Montreal retained 50% of his salary, we saved there and probably couldn't have got Dillon paying the whole amount. He played well in montreal which is good to see.
Draft picks are the price you pay to get guys. We didn't give up a first. We've had a history of good drafting. Didn't give up a 1st round pick. I'd like to know any other team that's drafted as well as we have in the 1st round the past 10 years, usually a late pick and we still get a great player. Wilson 14th, Forsberg 11th, kuznetsov 25th, Carlson mid 20's, johannson mid 20's, samsonov mid 20's. Don't worry too much about us having limited picks. We've got McMicheal coming who will be good. I've seen him play in London 3 times this year.
I tend to agree with you Capman, about the deal for Kovi.
Mainly, as mentioned, a combo of reasons, including the lower risk vs. reward, and although not a big production guy, he’s not a gamble, either, to simply check as an insert for Panik. I mean, why not?
The major portion of energy/chemistry, on that third line, is basically between Eller and Hagelin! Their combined efforts, have been truly causing and creating A LOT of both obvious, and not so obvious, POSITIVES, over ALL 200 feet of the ice, for our team! Their duo is one of the few positive things to have been able to talk about since Christmas, actually!!
Panik, had a very small offensive flash at mid-season, but in my opinion, only APPEARS more defensively responsible, than he really is, as a result of playing alongside Eller and Hags! Not that he’s a defensive slouch, as a forward either, just that he’s kind of been invisible/vanilla, and I don’t think you’re gonna upset much of anything between Eller and Hags, as they’re a very well oiled machine right now, in their own right!
So why not try Kovi on the third line, for a bit? I don’t think you want to mess with the fourth line chemistry, and I think Rierden is too chickenshit to move anybody on the first and second lines!
Somebody mentioned Oshie on the third line, for Panik! I actually do like the idea of that, and wouldn’t see it at all as a demotion! But it’s anybody’s guess there!
And for what it’s worth, I don’t think this trade compares, in any way, to the Shattenkirk debacle. One main difference is that we WERE NOT having the defensive issues, at the time, like we do now. Secondly I think that GMBM learned a hard lesson about simply signing a big name, just because it’s out there!
Additionally, what fantastic team chemistry, right now, would be at risk of being upset?? I would say, what freaking chemistry!!😂🤣
Rush