Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
Perhaps that's the role he would be given. But it's questionable if that results in an improvement in the Flames' success.
Do you realize how much ice time RNH has been handed in his career? With top shelf players? Draisaitl was a goal shy of the Rocket Richard this year, McDavid is a perennial Art Ross / Hart contender. Taylor Hall's won a Hart Trophy. Jordan Eberle is probably the worst regular linemate RNH has had, and I wonder how many here, cap notwithstanding, wouldn't do a Janko/Eberle swap with respect to offense.
Over the span of Sam Bennett's career, RNH has had a 5v5 primary point rate of of 1.14. Bennett has had a 5v5 primary point rate of 1.21 in his career. Mikael Backlund, whom 69 pt RNH is supposed to be "upgrade on", is up at 1.30 over the same time span.
I don't doubt that RNH plays a ton of minutes on the Oilers, or that he's a useful player, but there's some serious reason to think he's very much being propped up by some damn good players. Those 69 points you allude to last year? 41 of them were created in concert with either McDavid, Draisaitl, or McDavid AND Draisaitl.
For all the Flak TJ Brodie takes for playing with Mark Giordano, it's amazing how much refusal there is to acknowledge when certain forwards leaguewide are not the dynamic point producers their numbers say they are. We've seen enough of Nuge here in Alberta to see how invisible and ineffective he can be so very often, yet the stat sheets are such tempting foolsgold.
Brodie is the best player in such a deal. Hands down. The Flames fanbase is so incredible disillusioned due to the visibilility of his turnovers that they're unable to identify that. There's also a serious question mark around RNH's primary point production, which is weak any way you look at it.
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This was a very informative post. I did not know about those rates you mentioned, and I did not know the percentage of his points that came from playing with Draisaitl and McDavid.
I don’t dislike Brodie because of his turnovers. I think that’s a function of how often he carries the puck, just like Gardiner. In fact, I like Brodie a lot (the only Flames jersey I own is of Brodie). His edgework is fantastic, and he has a high skill level.
I do think the Flames need an upgrade down the middle. Perhaps RNH is not the best option. Certainly, the numbers you’ve quoted have left me in doubt. But I think the Flames need to acquire a centreman who can generate offence. I don’t care too much about toughness or grit. I want speed and skill.
Another option would be to acquire a player like Ehlers or Nylander in return for Brodie + and then move Lindholm to C.
Ehlers would be my number 1 favourite option. The man is an automatic zone entry with possession.