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Yegor bomb
Member Since
Apr. 11, 2022
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Columbus Blue Jackets
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Forum: Armchair-GMApr. 3 at 1:24 a.m.
Thread: 2024-2025 Season Start
I agree with many things here. I don't think the GM makes his big moves until 2025.

I'l discuss the Hanifin signing a little bit. I've thought about it too. I don't think it makes sense with Severson there to lock up around 7 million long term, even if Provorov is traded at the draft. It's going to make it really difficult when the young players look to get paid, I think. I also am a big believer in Mateychuk. So it's might well lead to a situation where you have to choose between Werenski, Hanifin and Mateychuk. Of those three, I'd rather have Werenski and Mateychuk than any other combination long-term.

If I could change one thing about the entirety of the Columbus roster, it'd be removing the NTC from Severson's contract. In that hypothetical, I'd move him out and try to sign Pesce. Now maybe you could trade Gudbranson (to Toronto or whoever needs a physical defensive D) and still get Pesce, but that seems unlikely.

The way Merzlikins is talking/acting, I think a buyout needs to happen this off-season. If Detroit are willing to trade Husso for him as some have suggested, that's great, but I don't think they are. Personally, I'd be looking to sign a guy like David Rittich on a short-term deal to let Greaves get another season to grow.

Regarding the young players, I think Mateychuk will be ready next year and I do think Jiricek needs ice time in the NHL. Next year should be all about making a small step towards the playoffs while letting the youth grow, in my opinion.
Forum: Armchair-GMApr. 2 at 9:09 p.m.
Thread: 2024-2025 Season Start
Some quickfire thoughts:

1. Too much for KJ, too little for Marchenko, too much for Tex, and just right for Chinakhov and Sillinger; but, we're talking random guesses, I'd be stoked about the Sillinger and Chinakhov extensions and all of those extensions are plausible.

2. I can't see ownership being stoked about shelling out on another UFA defenseman given how Severson has looked, I think Provorov is the placeholder for Mateychuk, and we just need to sign a veteran depth LD that can play 2nd or 3rd pair until Mateychuk is ready.

3. Start all the new kids in Cleveland, and I'd throw Jiricek down there to round out his game some more, too. Let him play there until he's ready to step into at least the 2nd pair at the NHL level forever. I'd let KJ play down there too to start the year; call it a rehab stint and make sure he's good to go, no sense in playing him in the bottom-6 when he could be getting top-6 minutes with Dumais/Brindley.

4. I think we should be looking at a 1-year deal for a UFA goalie, give Tarasov the net, and buyout Elvis ASAP. He's a good backup, but if he's convinced he's going to be a starter somewhere, that's an untenable relationship with the team. Let someone else pick him up for next year, best for all parties involved.

Overall, I agree, I don't think this team is going to see a major shakeup. Remove the pieces that haven't worked (Elvis, Provorov), sign some veteran help for cheap, let the kids develop, take another year to figure out who the core is going to be and form an identity around a solid leadership core, commit, and work toward a wildcard spot in 2026.
Forum: Armchair-GMFeb. 6 at 10:30 a.m.
Thread: no hate just curious
oh ya im so here for this i am ur target audience with this question.

cole sillinger: absolutely in the midst of a comeback season. the NHL debut at age 18 was the wrong development plan for him. typically only the greats play a true age 18 season and cole sillinger was never supposed to be a great. he overperformed thanks to Gus Nyquist, Jakob Voracek, and Oliver Bjorkstrand being his wingers. made the game really easy for him to rack up points because all three had very nice seasons (they were the CBJ number 4, 1, and 2 scorers that season respectively). to put voracek's 2021-22 season into context: he had 3 more assists than johnny gaudreau did with the same CBJ team the following season.

so then for cole in 2022-23, he's dealt the hand of: voracek plays just 11 games before LTIRetiring, nyquist has a just okay season before being IR traded, and bjorkstrand was moved in the summer for johnny gaudreau, who cole does not get to play with. so he spends that season playing significant time with rookie Kent Johnson (didn't work), Liam Foudy (who isn't an NHL player), and Emil Bemstrom (who isn't an NHL player). naturally, it went terrible. he is not and probably never will be an elite finisher and so playing with people who also aren't great finishers nor great creators means there's simply nothing that happens.

this year, cole started the season super cold because he was bumped around the lineup trying to re-earn his spot. the CBJ have a LOT of forwards in the organization. he was out for a short time due to injury and ever since he came back from that, he was given a steady spot in the lineup with quality linemates (a lot of Yegor Chinakhov) and has really elevated his game. i would say that over the last two months, he's established that his ceiling is true 2C. he is using his size better than ever and the skating has been decent enough even if the speed hasn't come back. he is an impact player on PK and PP and had a solid month stretch where he was our best player. the faceoff percentage is coming up, he's putting some points on the board, and is making a positive impact on possession stats as well.

the big question that remains with cole is can he become a 60 point per season guy. the finishing has to get to 20 goal range and the creation has to get to 40 assist range if he wants to reach that 2C ceiling. his current play is like 16-20-36 which is not bad for a 20 year old and could easily develop into 22-38-60. but we gotta see it start happening.

kent johnson: quite the opposite of cole. no matter who he has played with, he's been in the 15-25-40 neighborhood consistently. this season has had a lot more highs and lows en route to those numbers than last season did. i have described him on another thread as "a strong wind could knock him of the puck". he's so impressive with the puck on his stick in any sort of space but he's not creating space for himself very well. the vision is really good but the passes often don't connect.

the number one big thing with him is that he needs NHL adult strength. it will make a huge difference in his game because opponents will have to respect him more. currently, they just crowd him physically and apply pressure to limit his ability to create. his hockey sense still has a ways to go as well as he's susceptible to open-ice hits and pokechecks that he hasn't learned to anticipate yet. which makes sense for a 21 year old with just 122 NHL games.

i don't personally think that he's shown he has a real future as an NHL center and i think he'd be best suited to focus on becoming one of the league's premier creators on the wing, but im no expert.
Forum: Armchair-GMFeb. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Thread: Boone Jenner is the most overrated player right now
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>CaseyFlyman</b></div><div>That's a good point about A vs C prospects, it's kind of a subjective measure and obviously depends on what the team with the winning bid has to offer.

For ADB, he's objectively the better player, but he also wanted out of Ottawa (Boone wants to stay, and the organization wants him), was an RFA (not under contract even though he was under team control), is a winger (not a huge knock, but a small factor), and now makes more than twice as much as Jenner. He was also traded over the offseason. The market for a player like that was a lot smaller, considering the teams that had the cap space to sign ADB long term are also not the teams looking to give up a 1st+ for him.

It's a little like trading for Monahan at the TDL every year for 3 years, except giving up those assets all at once.</div></div>

I get it... But that's why I think a lesser prospect would get it done...

But I do agree on the 1st+2nd+prospect
Forum: Armchair-GMFeb. 5 at 6:02 p.m.
Thread: Boone Jenner is the most overrated player right now
Is this what "rent free" is? Is that what the kids are saying nowadays?

For anyone just now joining the daily discussion:
1. Jenner the <em>player </em>is probably worth a 1st + mid round pick. (i.e. Foligno trade from 2021 which yielded a 1st and 4th. That was an overpay, but Foligno was a UFA, winger, and had worse production at the time, so Jenner's value is obviously a little higher).
2. Columbus has no intention or desire to move him. If you want him, that bumps the price up. Every CBJ fan will preface a Jenner proposal on here with "he's not available".
3. He's on a great contract, so most teams can afford him, even cap-constrained contenders. Increases his trade value.
4. His contract has term (and he's only 30, so still in his prime for the duration). Increases his trade value.
5. He plays a defensive style game as a center, scores a lot of goals, and wins ~55% of his faceoffs. Increases his trade value.
6. He brings intangibles (grittiness, work ethic, leadership). <em>Ever so slightly</em> increases his trade value.
7. The center market is insane right now. Increases his trade value.

I consistently put his ask at a 1st, 2nd, and A-prospect. What's it worth to your team to have a 2C making under $4M for 3 playoff runs? What's it worth to your team to make sure Colorado or Boston <em>doesn't</em> have that 2C making under $4M for 3 playoff runs?