Sebastian Aho

Team: 2021-22 New York Islanders

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 6, 2021

Published: Aug. 8, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I'm kinda starting to wonder if we're thinking of running with Sebastian Aho at 2LD this season. His play style is rather similar to that of Leddy's as a fleet-footed puck mover who can QB an offensive cycle, either on the power play or at even strength. The biggest difference between them, to me, is that Aho has a much better shot than Leddy and is not afraid to use it, as it felt like Leddy was at points this season.

All of that said, Aho is still a massive question mark defensively. He can skate the puck out of the defensive zone no problem, but spending a lot of time in his own zone may be an issue. Of course, Leddy also had his own issues in this part of the game, so perhaps playing Aho over him isn't that much of a downgrade, but part of the reason Leddy was traded was so an *upgrade* could be acquired - not another question mark. However, this is a guy who got a two year contract as an RFA when he was rumored to go back to Europe and one who spent all season as a healthy scratch - not on the taxi squad - so he could avoid the waiver wire. The FO knows he's valuable and seems to have a plan for him, but what that is, at this point, is hard to tell.

He's 25, put up eyepopping point totals in the AHL in the three seasons he was there and spent a whole season, plus the Bubble to learn and get to adapt his game to Trotz's system; I don't think there's any doubt that he is "NHL ready." The question is going to be is is the kind of player he is good enough to survive on a 2nd pair on a defense-first team. Guess this could be the year we finally find out