no trading defensive prospects for wingers. just, no.
and we would have to add a lot to the zajac-JVR deal. not worth it
This team acquired it's best player by trading a young dman for them. We got Hall by trading our best defenseman, at the time, for him.
If we can acquire a player like Hoffman and use Santini as a piece in that acquisition, you do it.
I like Santini, and I think he is a solid young physical prescience on the back end and could possibly work on his offensive game, or could have better 5 on 5 possession numbers playing with a better dman than Greene, but we have our top 4 on the right side already solidified with Vatanen and Severson. We also have two guys in Butcher and Mueller that are completely capable of playing LD or RD.
Hoffman would be another dangerous piece in the top 6 thanks to his speed and that shot of his.
He's not just a winger. He'd be the clear second best winger on the team and probably the best goal scorer on the team. But with Santini, his role in NJ now and probably in the future is kind of in question. Do we think he's ever going to be a better option than Severson at even strength? I don't think that's ever going to be the case. Same question with Vatanen...Probably not. So he's likely destined for 3rd pairing even strength time.
Generally I would agree, trading a dman for a winger is not the way to go given the composition of the roster...But a great offensive player like Hoffman for a guy that is behind at least two guys on the right defensive depth chart and isn't even getting in over Lovejoy? There's a discussion to be had.
I mean Santini should be playing over Lovejoy even though Lovejoy hasn't looked horrible out there, but we also have two other guys in Mueller and Butcher that Santini will probably have a hard time playing over since Butcher brings much needed offense from the back end and can play on either side of the puck, something Mueller can also do while also being steady defensively and having a rocket from the back end.
Hoffman is a sniper this team could use but I'm not sure I'd pay the price of Santini+
Why not? Santini isn't cracking the top 4, or at least shouldn't crack the top 4 pairings, when Vatanen and Severson are here. We also have Butcher and Mueller (since both can play on RD) that he may not even be able to play over consistently.
This team needs to play to it's strengths and play up to the strategy they want. Fast, attacking, supportive. On top of his shot, Hoffman brings the speed that would fit in well here and make the team even faster and more dangerous offensively.
