Quote:
Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen
I really don't know why shooting percentage matters much at all. I'm not basing my opinion on their shooting percentage. I'm basing it on their play. I think 2014-2015 Bouma was a good player who brought an equivalent value to the team that Bennett is providing today. I'm not insulting Bennett's ancestors here. I just thought Bouma was good that year (for what he was). I'm sure if you went back in 2014 people thought relatively highly of him as well.
I think you're confusing the argument because you think Bouma was some scrub who sucked. I disagree, he was solid that year. A perfect bottom six player.
Bouma was a warrior, lead the team in short handed ice-time, fought when needed, came out with energy every shift. Willing to sacrifice the body for the team. It was a bonus that he produced with Backlund. Which if you really feel the need to talk about the shooting percentage, playing in a top six role where Backlund is feeding you pucks could account highly for it.
A good fourth line energy shift is one that starts in your own zone, gets the puck out, shoots the puck on net and gets a whistle so the first line can come out refreshed in the offensive zone. For most of his career, that would have been Bouma's goal (of course actual goals also would have been a huge bonus). But there's a difference between the way the fourth line and second line play. A second line will be looking for that past more often, the perfect shot and opportunity. Better player, better passers, different role, different stats.
But that's besides the point. I just think Bouma was a solid bottom six player who was able to play on the second line with Backlund that year. I think Bennett is a solid bottom six player who is able to play on the second line with Backlund.
You keep saying Bennett is a top 7 player because he's producing at that ~210 range. Cool. Bouma was 158th that year. I mean, production, play, he had a great year for a bottom six player which earned him 6.6M. It's not insulting to compare Bennett to him that year.
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That's a long way of saying you like Bouma.
Stats say Bennett is more consistent, has had Bouma's good season a few times, is better away from the puck, and is more valuable up the lineup.
Shooting percentage is a huge issue, and given the way his career went it was a huge issue. Not sure why you're spinning that it doesn't matter. Teams that evaluate players based on one season where everything goes right overpay.
That's Bouma in a nutshell.
Bennett may not be a true top six forward for sure, and I'm not arguing that. But he's better money spent going forward then Bouma by a long shot.
Honestly not sure why you keep pressing this.