Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
For those who want to trade Tkachuk for Eichel, I get why and understand the reasoning, but 2 questions I have is:
1. How does the right wing side get fixed with Tkachuk?
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First of all, there're two halves to this:
A) The Powerplay
So as far as the powerplay goes, you've
actually balanced out your top PP unit, you have two RHS forwards (Eichel and Lindholm), and two LHS forwards (Gaudreau being one).
The most consistently dangerous PPs in the league almost unequivocally use this setup. Let's use Tampa and Washington as the examples.
RHS one timer option on the left wing side - Stamkos/Ovechkin. This is the role Eichel has historically played on the Sabres powerplay.
LHS playmaker option on the right wing side - Kucherov/Kuznetsov. Gaudreau's played here a bit, but we don't use him here nearly enough.
RHS snap shot option in the bumper area - Point/Oshie. Since the play is coming from the right side to the center, it doesn't have to cross a RHS forward's body, and they can get the shot off as soon as the pass is made, allowing for a more dangerous offense. Lindholm would be right at home here. Alternatively, you put a LHS like Mangiapane or Monahan on the bumper, where Eichel is the one finding him from the left side.
LHS netfront-ish area playmaker/tipper - Killorn/Backstrom. Of course I'd love to hang on to Tkachuk for this role, but I think Mangiapane can be a LHS version of Brendan Gallagher. If Mangiapane or Monahan are playing bumper, Lindholm has also shown skill in netfront tips.
B) 5-on-5
It's not that hard to find players who can produce and play a solid 200 foot game from the wing position. When you have a center like Eichel, he makes everyone around him profoundly better. We're just not used to having a center of that caliber. There's one more factor here...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
2. What do you do with the other centers? Unless you like the idea of having nearly $27M tied up into 4 centers?
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Well, if Eichel, Lindholm, and Backlund are your guys, you have two options for Monahan
A) Play him as a winger.
This isn't an awful option as he has reduced responsibility and can still take some faceoffs. There's nor reason a guy like Monahan, assuming this year is just a blip, can't adjust to that position given his hockey sense and shooting skill. So you could ostensibly roll something like
Gaudreau - Eichel - Monahan
Dube - Lindholm - Mangiapane
as your top six
B) Trade him for a winger prospect
Don't forget, how did we acquire Jarome Iginla?
I think his trade value is lower than his real value right now, but if there's an option to acquire an A-prospect who is speedy, skilled, responsible, and expansion-exempt - I think you have to consider that. A team on the cusp might be willing to do that trade. So instead your roster maybe becomes:
Gaudreau - Eichel - Mangiapane
Dube - Lindholm - (A-Prospect=Monahan)