter? Ask Columbus how that goes. Every player in the league needs quality linemates to help.
Toffoli, Huberdeau, Mangiapane, Sharangovich aren't scrubs by any means. And Boeser/Garland last yr were not superior to them.
Developing as in learning NHL-style Hockey and growing through experience, as was evidenced contextually in the very same sentence. This is unlike Lindholm, whom has been playing in the NHL for a decade now.
Futures are always going to be overvalued around here.
Nah this is definitely the right move.
I said "and middle 6 guys." Outside of Huberdeau none of those players are considered anything more than 2nd line players. As for Huberdeau himself, they've barely played together since they have minimal to no chemistry.
If you are trying to argue Lindholm is just as good at generating offense as Gaudreau then you may have missed their entirely time in Calgary
HFBoards has EA-Brain, where they see 5 assets moving and immediately chalk that up as a huge amount to give up. Last week we were talking about giving Kuzmenko away to Chicago for free lol.
Atlantic division sucks and dead wings are still 5th
You say you can't argue with the results, and then literally argue that he made a blunder baha.
I would think Kuzmenko is a big hit or miss. If he turns it around in CGY it turns the trade into a overwhelming win for CGY. Just the 1st, 4th + Brzustewicz tips the scales in CGY's favor and that still comes with the caveat that Lindholm will elevate his game in a new environment playing with EP. But overall, I can't fault Van for making this deal. May seal a visit to the cup finals.
Meh, if Kuzmenko has success in CGY, it will be playing a brand of hockey that would get him benched in Vancouver. I expect him to do well getting fed PP time for the rest of the year. If he goes ppg throughout the back half of the season, I still wouldn't consider than additional lost value. He can electric, and is extremely likeable, just couldn't understand how to play Van's system.
I'm not arguing anything. I'm saying the sum of Lindholm and Gaudreau was better than either of them individually. Gaudreau the season Lindholm arrived put up 99 points with Lindholm at RW and Monahan up the middle. Then they moved Lindholm to C on a different line. Gaudreau put up 58 points and 49 (shortened season) in those 2 seasons. They made the purple gatorade line and Gaudreau put up 115 while playing with Lindholm and Tkachuk (the best linemates he has ever had).
