Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny01
Remains to be seen. I think it is far from an optimal take to say they laugh at an offer that includes a 35 goal scorer who plays on a shutdown line and a top pairing Dman coming off a 48pt season. All these players are from the same draft and are around the same age.
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Mangiapane is unsigned and got 35 playing second fiddle to the most dominant line in the league last year. I'm no fancy stat guy person but I'd assume you'd find that he had much weaker defensive opponents than the typical top liners get. If he's paid as a 35 goal scorer, he'll be the focus point of the opposing team's plan to shut him down instead of an afterthought to shutting down Gaudreau's line. I think most team's looking to acquire him would like to see if he can first replicate his production.
Barzal has played with players that would not be top 6 on most other teams. Bailey in particular has been fortunate due to the Islanders winger depth that he got to transition from playing with Tavares to Barzal but before that we saw what Bailey was when he was playing with Neilsen - a fringe top 6 player. And he's only got worse.
Unlike McDavid who can use his speed or even Iginla who could power through someone, Barzal's playmaking requires his linemates to not be trash. Because right now they might as well triple team Barzal cause they can get away with it.
If they were looking to acquire a winger like Mangiapane it would be to upgrade the ones Barzal plays with, not in a deal for him.
Also no one said they would laugh at the deal lol.