Yeah, it's funny, McAvoy has had the reputation for being more of an offensive defenseman. Between the stats and what I've seen, that's wrong. I think he's already an almost elite defensive defenseman with a great transition game. But he hasn't been anywhere near Krug as far as *directly* generating offense in the offensive zone. He generates offense the way Bergeron does, by being really good at keeping the puck out of his own end, and in the other team's. He has the skill though, and I'm expecting him to develop that part of his game.Who?
In all seriousness, I'm not sure I'd put McAvoy up there, offensively, with Krug. He's miles and miles better overall, and in their own end it's like comparing an NHL defender to some random ECHL player. But on the PP? and in the attack zone in general? I'm not so sure.
I think Kovalchuk and Nash’s floor are roughly the same, but Kovalchuk has a higher ceiling as the more prolific goal scorer. Nash will obviously have the better defensive game. The veteran guys that leave the NHL to go to the KHL and come back have all seemed to work out, albeit the sample size is small. Jagr has no problems coming back. Radulov and Dadonov have had success recently. The NHL game has changed a bit since Kovalchuk left, but I think he’d be just fine. He can still shoot the puck with the best of them and from what I recall from the Olympics, he can still skate. I wouldn’t expect him to be the monster 45 goal 45 assist player he was prior to leaving, but I see no reason he couldn’t settle in as a 25 goal 25 assist top 6 winger for the next. 2-3 years.To echo cshea, Koko went back to Russia well before he had a chance to fail. A dominant AHL season and 5 lackluster NHL games at 22. Then a top 5-10 forward in the KHL at 24. I'd say that roughly should translate to at least a borderline 3rd liner in the NHL, but it's a very different league. And also why I'm skeptical of giving Kovalchuk any significant money/term, as much as I loved him as a player. The floor on an NHL veteran like Rick Nash is higher IMO.
Getting a bit off topic, but I don’t think that is fair criticism of Julien. Julien has him in the lockout year and Khudobin had 14 appearances out of 48 games. Seems a reasonable amount for a backup. Khudobin left as a free agent after that season and returned in 16/17. Upon his return he gave up 8 goals in his first 2 games, .849 save percentage and then missed a month to injury. Returning from injury, he got 6 starts between 11/25 and 12/23 where he posted a .898 save percentage. That was it until Cassidy came, and Khudobin did a stint in Providence. Julien was coaching for his job, and I think he had every reason not to trust Khudobin that season.They had Dobby too, twice and he's said Cassidy has confidence in him, as opposed to....
I think he’s been effected by his pairing. To this end, Krug was bad in the playoffs but so were his partners. Similarly, McAvoy’s defensive numbers are likely so elite because of his pairing with Chara. (Look at Carlo with and without Chara)Yeah, it's funny, McAvoy has had the reputation for being more of an offensive defenseman. Between the stats and what I've seen, that's wrong. I think he's already an almost elite defensive defenseman with a great transition game. But he hasn't been anywhere near Krug as far as *directly* generating offense in the offensive zone. He generates offense the way Bergeron does, by being really good at keeping the puck out of his own end, and in the other team's. He has the skill though, and I'm expecting him to develop that part of his game.
The data for him on the PP is not enough to come to any conclusions. He played on the 2nd unit mostly, and they were not great. I have no reason to believe he's any part of that problem.
.Re-signing Khudobin may look like an airtight and straightforward transaction given the desires of both parties. But while a multi-year extension is the terminus, the process includes stations that Khudobin and the Bruins could be visiting.
Kent Hughes, Khudobin’s agent, has a job to maximize his client’s earnings. General manager Don Sweeney’s mission is to keep Khudobin’s average annual value as low as possible to maximize the robustness of his roster.
Why? I don't want to lose those two for nothing.I guess, but I think the play if you want Tavares is to sign him and figure out the cap later.
I agree, ignoring Tavares, they don’t have any depth options for at least next season. It’s one reason bringing back Czarnik is interesting. Backes has said he’s not a center for the Bruins system.Krejci is a good player, but I really wonder what their options are for another top 2 center. Tavares is fun to think about, but there aren't many realistic center options for the second line internally or in the FA market if they deal him.
He's overpaid, but moving him likely creates more problems than it solves.
I have much higher hopes for JFK. Last season was marred by injury, but he’s a very smart player and I see him as a 2-3 center long term. I’m not sure about Frederic at this point. He’s got a ways to go but he’s got higher offensive upside.I agree, ignoring Tavares, they don’t have any depth options for at least next season. It’s one reason bringing back Czarnik is interesting. Backes has said he’s not a center for the Bruins system.
Longer term, Frederic is their only real fIrst line center prospect; and that’s optimistic, he’ll probably be more of a second line guy. I’d love to be wrong but JFK looks like a great 3rd line center if things go well and a decent 4th line guy otherwise.
Maybe, but otoh the contracts that really kill you are your classic Chiarelli overpays—too many years and/or close to elite money (and definitely a NMC)—for guys who may fit your system but are second tier guys like Lucic and Eriksson (to name a couple recent dodged bullets) who are a lost step or two away from tanking a lot of your flexibility.I will not get excited, I will not get excited, I will not get excited......
I’M EXCITED!!!
And yes I’m well aware the odds are very low he comes here and the contract may be absurd and look very bad at the end, but I can’t help it.
Colleague? Did I miss something?So it’s the main five and, as my colleague Pierre LeBrun noted on Monday, some phone monitoring with other teams, Nashville at the top of the list. The Leafs were believed to have kicked off the meeting process on Monday and they figure to be the toughest competition for the Islanders on Tavares — as reports have noted, the Leafs could make a max one-year offer of $15.9 million and then come in with a lower value, seven- or eight-year extension in January.
As for the Bruins and Lightning, those are intriguing teams simply for what they can offer in the short term: Winning. Toronto fits that category too; Boston and Tampa would have some shuffling to do to make the cap situation work with Tavares, but the idea of fitting into a veteran core on either team where Tavares doesn’t have to be The Man night after night is definitely intriguing.
The Sharks and Stars would love Tavares and have the cap space to make what might be the best seven-year offers. Tavares is still friendly with Evgeni Nabokov, the longtime Shark and onetime Islander who now works in the San Jose organization. That’s in addition to all the Team Canada experience Tavares has with various Sharks.
The Predators were initially not on Tavares’ list, but a phone chat with GM David Poile apparently intrigued Tavares quite a bit. Poile is one of the most respected execs in the league and Tavares may want to give the Preds a longer look as this week unfolds.
It is still the Islanders’ game to win. Lamoriello’s consistent contact with Tavares since the president and GM took over a little more than a month ago, coupled with Tavares’ desire to lead the Isles to prominence and a Stanley Cup, cannot be overlooked. This week will be stressful for sure, however.
https://theathletic.com/407832/2018/06/25/staple-tavares-remains-main-focus-as-islanders-attend-to-other-business-during-contact-period/
Arthur Staple wrote the article so it's his colleague.Colleague? Did I miss something?