Who adds what?
Joined: Jul. 2017
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"Thompson, Nate
MTL
Stephenson, Chandler
2020 6th round pick (VGK)
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Mainly bc I don't understand the point in trading for Stephensen and Thompson is better."
Yep. Nate Thompson is a better 4C than Stephenson, this year. Absolutely. Thompson plays almost two more minutes a night, with 4% tougher zone starts, and more PK time. He's also got three more points, just a third of the way through this season. If the team is all-in and needs a full-time 4C, then 35 year old Nate Thompson is a better fit, if available. Agreed. And the Canadiens know that, and are trying to make the playoffs, too.
Stephenson is ten (10) years younger, more likely to improve, less likely to get hurt, less likely to retire next summer, and the 4C spot goes back to Eakin when he's healthy. So Vegas really picked up a wing, long term.
At 3L, Stephenson brings twice as many career assists as Carrier. If Tuch is going to break twenty goals this year, Stephenson might be a better fit at that spot, since he's more used to playing a speedy, pass-first game. After a few games with Tuch, Carrier has added four assists, and Tuch has four goals. This bring's Carrier's career total to ten assists. Stephenson has nineteen in a similar sample of games, mostly without five million dollar wingers.
Stephenson is just a good all-around hockey player. Where the bottom six wing spots have been choices between guys who can't play defense and guys who can't play offense, Stephenson plays enough of each to hold down a regular spot, and keep developing his game. If he and Tuch get going, you're going to like him a lot. If not, he's a huge upgrade over Zykov or Bischoff because he can play a two-way game against top competition, where they've each just been trusted to chip in a little offense, so far.
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