Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
This is ultimate semantics, but I think the claims were:
- best two-way forward
- one of the best defensive forwards
And I think those arguments have been defended well.
Backlund and Lindholm (and maybe a few others) are almost certainly better than Tkachuk defensively, but their offensive delta is greater than their D delta.
Perhaps overly simplistic, but:
D:
Backlund >>>Tkachuk
Lindholm>>Tkachuk
O:
Backlund<<<<<Tkachuk
Lindholm<<<Tkachuk
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Perhaps it’s more fit on the line as opposed to “good defensively”. Because there’s different aspects to good defence. Once set up in their own zone, Tkachuk is perfectly fine defensively. I’m not sure he’s the guy to make up for Monahan’s lack of speed on a backcheck (frankly I think Monahan is decent enough defensively once they are back in formation) or Gaudreau’s overall defensive game. I think they need someone with a bit more speed and maybe who plays defence more like a centre (like Lindholm).
So it’s not so much that Tkachuk isn’t a very good 2 way guy or even that he isn’t good defensively (I accept I am wrong there according to stats). I just don’t like the thought of him playing the Lindholm role. Especially from the RW.
Of course I thought Backlund could play the Lindholm role and I was way off.