Quoting: CaseyFlyman
I'm personally expecting a Fantilli Calder, Marchenko Rocket Richard, and Johnson Art Ross, thank you very much!
Like I said, I would definitely accept this deal. The spending-averse Columbus ownership may say otherwise. To build off another one of your comments though, I think Peeke could have actually peaked. Yes he had horrible stats and analytics playing huge minutes for a horrible and injured Columbus team, and I think that showed his limitations. He's big, hits, and blocks shots, while having a good shot himself; but he's slower, overly aggressive, and often out of position. He's never going to get as many minutes (and thus as many shot blocks or hits) as last season, and I don't think there's much room for him to grow. He's probably an ok 3rd-pair ceiling, who can (but shouldn't) play up the lineup if there's injuries.
Marchenko is going to win the Rocket one year with a 60g 0A season lol. The shoot first mentality he has is crazy. I really don't mind it tho, I think more.players should bias towards taking the shot, too many nowadays want the perfect play.
I disagree a bit on Peeke, I assume you've seen him more than me so you are likely right but I like to give D about 300 games before saying they have hit their ceiling.
Lots of guys like Karlsson, Hanafin, Hamilton, Werenski, Severson, etc took about 3-4 full seasons to really hit their stride. Forwards tend to be able to show what they can do pretty quickly then slowly progress then fall, more predictable than D. I'd want at least 1 more year to see Peeke in a shutdown pair or at a #2 before saying he can be the support to a star or a #4 with a strong defensive partner in a shutdown pair.
The raw skills are all there, stuff just seems as you say a step behind but many guys like Gudas were like that for a while then it clicks in their late 20s.