obey86
Registered User
- Jun 9, 2009
- 8,013
- 1,274
Both Nylander and Marners real rookie season was in the same year as Matthews rookie season. Pretty big difference there opposed to Mantha and AA both already being 24 years old and us still waiting to land a top pick in the future. Rielly is a D and just started hitting full stride over the last 2 seasons, basically the same time Matthews joined.
Personally, the first thing I would do with all of my assets in the scenario of a full rebuild is trade for picks (late 1sts, 2nds, etc) that I would then use to heavily target D with over the first couple seasons. Then I would cross my figures for their development to go well and do anything required to secure top lotto odds and try to land those franchise forwards. I would certainly keep a guy or two around like Kadri or Larkin. Toronto did an excellent job in this window you are referring to.
Again, if we started the rebuild 5 years ago. Mantha and Bertuzzi might have been perfect picks to compliment our team at this point. Since we didn't do that, I would possibly consider moving one of these players or keep them and do a better job of unloading the Greens and Vaneks.
I'm not sure how all of my basses aren't covered here? What more can I explain.
You're innacurately comparing AA and Mantha to Nylander and Marner though. AA and Mantha are more the Kadri, JVR, and Bozak caliber players that the Leafs kept on their roster throughout the rebuild and after the rebuild was complete -- in fact, Kadri JVR, and Bozak were actually even a bit OLDER (25, 26, and 29) in 15-16 (the year prior to getting the #1 pick) than any of Mantha/AA/Bertuzzi are now - and the Leafs didn't just get rid of them.
Players like AA, Mantha, and Bertuzzi are not impactful enough to keep the team out of the basement (and give the Wings little chance at potential top 3 picks), as you've seen proof of this year -- the Wings are a few bounces away from the 2nd worst record in the league. And if they actually were preventing the Wings from staying out of the basement (again, which they aren't), they would be core pieces of their own which one should not want the Wings to get rid of.
I'm not seeing the logic that Mantha, AA, Bertuzzi are preventing the Wings from a legit shot at a top pick and thus should be traded when the Wings are literally 5 points away from the 2nd worst record in the league. That's negligible difference that comes to down bounces, luck, injuries, etc.
The Wings version of Nylander and Marner (higher end prospects that didn't make an impact prior to the #1 pick) should be Zadina and this years ~top 5 pick. Neither has made an NHL impact yet obviously.
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