Quote:
Originally Posted by Beatle17
What exactly does Toffoli bring that is so outstanding? His points and games played (with a better supporting cast) are the same as Sven. He is also 6 months older. Every time I see stuff like this I wonder if its not people (not saying you - just your comment was the first I saw in this thread) assuming someone else's "toy" is better. From what I have watched Toffoli's upside isn't as high as Sven's. He has scored a few more goals but nothing spectacular and his skating is definitely a step below. If he has such high upside and ability then why is LA always looking for a scoring winger heading into the playoffs?
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This is definitely not a case of falling in love with someone else's toy. Toffoli is a right shooting RW with great finishing ability. That is a commodity completely missing in our system. In fact, there aren't that many of them out there, so to get one you have to give to get. Toffoli brings more size and physicality to the game, which is exactly what Burke said he is looking for in players going forward.
In a direct comparison between the two young forwards you could try and argue that their numbers are similar. Baertschi's 8 goals and 24 points are across parts of three seasons. Toffoli's 12 goals and 24 points are across parts of two seasons, with the majority of his goals and points coming this year. Toffoli did it for a team where it would be very tough to break in, and Baertschi did it where the talent level was very thin. If anything, I think Baertschi had an advantage. Where the comparison really goes off the rails is when you compare their minor league numbers. Baertschi has 13 goals and 35 points in 53 AHL games. Toffoli has scored 39 goals and 69 points in 74 AHL games. Toffoli is also a plus player while Baertschi is a minus player playing on similar strength AHL teams.
I think both Baertschi and Toffoli are good prospects. I think Baertschi has big upside, an elite scorer, but poor potential to attain that level. I think Toffoli has a better chance of attaining the expectations which are a finishing forward with a solid two way game. Because of his position and size I would take Toffoli over Baertschi on the Flames, especially when you consider the development of the depth on the LW in the Flames system. When you consider that the Flames have Gaudreau, Granlund and Ferland to compete with Baertschi, and only left shooting Poirier as a RW prospect with any major upside, I see this as a deal you make for the betterment of the system and team. Especially when you consider the number of LW prospects in this coming draft and the complete lack of RW prospects. There has to be some balance in the system and the Flames have way too many LW prospects and not enough RWs. That has to change. If moving Baertschi got us a top end RW like Toffoli, I think they have to make that deal.