Mete is claimed before he gets to us, Vatanen though might be an interesting option. A team like Buffalo will snag mete. Plus wtf are you doing putting mete beside pionk. That is just bad.... that pairing would get absolutely crushed. Like they’d get ran over and dominated down low... also demelo on first pairing?? That’s just a mistake

I don't care about their size I care about their results. You're right though Mete probably doesn't even make it to us. Vatanen would also be a good free option.

The results would be so bad, like I can already see it, they’d get ran over.

But yes, Vatanen would be a nice free option.

Vatanen sure but I'd pass on Mete, he's way too small and yes size matters especially on defense.

I mean that isn't necessarily true.. It's how the players play within the system. Plus Jmo and Demelo works and Stanley and Poolman was relatively successful as a 3rd pairing. For reference the Avalanche probably have the best blue line the NHL this year. They put Makar and Girard together at times, 2 guys below 6 feet. They also really only have 1 giant in Graves as part of their regular rotation and they seem to be doing more than fine.

The Avs defence is on the smaller side, and its probably the best in the league this year. Size really doesn't matter in the game anymore. If that was the case Tyler Myers would be the best in the league and Sam Girard would be awful.

Wait until they hit playoffs and teams start grinding them out, they will get tired very very quickly.

They won't be able to pound them because guys like Makar and Girard break out the puck before they can even crank them. This is why Erik Karlsson was the best defenceman in the world for like 5 years, it wasn't because of his size.

Yet last year's playoffs the Avs really missed E.Johnson and Girard was getting pushed around, the Jets defense was getting run through the boards by Calgary, Tampa's D core was big and sturdy, one or two smallish dmen are fine but more then that is too many and Mete is really small, Jets don't need anymore runty dmen imo.

It’s not like they’re bad players, but they’re just not difference makers. I just don’t want them to pick up meh players. If I’m Chevy, I’m doing all that I can to take a big swing for the backend (as long as Heinola isn’t involved). Really go for, this is the best chance they’ve had in a while.

Also why bother claiming Mete when Niku is collecting dust? Is Mete really any better then Niku? I don't think so, Niku was great when he was in the lineup the last time for those few games, if we really need a smallish puck moving dman why not just insert him into the lineup?

The only guy was Ekholm and Chevy walked away from that price and rightfully so

Yes Mette is a lot better than Niku, Niku is pretty much useless defensively and has still been bad offensively. Mete is great at breaking the puck out of the zone.

Also their is a big difference between guys like Hedman and Cernak compared to Forbort lol

Niku was great at moving the puck the last time he was in the lineup, was often the only dman who could make a damn pass.

Yes no doubt but that D core was big, hell they got mileage out of Bogo and Luke Schenn, if they had a Mete as an option I doubt he plays over either of those two.

Luke Schenn and Bogo only played because of injuries, Vasilevski was good in the playoffs and their depth at forward is ridiculous. No one is beating that. I do understand what you're getting at, I just think a useful player is a useful player personally, I don't dwell on size that much.

I don’t disagree, but I also think that you can only rely on that being true for so long.

Yes I know but as I said if Mete was one of their options on defense he probably doesn't see a game.
Look at the D core's of the last few cup winners, they weren't a bunch of runts, after seeing Morrissey, DeMelo and Pionk get run over by Calgary and the much maligned Kulikov was are best dman in that series cause he could actually stand up to the physical play and push back I don't see how we can't identify that size matters especially for dmen in the playoffs.
There's plenty of useful players out there but I don't see the need for yet another small LHD.
Still think R.Murray would be the best option and he shouldn't cost a lot to acquire.