Quote:
Originally Posted by Macho0978
I see moving Klapka instead as we would need to add a huge amount to get it done. If Rasmus is involved even at RS, we add the pick. Klapka has potential but has also cleared waivers. Can't imagine he has value outside of Calgary.
Pospisil isn't better than Zary. Just like Skinner and Arvidsson are better players than Janmark, Fredric or Connor Brown. Come playoff time those types of players step up. Pospisil brings elite skating to the table with some skill and the ability to forecheck and get under team's skin. Why trade him unless you are worried about injuries? His contract will always be cheaper than Zary's too
|
Klapka becomes waiver eligible this year IIRC. He has never been through waivers thus far.
I will 100% agree that Mercer is the better player today. However, Klapka has some seriously good attributes and is trending towards being an absolute unicorn. For me, it is two things:
1) Klapka started playing like he was Tom Wilson last season. Small sample size, yes, but that's what he started looking like. I would hate to trade away Tom Wilson for a middle-six player.
2) Klapka had a great season in the AHL before last season - led the team in scoring.
I would say that based on these two consecutive seasons, I don't think that Klapka's scoring ability was simply luck or brushed aside as a heater that will never be replicated. Maybe that's all it was, but I know I would definitely hate to be the guy that traded that away. It is so damn expensive to get a big body with skill. Columbus just tied-up Olivier on a 6 year deal. If Klapka develops anywhere between Olivier and Wilson, that will really help the Flames down the road, especially in the playoffs.
I think NJ probably says no anyway to Klapka straight-up for Mercer - Mercer is the much more productive player, with room to grow yet. I just see him as a middle-six winger more than anything. Not a center, and definitely not a top-line player. I would rather keep my potential unicorn with lower trade value in my back pocket and see what happens, and if I do decide to go after Mercer, I would do it with other assets.