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dickie_boon

yotes own canada
Member Since
Jul. 20, 2021
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Forum: Armchair-GMMay 4, 2023 at 1:51 p.m.
Forum: Mock-DraftMay 1, 2023 at 4:22 p.m.
Forum: Armchair-GMApr. 26, 2023 at 2:16 p.m.
Thread: good team
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>dickie_boon</b></div><div>hes weak defensively and wouldn't really play on the fourth line. look at the roster. who are you taking out and how much better does that make the team?</div></div>

Bjorkstand isn't weak defensively. This season he had more takeaways than giveaways (56 to 20) and drew more penalty minutes than he took (28 to 16). He digs out pucks to gain possession and cuts off opposing passing lanes. On offense, he makes smart passes, again digs out pucks to maintain possession, and screens the goalie. Bjorky is a big part of why Tolvanen flourished upon arrival in Seattle.

You are correct that his smaller frame doesn't lend itself well to a fourth line role in a traditional sense, but he wouldn't be playing there, he would be playing in the top nine, likely with Gourde and Tolvanen again. Seattle doesn't really have a fourth line anyway. The "fourth line" this year, which consisted of three of Geekie, Tanev, Donato, and Sprong, did quite a bit of scoring. That's Seattle's strength; they can roll all four lines and each is a threat to put the puck in the back of the net.

Looking ahead to next year, there's a chance Wright will need some more seasoning in the AHL, so Seattle won't necessarily need to move out a forward at all. If Wright is ready, I think Wennberg is the most likely candidate to be traded, though that wouldn't happen until near the start of the season, if at all. No matter how you slice it, trading Bjorkstrand doesn't make the Kraken better. He's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Forum: Mock-DraftApr. 24, 2023 at 11:23 a.m.