Quoting: DeadWingsv2
But you're also talking about moving our best trade chip for a position we don't need and not a given player at that. It's not even about value, it's about fit and need.
Detroit needs to be loading up on futures that we can draft and develop. I trust Yzerman's draft record of scouting and talent evaluation far more than Dubas.
I also don't know what it is about Finland, but they don't seem to produce impact defensemen (good with forwards and goalie, but defense?), so how much of what Niemela is doing over seas is even a good barometer of NHL readiness or success? Other than Heiskenan, I can't think of one other legit top 2 defensemen in the league. Maata is probably the next best and he's realistically a 3rd pair guy on a GREAT team (top 4 on most). I just don't feel like Finland's defensive systems translate well to the NHL, so I'm not even that high on him as a prospect in the first place.
I can appreciate the historic nature of your opinion of a player without knowing much about the player specifically. History sometimes is helpful to get a simple idea of a player. Admittedly, I think we all tend to do that even though it obviously doesn’t translate accurately all the time and why would it?
How many really good German defenders are there in the NHL? One?
I like that you brought up Maatta in reference to Neimela because, before he broke into the league he was a very highly regarded two way defense prospect with a very high offensive upside and skating ability. Topi actually reminds me of the pre-NHL Olli but an even better skating version. Obviously with the injuries Maatta has had and the adjustments he’s made to salvage his career are admirable; he’s nowhere near what he was expected to become and obviously having his career derailed by injuries and whatnot certainly had an effect on the trajectory of his career.
Let me reiterate, I am extremely high on Neimela, higher than most. His body of work at the WJC was all I needed to see to form that opinion. I think he will be a special player. Truthfully, I’d trade Bertuzzi straight up for him.
Im not sure I agree with you on RHD not being a position of need - I certainly think it is. Hronek has only a year left on his deal and aside from Seider, there really isn’t much else to speak on the right side throughout the organization. At least at Center we have a high end prospect in Kasper and perhaps more in players like Amadeus Lombardi.
Neimela might be a year away and that would fall in line perfectly with Hronek’s potential departure. Unless you want to dish out $8.5m to Hronek? Wouldn’t it make more sense to have depth at a position where you potentially have to make a tough decision about whether to re-sign a player like Hronek or perhaps trade him for another position of need since you have (cheaper) reinforcements lined up to do so?