Quoting: pharrow
Jankowski got replaced by Lucic. Lets not go around claiming he's greater than anyone.
The irrational fear of playing younger players needs to end. He can do no worse than what Jankowski would do. When that is the hurdle he clears it easily.
I am not afraid to play younger guys. Jankowski is simply better than O'Connor. And it isn't like Jankowski is old, he is 26, two years younger than Namestnikov who you brought in. Why are you afraid to play younger guys? (rhetorical question)
I am also not insinuating that Jankowski didn't have a bad year last year. But one good/bad year doesn't make/break a career.
"Convince me this isn't a better team."... You haven't even put the seed of a thought that your team is better than the real team in anyone's head, much less convince anyone. Convince me that Namestnikov is a better option than Kapanen (even though he isn't) and that a drafted guy that won't impact the NHL for a couple years is better than a guy that is very solid defensively and had 32 points two seasons ago and 17 goals the season prior.
As a side, to counter whatever you are going to toss out for support of Mercer... looking at what might be considered "impact"
2019 draft class, only 3 players played more than 8 games last year, and those were picks #1, #2, and #3. (23 points, leads the group, not really impact players)
2018 draft class, only 5 guys have played over 52 games total over the last 2 years, picks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7.
2017 draft class, only 8 guys have played over 72 games total over the last 3 seasons.
This is just to show that very few draft picks have impact in early years, and those that do are top-5 picks and a couple lucky hits, and the lucky hits take a few years.
Also, why did you pick Mercer at #18 rather than Amirov with Pittsburgh's #15 pick that was traded for Kapanen? Mercer a little easier to argue for over Amirov?