Thomas not even in the reserves is wild.

Bouchard?

No way Cirelli makes it over Thomas, RNH, Barzal, Horvat.

Thomas and Suzuki are likely to be going over guys like RNH, Bennett and Horvat

It's not.

I can see it happening.

Cirelli has more big game experience than all the guys you mentioned. He kills penalties, can play C/W, is more physical, and is better defensively.

It's a no brainer to have him on the team.

Yeah the guys I have as scratches are in no order. I just didn't know how to delete them when I was done making the team haha

I just don't see how he takes out anyone I have in at the moment.

Makar, Ekblad, Pietrangelo on the right side is really deep.

Heh. Even if Army wasn't the GM, it would be.

There are players who do what he does at a far higher level than he does.

Is he on going on the PP? No.

Is he going to get Ozone starts and top line minutes? No.

Better to leave that to the elite offensive players.

You never watch him play, do you?

Enlighten me...

he's a better goalscorer than Verhaeghe?

and a better C than Point or Schieffle?

and better defensively than Cirelli or Hagel?

one 86pt season doesn't earn you a spot on Team Canada lol

A simple "no, I've never watched him play" would have sufficed.

And yeah, Thomas is considerably better than Scheif. Good lord. And as good as Cirelli defensively. And the fact that you're comparing him to wingers only proves that you don't know what you're on about. And that's fine, we can't all watch everybody play all the time.

But hey, never let it be said I'm not here to help. Played just about the toughest minutes of any C in the in the league this season. Near the top of the league in puck battles won two years running. Elite in transition and possession. It takes much more than points to understand everything Thomas does. But while we're at it, top 20 in 5v5 points, assists and 1st assists, both in total and per 60, and 10th highest scoring center this season.

On top of all that, he's also not to his ceiling yet. You should watch him play some time, it's hella fun.

No need to be sassy.

1. Cirelli has been Top 5 in Selke voting twice, and nominated every season except for his rookie season. He's elite and experienced on the PK. How long has Thomas PK'd for? How many Selke nominations? lol

2. I'm comparing him to wingers because he won't play C for Team Canada. Who is he replacing? Mcdavid? Crosby? Point? He's a good offensive player but not good enough to take anyone's place on Team Canada.

3. If you want him to play more of a shutdown role he turns the puck over at almost the same rate he gets take aways and doesn't hit or block shots.

He won't play C for Team Canada and he's not even close to being an elite finisher which is what Canada's wingers will need to excel at.

I don't see how he takes a spot from anyone in the top 9.

Maybe watch a few games of the following players:

McDavid
Mackinnon
Crosby
Point
Marner
Verhaeghe
Cirelli
Bedard

...then tell me who he's replacing

Thomas, RNH, and Horvat all can kill penalties. RNH was one of the key members of the Oilers PK unit during the playoffs. Horvat is also really good at faceoffs.

Holy crap, dude, Thomas is literally twice the player Bedard is right now. And its kinda wild you think he's so inferior to guys like Cirelli and Verhaeghe. He's a perfect choice to play the checking line C. Teams that go in with all star game rosters don't usually win. Somebody has to play defense.

Oh, and pardon my perceived tone. I'm more stunned than sassy.

Yeah I wouldn’t mind seeing an all oilers line of RNH - McDavid - Hyman

But I still think Cirelli brings some elements to the table that the guys you mentioned can’t.

Robert Thomas: Better winger than a 40 goal scoring winger. Better shurdown C than a 6x Selke nominee. Better player than a generational offensive talent.

Got it.

He's not a winger at all, man. And if you cannot see that Thomas is currently levels better than Bedard, and obviously so, it just reinforces the theory that you don't actually watch Thomas. Like I said... it's a bit stunning.

Correct. He’s not a winger. But he would have to play wing on Team Canada.

Hence why I left him off the roster.

You can make your own Team Canada with Thomas as your 4C if you want but there are better options.

My Top three on the right side would be. Maker , Bouchard, Pietrangelo. Ekblad isnt the player he use to be.

Heh. Yeah. Scheif, the checker extraordinaire.

It's all good, man. The rosters won't be chosen now anyway. Things will change. But you should definitely watch Thomas.

Schieffle can be very effective on a line with Cirelli and Stone.

Especially if you flip him to the wing.

I could see Bouchard making the team for sure. I just have a hard time putting him over a fully healthy Ekblad at the moment.

Heh. But we're talking about 4C. Flipping him to the wing does exactly nothing for the 4C slot.