Barkov is an incredible all around center, but he’s not a 100 point guy or whatever it is prorated over a season. He’s no McDavid, McKinnon or Malkin/Crosby/Thornton (at their peaks). He’s probably a better defensive player than all of them but he gives it up on the offensive end to all of them. No reason to think he can push Tkachuk to 100 points like Gaudreau did. And if you stick them on the same line that’s fine but they’ve gone from two top lines to one. I think 70-90 is where Tkachuk will land most years before he starts declining.
|