Quote:
Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan
BOOOOOO!!!
Barkov helps a team win a lot more than McDavid does. Puts up near a point per game, which obviously isn't McDavid level, but here's the thing: Barkov is an elite defensive forward who routinely plays the hardest minutes and often wins that battle. Connor floats on defense, full stop. Oh, and he wins faceoffs. Lots and lots of faceoffs. Connor still has his winger take draws for him. One last thing, Barkov is NEVER satisfied with his game, and is constantly working on things in the off-season to be a better player every single year. McDavid seems to have stagnated, meaning he isn't improving the deficiencies in his game the way he needs to.
I think Barkov is more of a franchise centerman than McDavid (yes I'm biased, but I just don't like McDavid's overall game). Plus, he makes just $5.9 million for another few years (and then I'm sure he'll get a significant raise) so his salary allows for more money to be spread around to other positions. Pretty important for a cash poor team like Florida.
I'd think long and hard about a 1 for 1 swap. Not sure I would do it, and I definitely wouldn't do any deal with Lucic included. Nobody would.
That's not even getting into Ekblad who is a solid average to above average defender who puts up points, especially goals. What are we getting back for our cornerstone franchise defenseman who is still just 22 years old? Bupkis. Basically you're saying that McDavid is worth two franchise players in return. No way.
Then we also have to throw in top prospects and draft picks for the privilege of Connor's incomplete game and Lucic's anchor contract. F that.
The Panthers are having a rough year, mostly because their goaltending has been letting them down, but they're much better set up for success in the near future than the Oilers are. That trade would sewer the franchise for the foreseeable future.
Awful awful awful.
|
McDavid is the best player in the world hard carrying an AHL quality roster to a better record than the Panthers so far, and is practically a sure bet to turn any team into a contender barring severely incompetent management. There is literally no player that even comes relatively close in terms of who you would want to build a franchise around at this point in time. Stating that you're "not sure" if you'd even trade Barkov for him is the type of thing other fanbases quote to laugh at and is a little embarrassing. It's really okay to admit the reality of what McDavid is, because once you do it makes the Oilers still being a dumpster fire 10x more hilarious and pathetic.