Toews is done

Toews at 4C is kinda meh to me personally.

As for the lineup, there’s no scenario where Cogliano is scratched in favour for Meyers or even Gagner

Cogliano was pretty disappointing last year and was very lucky to have a 55.6% GF% with a 46.8% xGF%. He's probably a better fit for special teams but Meyers had significantly better underlying numbers and once his 5v5 S% rebounds from 5.66% I think he will be a better option at 5v5

Gagner vs Cogliano is closer imo but I just chose the natural RW

If Toews decides to play, he's better than a 4C. Perhaps a lot better if healthy. Dude scored at the same clip as Bertuzzi while battling health issues and playing with no one.

If he's healthy I think he could be a good 3C or even 2C in a pinch but having him on the 4th line just shows the depth of the Cs. In case of an injury Colton could move to wing and Toews could slide up if needed

My eye test and the stat sheets say Cogliano > Meyers all day long

I don't disagree that Cogliano had better results, I just question if that will continue into next season. Cogliano had poor on ice xG rates and was propped up by a high PDO and ended up having decent actual goal rates

Meyers was the opposite where he had strong on ice xG rates and was brought down by a low PDO and ended up having poor actual goal rates

If the underlying numbers stay the same I think over time both players actual goal rates will move a lot closer to the xG rates.

Its the same logic used in the Nichuskin, Lehkonen, and Toews acquisitions. All three of those players had significantly higher xG rates than actual goal rates before the Avs acquired them and eventually they turned into top tier players as their actual goal rates regressed back to what was expected and they started producing at a way better rate. Not saying Meyers will be as good as them but the idea is that he was undervalued and will perform better

Gotcha. I had him at 2C in one of mine. Not because I think he'd be a better 2C than RyJo, but because I liked how the middle six looked.

Lehk, Toews, Nichushkin (shutdown line)
Wood, Colton, RyJo

In any case, I really like the addition. It opens a lot of possibilities.

Before the C trades I had a couple AGMs with him as a middle 6 C. I like what Sakic and McFarland did more than my old AGMs but I agree Toews would still be a good pickup in addition to Johansen and Colton

@TJTwolf loves J Toews.

I don’t think Cogliano and Meyer faced equal opposition. I remember stretches of time where Cogliano filled in on the third and second line (at the peak of injuries), whilst Meyer battled amongst lesser players on the fourth line

That's true but he also had better linemates to work with at those times. Even looking at just after January 1 when he was only averaging 10 mins at even strength per game he was still only at a 43.5 xGF%

LOL! On a low deal as a 3C I can see why they'd chance it....maybe. I don't think Toews would want to carry on as a 4C though, and it stops anyone like Meyers/JLF etc ever getting a chance to develop at the NHL level. I think they're probably good enough at C now as it stands, bar the usual rash of Avs injuries.....and yes, personally, I still LOVE Toews! NOT!