Quoting: Db1899
Mikheyev will likely be a good play driver but I still highly doubt he’ll be a good finisher on Vancouver. It’s not like he’s 24 YO, he’s entering his age 28 season.
The most wild thing about this discussion is how you completely ignore facts. Romanovs analytics were that of a 2nd pair defenseman in each of his last 2 seasons. He is already better than a 3rd pair D. He also set up high danger scoring chances at an above average so I am not sure why you feel the need to make up things. Do you realize how insane it is to want to be right so bad that you’ll ignore facts.
Rathbone likely won’t hit his ceiling. He has the makeup of a 3rd pair/PP2 defenseman. Romanov’s skating ability is just as good and Romanov’s outlet passing/in some offense is already better at the NHL level than Rathbone will ever be.
It doesn’t matter what your eye test says, Romanovs underlying numbers are already at a 2nd pair level at 22 YO, and that’s while playing with pylons like Chiarot + savard
Romanov actually did not have good analytics, he was mediocre at best, and even that is being generous.
And I have seen him play a lot, he gets absolutely killed when he has to defend against Top 6 players. It’s only in a sheltered role, that he can be effective. He really reminds me of a younger Luke Schenn, which isn’t a good thing, considering Lou paid a 1st round pick for him (#13). Romanov has very little upside, and you are delusional if you think he is even half as good offensively as Rathbone. This alone shows you have never seen any of them play.
Rathbone is somebody who is very noticeable offensively. His shot is already better than most NHL defensemen. And his skating is among the best defensemen in the league. Rathbone and Garland have the same skating coach, and Rathbone constantly beats Garland in drills. And Garland is an excellent skater himself. In development camp, Quinn and Rathbone were skating circles around everybody else, they were not that far apart themselves. Quinn has better edges, but their top speed and acceleration is more or less the same. Whereas Romanov will probably get lapped twice by Quinn if they were on the ice together. And let’s not even talk about their shot or passing. They are not even in the same dimension offensively. And btw, if Rathbone played for a trash team like Montreal, he would be playing Top 4 minutes too. That does not mean anything. It is about what’s best for your development. And Romanov should have played the year in Laval too. Except he got exposed in the NHL and did not learn anything. He is still the same player he was last year, as he was this year. Whereas Rathbone played 25 minutes a night in Abby, and learned what it takes to be a Top 4 D man at the professional level, offensively and defensively
Also Mikheyev has only been in the NHL for 3 years. And he has spent most of it injured. He has an extremely raw skill set and his best is yet to come (when he finally plays a full season, with Top 6 line mates). His defensive play and PK alone make him a valuable Top 9 player. His speed and finishing are just extra pieces that will elevate him into a solid Top 6 guy, and that’s all Vancouver need him to be. His 4 year term ensures Canucks get prime years too