It feels like we pick and choose when to be critical of defenseman playing a "high risk" style.
The same people who criticized Makar and Byram for playing a high risk style, never do so with Girard who's high risk style leads to a fair amount of turnovers, or Tyson Barrie.
Now we're worried about Gulyayev not playing a risky NA style and turning into a keep it simple defensive guy instead, which is what's being pushed to turn Byram into, despite producing well.
These guys are who they are. If they're producing goals and points, you let them do their thing. If the production isn't there, which it hasn't been so far with Gulyayev, then they need to mitigate the risk.
But you don't pick up their toolbox and empty out all their tools on the ground to turn them into something they're not. If this applies to Gulyayev, it should apply to other defenseman as well, even if you don't like them.
Gulyayev's style will work itself out. If he comes over, the Avs will give him a long leash to show what he's got. He's not gonna lose any natural ability or offensive instincts he has, just like Devon Toews didn't with the defensive minded Isles. He'll be encouraged to create more in the O zone, and if he has that ability, it'll come out, just like it does for Josh Manson on occasion.
