Basically at the mid-point of the season. Offense has been stellar. No complaints. Depth scoring has been a welcome surprise, most notably Barbashev. We can get better defensively though. We aren't letting in too many goals in the crease, something that was evident last year and showed our D-men were getting bullied by the net, but still I think we give up way too many chances off the rush where the other team beats us through the neutral zone (that really falls on the forwards making sure they backcheck). When our forwards play that heavy 200ft brand of north-south hockey Chief constantly talks about we are a difficult team to play against. Binner has been fair, can't expect game7 in boston every night but also can't let in that last goal against toronto a few nights back. Husso has been solid, I just think our team plays better when Husso is in net. It is strange. I am not concerned with Binner, will be great for us when we really need him. Coaches have been excellent, lot's of players in and out and they have been able to plug in the right guys. Do not underestimate how crucial our coaching staff has been to our success this year.
As far as trade speculation, it really comes down to whether DA thinks its more important to keep our middle/low-tier depth at defense (Mikkola, Perunovich, Scandella, Walman because really those 4 guys are fighting for two spots), or trade a least two of those players plus prospects and picks for one "top 4 LHD". Chychrun is an excellent player and has an even better contract but is he worth Perunovich (who Bill Armstrong really likes, reason why we drafted him), some pair of Hofer/Kostin/Neighbors/Bolduc, a first and then Scandella plus another 2nd rounder and another depth d-man? Just seems like a lot of players we are giving up in a season where lineups change constantly. I think in any other non-covid year, we go for it but the value of having bodies we could throw in the lineup confidently outweighs the difference between having Mikkola vs. Chychrun with Parayko. Now if we are somehow able to snag Chychrun for Perunovich, Scandella, Bolduc, Hofer and a 1st that is something I would do in a heartbeat because you still have Mikkola starting with Bortuzzo and Walman as a sub should we need him. Unfortunately I don't see Arizona doing that.
A name I have been seeing pop up a couple times as another depth D man that I don't know much about is Vladislov Gavrikov. The last Russian we added to the team worked out well, lets see what it would take to add another. I'm sure Vladdy wouldn't mind. I don't think Gavrikov would be anything more than a replacement for Scandella, who I don't dislike persay but I just find him soft, something you can't say about Mikkola. I think if we can add one rugged 3rd line d-man opposite Bortuzzo we effectively close the only "hole" in the entire line-up when fully healthy (this depends if one views Mikkola as a liability, I don't).
*Disclaimer; I have no idea what Gavrikov's value is
The line-up below is what I would put out there given everything I have seen thus far if we needed to win 1 game.
Columbus isn’t trading Gavrikov unless it’s a massive overpay, and this ain’t it. Gavrikov means too much to Columbus’s locker room and is a great mentor for the younger Russian players coming over from Russia. He has been great for Chinakov this season.
Good thoughts. With how obvious the need for another D-man is becoming, I have faith that Armstrong will make a move. I just hope it's a smart move and not something like a 1st for Chiarot. I like that Chychrun trade too - a lot to give up but a perfect addition of a core player to build the D around. Based on the hype right now, Arizona might do better.
Quoting: Ajp_18
Columbus isn’t trading Gavrikov unless it’s a massive overpay, and this ain’t it. Gavrikov means too much to Columbus’s locker room and is a great mentor for the younger Russian players coming over from Russia. He has been great for Chinakov this season.
That's a shame because he'd be a great fit for the Blues.
Columbus isn’t trading Gavrikov unless it’s a massive overpay, and this ain’t it. Gavrikov means too much to Columbus’s locker room and is a great mentor for the younger Russian players coming over from Russia. He has been great for Chinakov this season.
The weekly gavy to St. Louis trade. But in all seriousness this isnt enough for the jackets to accept.
dw we've been exhausting every possible option haha. The forwards have been so good this season that it would be a shame if they don't add a d-man to try to make a run.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
mokumboi et Friendly_Cannon a aimé ceci.
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