Habs still say no but I like the effort

LOL in all seriousness. I do like Suzuki, and would be interested in seeing him in Carolina long-term as the 2C behind Aho. I guess that's more or less what Montreal was thinking all those years ago haha!

Too much for Suzuki, although this would have so much comedy value. Nikishin shouldn't be on the table for someone that isn't a true 1C, Suzuki isn't.

The comedy value is why I tried it hahaha!

Its bold thinking you can get Suzuki for a 4th line centre

Suzuki is PPG right now, being the ONLY decent center on the team not injured. He plays PP, PK gets a lot of defensive assignment on a terrible team... and he is only 24.

He's the best center we've had since Koivu... and that's like more than 20 years ago.

So not trading him for Judas, a late first, and a KHL Dman (while looking extremely good) who hasn't proven anything in the show yet, where many KHL top players have failed...remember than Chris Wideman had 41pts in 59 games in his time in the KHL.

Nikishin >>>>> Wideman, but let's just say that it doesn't always translate. Which is not a risk I'm willing to take for our 24 yo center going to pop 75 pts this year.

Most likely was Habs managements idea, the offer sheet also served a couple other purposes that worked out for the Habs, just didn't work out for them in the end

"4th line center" Kotkaniemi???

I had a brief back and forth with some Hurricanes fans that believe Kotkaniemi is a "play driver" and although his offensive numbers are low, he gets a lot of "tertiary assists" that do not show up on the score sheet ...........

You cannot just find a center who averages 0.35 points per game just anywhere y'know!

Its crazy how terrible hes been the last few months. Since starting the year with 12 points in 12 games he has gone down to 9 points in 49 games. A 15 point pace. He was a bit of mr october in mtl but this is ridiculous

So aho isnt either ? Because suzuki is only a coupke points behind him with miles better defensive metrics.

The whole Kotkaniemi offer sheet situation has worked out poorly for everyone involved. Carolina got a bust in Kotkaniemi and Montreal tried to compensate by getting Dvorak (which I mistakenly thought at the time was not a bad acquisition) and he turned into a bust as well. Looks like Arizona might be the only team coming out of it with a decent return.

Aho's above PPG pace despite missing time with an injury. And Aho's metrics are better. His GA/60 is incredible. Aho 1.98 Suzuki 2.23. Not to mention, Aho bullies Suzuki offensively. 2.96 xGF/60 compared to 2.55 for Suzuki, 3.2 GF/60 compared to Suzuki's 2.3. GF% of 61.76 compared to suzuki's 50.72. They're not comparable. Aho's a top 10 C in the NHL. Suzuki's great, but he's a 2C.

Suzuki has the 26th best relative xGA/60

Aho is 582nd out of 621

Aho is terrible defensively on a good team.

Suzuki is excellent defensively on a bad team

What... Aho's literally got a better GA/60, better CA/60, FA/60 and SA/60. Aho's the better defensive player between the two. Stop it, you're on copium now. Suzuki is mid on a bad team, Aho's elite on a great team