IWantSakicAsMyGM
Registered User
Nichushkin's stat growth can be partially explained (mostly, IMO) by his growth as a player, while Neal's stat growth cannot be similarly explained.
If you don't think Nichushkin improved since getting bought out then I guess your opinion makes sense, though I still completely disagree.
On the ice, I can see that argument making sense. I'd still argue that Mack is the primary reason Nuke is a PPG player, instead of a 50-60 point guy, but Nuke obviously got better too.
But, then again, are you 100% positive that Nuke's growth as a player since coming to Colorado wasn't a product of seeing how Mack prepares for the season? Or because of how Mack approaches practice? Or by adding chick pea pasta to his diet? More to the point, do you think Nuke would have definitely improved exactly like this had he signed with the Coyotes instead of Colorado? Just because it's easier to point to what is clearly Malkin's impact on the scoresheet doesn't mean Mack didn't have an ever bigger impact off the ice.