Edited Feb. 26 at 2:15 p.m.
Quoting: KDow88
My apologies, he's missed 7 games, then 1 and now 35 and counting this year, not quite injury prone, but still has some physical growing up to do.. I shouldn't say locker room cancer, that's pretty hefty too, but he does rub people the wrong way hence Verbeek's no nonsense approach for negotiations, and the fact he is still willing to deal him for the right return, after already dealing his boy Drysdale, so where there's smoke there's fire.. And I stand pat on the over hyped portion, if it weren't for a few michigan goals and Tiktok stuff he wouldn't be put on a pedestal where he's a "franchise player" and deserves a haul like this, he would be a Jordan Eberle type player when he was in Edmonton at the beginning of his career- nothing to scoff at career wise, but he's not the No 1 C you're going to win a cup with...
He’s 22, yes, he has some physical growing up still to go. Thats okay
Rub some people the wrong way? Sure. But zero evidence that’s people on his own team. And I personally love a player who gets under the other team’s skin. Couldn’t care less what other fans think, we love him here, as does his own locker room and coaching staff (see literally any comment on him from Cronin)
Lebrun already shut down the trade rumor nonsense. You can look up him talking about it after verifying with multiple insiders (something the original rumor lacked). The TLDR is that Verbeek has never phoned a GM about him nor even brought his name up in a single trade.
Nobody knows what led to the initial contract holdout, that all stayed behind closed doors so all we can do is guess, which doesn’t amount to much. Nylander held out way longer and look at him now, 2 deals later and spending what looks to be his entire career with the team
The phrase ‘
over-hyped’ is frankly
over-used. It’s irrelevant how hyped he is or isn’t. What he is, is a proven 60 point scorer at 21 and 22 playing center, with the ability to also play wing. He has a lot of growth to be had off-the-puck, but he’s clearly started to work on it with the new coach/system. Regardless of his hype, the value for that player is high, and wouldn’t be moved without a blue chip piece coming back, which this offer lacks. With WPG drafting late in the first, and their #2-3 prospects not blue chip, the conversation would likely have to be around Rutger, which I don’t see WPG pursuing.