Quoting: Trade_is_one_for_one
No thanks, Brassard has been bad this season, and I don't think Maatta or Oleksiak should be anything more than a n5 D in a good team. I think trading Zib should be considered because when we become good, he'll be a 28YO in an expiring deal. If you can yield a great return (multiple picks and good prospects), you trade him. You keep him otherwise.
Brass has 60% of his starts in the defensive zone and almost no power play time. Hard to knock him as having a bad season.
Don't get me wrong, not arguing the trade. I just don't like seeing a player who is doing ok with what time he's getting getting knocked.
He's fine as a player. Someone will give him a larger role next year and people will say. Oh he turned it around. It was never him, it was the opportunity.
Just to put it into comparison When they had Bonino as the 3C, In 15-16 he had 6 Even strength goals in 63 games. and in 16-17 he had 11 in 80.
Brass has 7 in 33 so far this year. If he goes at an 80 game pace he'll have 16-17 goals. That's not bad at all for the kind of ice time he's getting. And his play is actually getting better with better line mates at the moment.
So when people knock Brass as not having a good year I just kind of laugh. He's finding the net in a limited offensive role. He'll get a shot as a 2C somewhere next year. He has a lot left in the tank.
As for Maatta he's got his name on the cup 2x while being a 2nd pairing. Say what you will he plays well enough.