Also Tatar is a rental so considering the assets spent to get Zucker you would assume a Tatar extension would need to happen.
- Feds91Stammer

Yea, agree on both.

Regardless of Geno this team needs to add a quality top-nine winger. I personally don't think Geno needs a winger. The only player who can help Geno is Geno IMO. Getting back to playing like himself is all that matters. Say what you will about Zucker and Kap, but he's done more with less.
- Rinosaur

I think we should get him a scoring winger just because that’s good in and of itself, but when Evgeni freaking Malkin is below the 50% mark in xG percentage and HDC%, unless he’s being saddled with fourth liners, there’s something amiss that’s not just about linemates.

Regardless of Geno this team needs to add a quality top-nine winger. I personally don't think Geno needs a winger. The only player who can help Geno is Geno IMO. Getting back to playing like himself is all that matters. Say what you will about Zucker and Kap, but he's done more with less.
- Rinosaur

He's done more with less in his late 20's and early 30s.

Dude is 34 and starting to decline. Giving him better quality wingers is going to get better quality return from Geno.

You also have to realize Geno is in a decline stage of his career so his supporting cast is more important than ever, both in stylistic fit and overall skill.
- Feds91Stammer

I agree he can't do what he once did, but I still think there will be a profound difference once he settles back in.

I agree he can't do what he once did, but I still think there will be a profound difference once he settles back in.
- Rinosaur

His 2 most common linemates last season were Guentzel and Rust. That's when he was playing at an "MVP" level as some would say. The difference between this season and last?

Guentzel and Rust >>>>>>>>>> Zucker and Kap

It's not even close.

Jesse Marshall
@jmarshfof
·
1h
Teddy Blueger must be protected in the expansion draft. Not a debate anymore. One of the best two-way forwards this city has seen in awhile.

I respect Jesse, but what is it I'm just not seeing? Am I alone here? Outside of RW of course.

His 2 most common linemates last season were Guentzel and Rust. That's when he was playing at an "MVP" level as some would say. The difference between this season and last?

Guentzel and Rust >>>>>>>>>> Zucker and Kap

It's not even close.
- j.boyd919

But you see that regardless of that, that Geno is off, yes? His decision-making has just been crazy bad.

His 2 most common linemates last season were Guentzel and Rust. That's when he was playing at an "MVP" level as some would say. The difference between this season and last?

Guentzel and Rust >>>>>>>>>> Zucker and Kap

It's not even close.
- j.boyd919

That's why I wish Guentz and Rust weren't together. Now if we can get a scoring winger then it doesn't matter. However if we trade for Getzlaf then that is not gonna help the second line either. (frank) did Ruth blow this off-season.

But you see that regardless of that, that Geno is off, yes? His decision-making has just been crazy bad.
- Rinosaur

Geno seems off himself, yes.

I respect Jesse, but what is it I'm just not seeing? Am I alone here? Outside of RW of course.
- Rinosaur

I think Blue is a great 4c and an alright 3c.

But you see that regardless of that, that Geno is off, yes? His decision-making has just been crazy bad.
- Rinosaur

Oh I don't disagree that Geno is playing poorly, but I think a good bit of it is that he has 2 wingers that are stylistically too similar and neither of them are particularly great at shooting the puck. He's lacking a finisher on his line in the worst way. Also Geno is a bit of an East-West player whereas both of those guys are North-South. Stylistically they aren't a match.

That's why I wish Guentz and Rust weren't together. Now if we can get a scoring winger then it doesn't matter. However if we trade for Getzlaf then that is not gonna help the second line either. (frank) did Ruth blow this off-season.
- 668710

I wish Sully would give Geno Guentzel for a few games and put Zucker with Sid just to see the results and see what happens.

Big issue with the ZAR-Blue-Tan line is that ZAR has been a 4th liner his whole career and Tanev is middle 6 winger. I believe Blue can be a 3c but the other winger would have to be Kap or Zucker. However I don't see them breaking up that line.

I wish Sully would give Geno Guentzel for a few games and put Zucker with Sid just to see the results and see what happens.
- j.boyd919

Yup, agree.

I respect Jesse, but what is it I'm just not seeing? Am I alone here? Outside of RW of course.
- Rinosaur

Yeah I don’t see the must protect thing either.

Malkin, Crosby, Jake, Rust, Zucker, and Kap are assumed to be protected so you only have one left.

Tanev? ZAR? McCann? Blueger?

Oh I don't disagree that Geno is playing poorly, but I think a good bit of it is that he has 2 wingers that are stylistically too similar and neither of them are particularly great at shooting the puck. He's lacking a finisher on his line in the worst way. Also Geno is a bit of an East-West player whereas both of those guys are North-South. Stylistically they aren't a match.
- j.boyd919

I definitely think he could benefit from a different dynamic. Zucker or Kap, but not both. I think Zucker is fine at finishing even though he's not killing right now. I think he needs another winger to help him create time and space, not straight-ahead speed guys.

I respect Jesse, but what is it I'm just not seeing? Am I alone here? Outside of RW of course.
- Rinosaur

He’s having a really good production year at 5v5. He’s scoring at a top 6 rate per 60 minutes, and given the offensive ability of his most common line mates, that stands out. Small sample size alert, but if he keeps this up through the season he’d definitely be one of our top 7 forwards.

Yeah I don’t see the must protect thing either.

Malkin, Crosby, Jake, Rust, Zucker, and Kap are assumed to be protected so you only have one left.

Tanev? ZAR? McCann? Blueger?
- Feds91Stammer

I previously believed Tanev would be safe to expose because of his contract, but I don't believe that anymore. I think McCann is safe to expose. That said, Blueger is probably the most attractive of the bunch.

He’s having a really good production year at 5v5. He’s scoring at a top 6 rate per 60 minutes, and given the offensive ability of his most common line mates, that stands out. Small sample size alert, but if he keeps this up through the season he’d definitely be one of our top 7 forwards.
- Victoro311

If he keeps it up, yes. The sample size is what's bothering me and honestly, this is going to be a small sample size regardless. I feel like too often we see players like him around the NHL have aberrations that never get met again.

If he keeps it up, yes. The sample size is what's bothering me and honestly, this is going to be a small sample size regardless. I feel like too often we see players like him around the NHL have aberrations that never get met again.
- Rinosaur

Sure but there’s also a plenty big sample size of McCann, who I think would have been the 7th guy if the expansion draft were this past off season, being woefully inconsistent that you’d rather bet on the young centerman who’s proven in a shut down role and may have just broken out offensively. Inconsistent left wings are a dime a dozen, legitimate 2 way centers are not.

And yes I know Blueger is older than McCann. My point is that in a league wide context, Blueger is a young center, which is valuable.

Sure but there’s also a plenty big sample size of McCann, who I think would have been the 7th guy if the expansion draft were this past off season, being woefully inconsistent that you’d rather bet on the young centerman who’s proven in a shut down role and may have just broken out offensively. Inconsistent left wings are a dime a dozen, legitimate 2 way centers are not.
- Victoro311

I'm not trying to compare him to McCann at this point. I think the mistake this year was not allowing McCann to stay at C. I think he's more effective there even when he's not scoring. I think he's only effective at wing if he's in the top six.

I wish Sully would give Geno Guentzel for a few games and put Zucker with Sid just to see the results and see what happens.
- j.boyd919

Earlier in the season, I would have agreed with this. Can't do it now. 1st line looks like a buzz saw and you can't break that up at the moment.

I definitely think he could benefit from a different dynamic. Zucker or Kap, but not both. I think Zucker is fine at finishing even though he's not killing right now. I think he needs another winger to help him create time and space, not straight-ahead speed guys.
- Rinosaur

That’s why Ive been saying one of those guys needs replaced

That’s why Ive been saying one of those guys needs replaced
- j.boyd919

I thought you were solely focusing on finishing.

Earlier in the season, I would have agreed with this. Can't do it now. 1st line looks like a buzz saw and you can't break that up at the moment.
- madmike71

Yeah it sucks haha. It’s a tough decision. I agree with not wanting to break it up but I also want to try and give Geno a boost. Only other way would be a trade and I’m not even sure what they could bring in. If Tatar is continued to be scratched.. I wish there’s a way to pry him off MTL.