I am not a big fan of Nylander. I would want Jost, Keller, Brown, the 3 D and maybe a couple of others after the 'big 5' we gone.
With that being said, I do think that Nylander will be a very good complimentary player for the Flames on either of the top 2 lines. I just really don't like his motor, and other than offence, brings no other attributes to the team.
Jost has a beautiful non-stop motor to go with his abundance of skills. Would love to see him next to Bennett. Brown offers very high skill and a large frame that will make it difficult - and different - for teams to try and stop him - he can make a lot of room out there for our existing players, and still contribute offensively and defensively.
Keller is (imo) a higher skilled player than Nylander, without being much smaller. I think he has a way better motor and plays with much more tenacity as well. Heck, he may be more highly skilled. It is close.
I would also prefer any of the 3 higher-end D - Juolevi, Sergachev and probably Chychrun (though for me, this is getting close, as my like of Chychrun is diminishing). They will all probably hold better value in 2-5 years than Nylander.
I don't hate Nylander. I think he is a guaranteed NHL'er who will probably end up with 50 point seasons fairly regularly, and perhaps even a 70 point season or two in his career, with everything going right.
I just see the Flames as having enough offensive guys. I would like to see this team being built as a more tenacious team. Guys with non-stop motors all being puck-hounds giving other teams fits on the forecheck and backcheck, and then giving teams even more fits because they can score at a high clip. I would love for them to add some muscle in the top 6 as well, even if that muscle isn't bowling guys over - at least he will be effective on a cycle, or can at least disrupt the cycle, and gives the Flames a viable matchup against the other big centers in the league.
The guys I mentioned help the Flames address what I would like to see. Nylander doesn't - outside of just giving the other team fits on the offensive side. Jost over Nylander any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
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