Modifié 29 mai 2022 à 23 h 15
Quoting: Alfie11
Wahlstrom has yet to show he can be a true, consistent top 6 forward, let alone 35 goal scorer and elite defensive player. He might get there (a new coach will probably help, but not guaranteed), but given his track record to date it’s not a lock, and his worth is no longer based on his upside/draft projection because he’s in the NHL now and 4 years removed from the draft. His adjusted projection is that at his peak, he’d be lucky to be even close to Mangiapane’s level. To suggest they are in the same universe in terms of value is absurd. Like, Wahlstrom had 24 points this year. Mangiapane had 23 goals on the road alone. And again, is far more than just an offensive contributor, which is all Wahlstrom is right now. Also, guys don’t have to have excess value. That’s literally the whole point of a contract, to pay a guy fair money for the on-ice value he provides. If you DO get excess value that’s nice, but if he lives up to his contract then that’s fine, and there’s no reason to expect Mangiapane to not do that (he’s improved every season, with consistently great underlying numbers). Based on the Kapanen trade, this might not even get it done. 15oa+Hallander for Kapanen vs. 13oa+Wahlstrom for Mangiapane, who is better in literally every regard? And did it all with PP2/2nd line ice time? Come on.
If you go by per 60 rates and overall impact , Wahlstrom had a 2nd line impact last season (20-21 season). You can’t show you’re a consistent top 6 forward when you get 4th line minutes and minimal powerplay time. Ask Cole Caufield. Also Wahlstrom had an above average defensive impact in his rookie season and he was average this season. So he’s not one dimensional.
I never commented whether the Flames should make this trade, I’m just saying it would be incredibly stupid for the isles to do it. If Lou made this trade, the owners should just take away the keys (tbh they should do it already). Im taking Wahlstrom + one of Lambert/Lekermakki and i wouldn’t think twice. I am not interested in giving up two high end assets who will be relatively cheap for foreseeable future rather than pay Mangiapane 7 mill when he wouldn’t put the isles over the top.
Obviously if a coach buries a player and affects his production, it decreases his market value. I don’t think there’s a 21 year old in the NHL who would have put up more than 20-30 points playing for the isles. Hard to produce playing 8-10 min a night. That being said I never said Wahlstrom is close in actual value or market value to Mangiapane right now. But I’m confident within the next 2 years he’ll be a solid two way 30-30 guy with an elite powerplay impact - and he’ll likely be doing it on an under market value contract. Then you factor in Lekeremakki + Lamberts , the trade could end up looking very bad for the isles in 2-3 years.