WeThreeKings
Habs cup - its in the BAG
If he hits his potential, he'd be a serviceable bottom pairing guy that can play your 2nd PP unit in a pinch.
maybe
Valiev-Petry
Alzner-Juulsen
Why would you buyout Petry, he is trade able.since we are going to suck it doesn't matter who they put there. I really hate the idea of rushing Juulsen though and I hope Petry is bought out and Alzner-Benn is the top pairing since if we are going to suck, might as well do it right.
Dahlin/Mete/Valiev on the left side is great moving forward.
Why would you buyout Petry, he is trade able.
Dahlin/Mete/Valiev on the left side is great moving forward.
Brook/Juulsen/Fleury on the right could be great, too. And there's a Lernout available there, too.
If he hits his potential, he'd be a serviceable bottom pairing guy that can play your 2nd PP unit in a pinch.
Hey Guys, Leaf fan respectfully wanted to chime in. I really like Valiev and think he definitely has an NHL future. He was a bit of a reach/unknown (at least for me) at the time when we drafted him in the 3rd round of 2014 but has developed nicely. He was just buried in our depth chart with Dermott, Rosen, Borgman, Nielsen and eventually Liljegren ahead of him. I predict him as a 5-7 defender, but could also fill in as a #4. Hate to lose him, but he unfortunately really had no future here so I am happy he gets a true shot at the NHL. Rychel on the other hand.... Has been a disappointment. He still has NHL skill and works hard/is a hard hitter. Could be a good 3rd or 4th line guy, but doesn't seem to have the highest hockey IQ. He kept disappointing at training camps but you can see the potential is there. Maybe is he keeps working close with Claude he can become a serviceable player for you guys. He definitely tries hard when he's on the ice from my viewings. But have no heartbreak on my end here and was really hoping Vegas would take him over Leipsic in the expansion draft. So I think you guys got 2 guys who can play in the NHL. Rychel has yet to meet him potential and Valiev is a good, young steady defenseman who hopefully gets his shot and sticks. Cheers!
Thanks for that.
Even Bob McKenzie, in some tweets yesterday after the trade, said that some scouts are convinced Valiev is close to the NHL. Not much was shared on Rychel. Most feel Valiev is the better acquisition from the two.
Being an RFA at the end of this year, I believe both will get called up to the Canadiens so they can evaluate them. But I get the sense it will be Valiev that will impress between the two.
However, for Rychel, he was the Marlies' top scorer last season. And this year, after having only 5 points in his first 18 games, he's had 25 in 37, much more on par with his pace from last season. Even if he ends up a 3rd or 4th line guy, it's still a plus for Habs. They need young players and to deepen the prospect pool. Both Rychel and Valiev accomplish that. And the 2nd round pick being in the deal in addition, it's a return Habs fans should be happy with.
you must have a very lose definition of great.
Really? Dahlin is Dahlin so yeah great there. Mete in a predefined 2nd pairing role should be very good. Still has tons of time to get better and has already acquitted himself quite well as a 19 year old. Valiev is an unknown but seems intriguing. Good tools. hasn't had a real shot.
I mean great isn't fricking amazing. You really can't get much better than Dahlin (from what I hear). Mete was a WJC stand out where even 1st pairing upside isn't out of the question for him (though somewhat unlikely).
It all depends on how Mete's offensive game translates. I said I have him more as a bottom pairing D on a cup contending team unless he can develop his offensive game a good bit to a around a 30 pt a year guy. The WJC's don't mean much to me, it's all about the kind of production you are going to get from him as he doesn't have much of a shot and we are going to need guys that can produce offense from the blueline if our defense is going to be anything close to great. There are a lot of question marks even if we were lucky enough to get Dahlin which of course would be huge but just shows how far we have to go if we don't get him.
I missed the lottery?Dahlin/Mete/Valiev on the left side is great moving forward.
oh yeah he very well could top out as a bottom pairing guy on a REAL contender but I don't even think his offensive game has to translate for him to be a 2nd pairing guy. He could very well be paired with an offensive guy, I don't think he HAS to be one. I just think it's logical to think that top 4 is a very real possibility when you crack the NHL as a 19 year old regardless of how bad the D corps is. Tons of time/room to still improve.
I also think he can help our offense even without developing much of a shot. All that aside though on a real contender he might not be a top 4. I think it's like 60/40 for me that he could be. More to the point though I'd still think Dahlin and Mete would be great going forward on the left. Can't say about Valiev but I'm sure we could find a suitable bottom pairing LD one way or another.