Agree. Galchenyuk doesn't play their style. He was brought in to be a top offensive option. If he's not that, he really isn't adding any value.
- Tojo.

I get that...but he isnt really harming right now either. So Im not in a rush to move him.

I get that...but he isnt really harming right now either. So Im not in a rush to move him.
- MattStrat

Should have traded for Tatar years ago like I suggested.

Should have traded for Tatar years ago like I suggested.
- Feds91Stammer

Agreed....actually, who was going the other way? haha

Agreed....actually, who was going the other way? haha
- MattStrat

Rutherford was in a tough spot with Kessel's clause because he was fully exercising that clause which he had every right to do. I called the trade a bad trade, but that doesn't mean I necessarily think they could have done better. What I'm saying now, is cut and run from a player who's not giving you what you need and attempt to get something else that can help you.

Rust also plays the left side. I mentioned a few times I'd like a Rust-Geno-Bjugstad line.
- Rinosaur

Isn’t he playing the right side with Jake and Geno? He always played the right side with Jake and Sid. I know he can play both but I feel like I always see him line up on the right wing.

Agreed....actually, who was going the other way? haha
- MattStrat

Well Detroit gave him up for a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. But Pittsburgh wasted their 1st on Brassard.

I have to give it up to the Isles. I thought they rode Lehner last year and would be a either a middler or miss the playoffs this year, but they are an impressive team. I don't see many teams who bring the amount of desire as they do and that goes a long way.
- Rinosaur

Whatever it is, they've all bought in wholesale to whatever Trotz is selling them. I think they probably have a bit of a chip on their shoulder from Tavares abandoning them as well, even the guys that are still close with him.

The most impressive thing out of all of it, to me, is the work that Korn/Greco have done with the goalies. They've taken three (Greiss, Lehner, Varly) pretty average goaltenders and turned one into a Vezina candidate and all three into some of the better goalies in the league. Obviously part of it is a result of a stifling defense-first system, but it's still been awesome to watch.

Those were a fun couple games against the Pens. It felt like, no matter what the score, neither team could take a shift off and it made for some good hockey.

I am also wondering when the real Alex Galchenyuk will show up? He has 6 pts (0 G) while Mr Hot Dog has 13 (3G 10A). Where is the upside? Don't tell me we traded a 1PT/G player for a 0.5 PT/G player. Actually, go ahead, tell me that!
- chimpira

Correct me if anything I say here is wrong:

Tojo (and others) has outlined that Phil was on the decline last season in the second half. He has 13 points in 23 games. That’s not a PPG pace at all, it’s 0.565. He was -3 last night and he’s struggling to find chemistry.

Some people are talking about Galchenyuk and how he doesn’t fit. When he’s not scoring he’s still skating hard, he’s backchecking, he’s physical, takes good angles, and as I pointed out before oversupporting his linemates 😂

Sid clearly didn’t want Phil otherwise they would’ve tried it more. Phil was dragging Malkin down. He slowed down last year and he’s looked good a lot this year but he’s not connecting, Galchenyuk has been similar except he’s playing way less minutes and has very rarely been a liability

Correct me if anything I say here is wrong:

Tojo (and others) has outlined that Phil was on the decline last season in the second half. He has 13 points in 23 games. That’s not a PPG pace at all, it’s 0.565. He was -3 last night and he’s struggling to find chemistry.

Some people are talking about Galchenyuk and how he doesn’t fit. When he’s not scoring he’s still skating hard, he’s backchecking, he’s physical, takes good angles, and as I pointed out before oversupporting his linemates 😂

Sid clearly didn’t want Phil otherwise they would’ve tried it more. Phil was dragging Malkin down. He slowed down last year and he’s looked good a lot this year but he’s not connecting, Galchenyuk has been similar except he’s playing way less minutes and has very rarely been a liability
- WSCTeton17

Something something "You're a 'hockey guy'" something something.

Murray for his career prior to this year had a GAA and xGAA both in the 2.6 area, meaning he basically did what was expected of him overall based on the play in front of him, no more, no less.

This year his GAA is still 2.6, but his xGAA is around 2.1. That means he's getting better defense, but letting in an extra half goal per and basically wasting the extra defensive effort as he should be putting up career numbers based on how the team in front of them is playing but he's about the same.

So he's not having a good start, but his career say he's capable of better. So I wouldn't use this year as a "see I told you he was this bad" At the same time, he's struggling right now and saying he's not is also wrong.
- Tojo.

Do you give him 7-8mil for 6-8 years? I'm not making that investment.

Correct me if anything I say here is wrong:

Tojo (and others) has outlined that Phil was on the decline last season in the second half. He has 13 points in 23 games. That’s not a PPG pace at all, it’s 0.565. He was -3 last night and he’s struggling to find chemistry.

Some people are talking about Galchenyuk and how he doesn’t fit. When he’s not scoring he’s still skating hard, he’s backchecking, he’s physical, takes good angles, and as I pointed out before oversupporting his linemates 😂

Sid clearly didn’t want Phil otherwise they would’ve tried it more. Phil was dragging Malkin down. He slowed down last year and he’s looked good a lot this year but he’s not connecting, Galchenyuk has been similar except he’s playing way less minutes and has very rarely been a liability
- WSCTeton17

Everything you say is wrong.

Do you give him 7-8mil for 6-8 years? I'm not making that investment.
- madmike71

Give him a nice 6.969m per for 5-6 years.

Give him a nice 6.969m per for 5-6 years.
- Feds91Stammer

$8.787M for 8.7 years

I get that...but he isnt really harming right now either. So Im not in a rush to move him.
- MattStrat

I'd say he is because right now whatever line he plays on is usually not a threat to score.

Galchenyuk is also the worst relative player in almost every possession metric, so he's pulling them down, it's just covered because the team around him is so good. And his PDO is almost perfectly even so he isn't even "unlucky"

Doesn't mean he can't turn it around even though I don't have confidence in him, but right now I'd say he's hurting them.

I'd say he is because right now whatever line he plays on is usually not a threat to score.

Galchenyuk is also the worst relative player in almost every possession metric, so he's pulling them down, it's just covered because the team around him is so good. And his PDO is almost perfectly even so he isn't even "unlucky"

Doesn't mean he can't turn it around even though I don't have confidence in him, but right now I'd say he's hurting them.
- Tojo.

But him hit.

You should always make rash judgements based on 20 game samples.
- Feds91Stammer

You're right. Bryan Rust is now basically Ovechkin.

You're right. Bryan Rust is now basically Ovechkin.
- Tojo.

Well, Bryan Rust does hold the active record for, "Most career NHL goals scored by a player named 'Bryan Rust.'"

Everything you say is wrong.
- Feds91Stammer

Beat me to it.

When he latches on to something he larches on for dear life.

Beat me to it.

When he latches on to something he larches on for dear life.
- Rinosaur

But he played juniors and knows some NHL GMs by name. So therefore everything he says is right.

Isn’t he playing the right side with Jake and Geno? He always played the right side with Jake and Sid. I know he can play both but I feel like I always see him line up on the right wing.
- j.boyd919

I've always been of the opinion Rust is just better on right wing. Wish that was tracked somehow. I'd try to keep him there even though bumping him to LW opens up a few more options next to Malkin.

But he played juniors and knows some NHL GMs by name. So therefore everything he says is right.
- jmatchett383

Very true.

Oh wait, I forgot ask him how those Ducks are doing for him?

Rust also plays the left side. I mentioned a few times I'd like a Rust-Geno-Bjugstad line.
- Rinosaur

Long post. Read it, don’t read it. Whatever.

I could see the potential from this line but I agree with Boyd that I like Rust on the right. I think that’s a big strength of his is beating people up the ice or cutting across, getting open on his forehand. If it’s a loose puck battle it doesn’t really matter but for streaking breakouts I think he’s much better on the right. I’d probably rather Bjug on LW

If you would though, if Bjug has been so pedestrian then what’s the motivation to get him on that line over Galchenyuk, Simon, Tanev, or your buddy ZAR (kidding on ZAR 😉 not on the others though). Bjugstad has 1 point and his possession stats haven’t been good. His faceoffs suck too

The line of Blandisi-Simon-Galchenyuk is now Galchenyuk’s second common most ES line combo. Surprise surprise he has 0 points with that combination. Galchenyuk is on pace for 38 points in like 14 minutes a night. Phil is playing almost 18 minutes and is on pace for 46 points. Galchenyuk plays with Blandisi and Simon. Phil plays with Keller, Dvorak, Stepan, Soderberg 🤷🏼‍♂️

Also, if we trade Galchenyuk for futures then who replaces his 0.46PPG? I think Lafferty’s offense was a flash in the pan; excluding him that puts Galch at 9th for forwards

I've always been of the opinion Rust is just better on right wing. Wish that was tracked somehow. I'd try to keep him there even though bumping him to LW opens up a few more options next to Malkin.
- Tojo.

I think it’s worth trying for one game, I’m not saying it’s a definite solution, I just think it might be something good to try

Everything you say is wrong.
- Feds91Stammer

As always, thank you for trolling

I've always been of the opinion Rust is just better on right wing. Wish that was tracked somehow. I'd try to keep him there even though bumping him to LW opens up a few more options next to Malkin.
- Tojo.

That would be xP/60LWwMkVsRWwMk

It's a pretty standard way to evaluate a player.