Quoting: Kylonetic8
I would expect they value him sentimentally too, as he was one of their high up 1st rounders
Well.... technically New Jersey's first rounder, that cost them all of Cory Schneider. If they're valuing him based on the pain and suffering of not having to pay Schneider $5M this year, then consolidating their gains into a down on his luck #1 center is going to feel like a HUGE win.
Quoting: Kylonetic8
Okay, so then Vancouver adds. Kuzy may be dominant when on his game, but that was only about...what, half the games last year? He was kind of bad for long stretches of the year. And one of the worst defensively. I agree he was lights out in the 24 game playoff run for the Cup, but why ignore his extremely inconsistent play this past season? Oh and...cocaine.
Horvat is also trending up, Kuzy is not trending up. He's actually trending down. Let's hope that's just a fluke though. Horvat is ranking the #37C, Kuzy the #31C. The trade isn't "terrible".
Horvat just made a huge leap forward with a 61 point season. Kuznetsov's "inconsistent season" left him with his third-highest total, of "just" 72. Horvat is two and a half years younger, with three fewer 70 point seasons (zero) and one fewer eighty point season (zero). Unless he's already the captain, the coach's nephew, and general manager's BFF, Vancouver is happy to add a 2nd.
As for who is defensively better, Kuznetsov has gotten Selke votes in two different seasons, and Horvat hasn't. Horvat has the better single season shot blocking total, but it's, like, 63. Kuznetsov has the better single season hits mark, but it's only 73. Horvat averaged a bit more penalty killing last year, but only at 0:29 a night. These guys play offense. And they're both pretty good at it.
I think Washington could consider this, based on age and cap hit. But if Kuznetsov plays like he's capable of on the second line, and Pettersson keeps improving at 1C, Vancouver is gonna be insanely good. Just ridiculous.