From what I understand, Palmieri wasn't being given the minutes due to the depth on the Ducks..... Correct me if I'm wrong because I never stayed up late to watch too many west coast games. Here, Henrique was a first line player in 2012 and 2013, and he just never really took that next step. He was on the third line this year for the first time in 5 years. He even got put on the fourth line and responded with a monster game in Minnesota.... then faded into obscurity again.
Palmieri also only played 198 NHL games with the Ducks. Henrique played 455 NHL games with the Devils. Palmieri had untapped potential... while in NJ we were pretty sure what we had with Henrique.
In what world was Greene better than Vatanen last night?Vatanen said it himself in the game against the kings. The previous few games after he was traded he didn't expect to play this fast. He was used to a slower pace with the Ducks. Hopefully he is adjusting to the pace and can step up. He did look better against the kings. But keep in mind even before he got injured he was doing poorly on the ducks.
Btw, even the corpse of Andy Greene is still better than him atm. Funny you said he was not doing so bad, yet criticize Greene who plays against the toughest competition night in and night out.
From what I understand, Palmieri wasn't being given the minutes due to the depth on the Ducks..... Correct me if I'm wrong because I never stayed up late to watch too many west coast games. Here, Henrique was a first line player in 2012 and 2013, and he just never really took that next step. He was on the third line this year for the first time in 5 years. He even got put on the fourth line and responded with a monster game in Minnesota.... then faded into obscurity again.
Palmieri also only played 198 NHL games with the Ducks. Henrique played 455 NHL games with the Devils. Palmieri had untapped potential... while in NJ we were pretty sure what we had with Henrique.
In what world was Greene better than Vatanen last night?
He started out as our first line center with Getzlaf and Kesler being hurt, he’s now looking like our 3C centering Ritchie and Perry/Kase. I’d definitely do this trade again, Vatanen played his way out of our top 4 and Henrique gives us the center depth we need for a deep playoff run.Revisiting this trade now ~20 games in...
Vatanen got off to a bit of a slow start with NJ (at least point wise) with just 1 assist and a -5 +/- in his first 11 games, but since then has 9 points (1 goal, 8 assists) and is +3 during those games. He also leads NJ in ice time at 21:54, ahead of Greene's 21:20. Total stat line of 1 goal, 9 assists in 20 games with a 50.6% Corsi at even strength (up from the 42.1% he had on an injury plagued Ducks team this season).
Henrique got off to a hot start with 6 points (3 goals & 3 assists) in his first 5 games as a Duck, but has cooled off a bit since with 4 points (3 goals & 1 assist) in his last 16 games (though he torched Vatanen on a highlight reel goal) and is +4 with the Ducks for a total of 10 points (6 goals, 4 assists) in 21 games. He's getting 17:55 of ice time in Anaheim, 3rd among forwards only trailing Getzlaf (20:55) and Rakell (19:36). Henrique's Corsi at even strength also improved since the trade from 45.3% with NJ to 49.3% with Anaheim. He's also known to be a streaky scorer, but is a solid all around player that contributes in other areas even when the points aren't coming.
I'm a bit surprised Blandisi didn't last longer with the Ducks (especially given the injuries) as he played just 3 games averaging 11:41 in ice time with no points and a +2. Most NJ fans had him making the team coming out of camp, though surprise performances by Bratt, Coleman and Gibbons knocked him down to the AHL. He's still putting up solid numbers with San Diego with 4 goals & 5 assists in 10 games and have to think he's on the radar for the Ducks as the next forward call up.
Still think it's a win-win deal for both clubs, as they were dealing from a position of strength to acquire a player at a position of need and both are off to reasonably good starts a quarter of the season in with their new teams. Curious to hear from Anaheim fans on how Henrique has been utilized, particularly as players come back from injury and he gets adjusted to the Ducks style of play.
I might be a terrible judge of talent (actually, I probably am) but Henrique has looked pretty decent at center. Solid defensively, makes good plays, had chemistry with Perry before the injury and the 3rd line has looked good (or at least fun to watch) with Kase and Ritchie now. He's better at C than I thought based on Devils' fans description of him. Maybe (at least lately) it's because the pressure is off with Getzlaf and Kesler where he didn't have that luxury in Jersey?
Edit: Oh and glad Vatanen is doing well. I knew he'd rebound eventually, it was just a matter of recovering from the injury fully, getting up to game speed, and learning a new system. He was one of my favorite players in Anaheim and hope he does well unless he plays the Ducks.
Vatanen is slowly taking more responsibility. From what i heard Ducks fans thought he got a bit complacent in Anaheim, which probably hindered his development. Fresh start was good for him in terms of being forced to make himself the best player he can be.
Henrique made the Ducks as deep as anyone down the middle.
Good trade for both teams.
I always liked Henrique at center - that's how he came into the league (between Parise and Kovalchuk) and he's a good defensive player, so it made sense. Might've had some higher production at times at LW, but thought he played both positions well.
Good to see Vatanen's picking up. I had a feeling that he'd be better in NJ's system than ours, and once he got over that shoulder surgery.
Henrique's a streaky scorer as advertised, but does the little things right. We like Rico.
This needs to be the poster child for how fanbases interact and discuss a trade. Very little sniping or snark. Both sides recognize what the players bring with them and the different ways they can help a team. No one demanding or proclaiming a “winner”. NJ fans miss Rico and ANA fans miss Vats. Both teams are better off for this trade as it addressed underlying needs for both sides.
This is what a real hockey trade is supposed to be about.