The 2018 Panthers off-season thread-Petrovic is back

[GrumpyKelly]

Probably because they think Ekblad can push the play offensively too and offense is a strength of both players but when you put two offensive minded guys together, one has no choice but to play more conservatively.

Ok... so.... who then ends up playing LD on the third pairing with Weegar? Since it sounds like they'll get someone more defensive orientated for Ekblad to play with.

Matheson? He's making hick-ups enough on his own to be babysitting anyone else.

So the only option is Yandle and he ends up playing on the third pairing just like he did with the Rangers. It would be pretty crazy to pay 6.5 million for a "third pairing" D even if they did try to so smear out the icetime.

 

[GrumpyKelly]

That was straight from Boogie I believe. Which I agree with.

Let's say we get Hjammer

Hjammer Ekblad
Yandle Weegar
Matheson Petro/Pysyk whomever stays

Or some variation of that. Would be awesome

I'd be worried about throwing Weegar in the top four... He's just got one season under his belt.

 

[Bobblebee]

TheScore article:
Tallon: Panthers have budget to pursue big free agents

Sorry if this was already posted

 

[Gentle Man]

I'd be worried about throwing Weegar in the top four... He's just got one season under his belt.

Yeah, I get the concern.

But it's better than doing Yandle Matheson as that doesnt change much in my opinion.

Yandle-Matheson might be a mess

 

[RainingRats]

Ok... so.... who then ends up playing LD on the third pairing with Weegar? Since it sounds like they'll get someone more defensive orientated for Ekblad to play with.

Matheson? He's making hick-ups enough on his own to be babysitting anyone else.

So the only option is Yandle and he ends up playing on the third pairing just like he did with the Rangers. It would be pretty crazy to pay 6.5 million for a "third pairing" D even if they did try to so smear out the icetime.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Yandle Ekblad as the top pair next season.

With that said my gut says
Matheson Ekblad
Yandle - UFA
Petro - Weegar

OR
Yandle - UFA
Matheson Ekblad
Petro Weegar

Ice time, especially for top 2 pairs gets a bit more even than it was this season. Maybe it's only a first pair in name for either lineup

 

[GermanPanther]

If we trade Bjugstad away, he'll be lighting it up in Carolina or something.

I totally disagree with a few very negative opinions about him here. His prior 2 years were extremely tough. He rebounded this year as he slowly improved his game, from skating to conditioning to checking to having a good presence in front of the net. Steady improvement that will probably continue next year.

My prediction is that his shot and shot percentage will get better next season and his detractors will be sorry they let him go, if that were to happen.

You also could get back an injuryed Bjugstad and his steady Back problem. I would to add ab he is, then a he could be or could be better. Sure he get better but can he be better also without Dadonov and Barkov. Im really into seeing Bjugstad and some young once in his Line and see what he can bring in the Game.
I dont like him and he get here far to high praising from what he shown.
People here talk about Ekblad one or two bad injuries from long term concoussion away and forget Bjugstad has Back Issue and praise him as the best option we could get next season.
Bring in the Argument we would trade for an maybe young one, who said that we may possible, could be add some young. We also could go after an Top 6 forward best age if the team he is in is in rebuild mode.

Also people talk we must be better in each part but then they, lets hope he play again a good season and get more Pucks on his stick infront the Net. Sorry 50 Points for Top6 forward.
Sorry i forgot with 49 Points he stand at rank 122. Oh yeah that is the best option, even the Sedin Twins on there last breath make more points then him.
Dont forget his S% where he i sranked 312 with that.

I dont like Bjugstad, thats true cause we could get someone who has chemistry or build chemistry with the other two on the Line. And he had a half Season time for it. Sorry his skill lvl also on shots is low.
He has nothing in my Eyes what speaks for him, skate on the net and hold my stick in, i think even myself could do this after some practice.

 

[Brokin]

I've got no problem if the decision is made to trade Bjugstad. He resurrected his trade value this season.

Bjugstad is in the same boat that Smith was with 37 pts.............5 more yrs at $5M per vs 3 more years at $4.3, 5.1, 5.1M. Sure he resurrected some value with 49 pts but he went stale again when Barkov hit the wall. Bjugs went back to the 3rd line and up came Sceviour. If they move Bjugs, they will have to throw in a bone to entice a trade. I'm certainly glad they showcased him with the top line as it was looking like a buyout to me. Unfortunately I think Huby's value took a nose dive moving to Tro's line.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

If they move Bjugs, they will have to throw in a bone to entice a trade. I'm certainly glad they showcased him with the top line as it was looking like a buyout to me. Unfortunately I think Huby's value took a nose dive moving to Tro's line.

What's a deal you could see Tallon getting for Bjugstad? 3rd and 4th with a 2 year cap dump coming back?

Same for Huberdeau? 70pt winger. Maybe A late 1st? Or two 2nds?

 

[GrumpyKelly]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Yandle Ekblad as the top pair next season.

With that said my gut says
Matheson Ekblad
Yandle - UFA
Petro - Weegar

OR
Yandle - UFA
Matheson Ekblad
Petro Weegar

I can't see Matheson with Ekblad, I don't know how that would be different from him with Yandle. Except probably more hick-ups.

The second part could be ok if they get a RHD that's defensive minded.

 

[Gentle Man]

I can't see Matheson with Ekblad, I don't know how that would be different from him with Yandle. Except probably more hick-ups.

The second part could be ok if they get a RHD that's defensive minded.

FWIW, I firmly, FIRMLY believe Matheson gets even better next year. I am willing to bet he wins the "best defenseman" award next year.

I know Ekblad will probably be better too (this is highly contingent on his skating), but I have more faith in M&M.

 

[Brokin]

What's a deal you could see Tallon getting for Bjugstad? 3rd and 4th with a 2 year cap dump coming back?

Same for Huberdeau? 70pt winger. Maybe A late 1st? Or two 2nds?

Barkov just makes everyone around him much better point wise. Now that they've added Dads (who improved tremendously as the season progressed) it just makes things exponentially better for anyone on the top line. I don't see anyone giving up just draft choices for Bjugs. I think teams will look to move someone like McGinn who has been meh production-wise but carries a Cap hit of $3M or so for a few years and throw in a 3rd or 4th. Similar kind of deal we saw last year with Demers but we don't take salary back.

Huby is a different story as he can still be a 45-55 pt player on a 2nd line or a 60-70 pt player on a 1st line. It just depends on how a team wants to use him and the chemistry with his Center. His negatives are his lack of speed in today's NHL and he has a tendency for GVA in his own zone/neutral zone on breakouts. Positives are his ability to score in front of the net and hockey IQ that makes his distribution skills excellent in the O-zone. Huby could probably bring back a combination of a physical top 6 guy who can skate like Abdelkader or Josh Anderson plus a 2nd or a #4 or #5 LHD similar to Petro and a 2nd. Interesting to see if the Jackets get Panarin resigned at LW or if he enters UFA.........they would need a replacement on LW.

 

[RainingRats]

Barkov just makes everyone around him much better point wise. Now that they've added Dads (who improved tremendously as the season progressed) it just makes things exponentially better for anyone on the top line. I don't see anyone giving up just draft choices for Bjugs. I think teams will look to move someone like McGinn who has been meh production-wise but carries a Cap hit of $3M or so for a few years and throw in a 3rd or 4th. Similar kind of deal we saw last year with Demers but we don't take salary back.

Huby is a different story as he can still be a 45-55 pt player on a 2nd line or a 60-70 pt player on a 1st line. It just depends on how a team wants to use him and the chemistry with his Center. His negatives are his lack of speed in today's NHL and he has a tendency for GVA in his own zone/neutral zone on breakouts. Positives are his ability to score in front of the net and hockey IQ that makes his distribution skills excellent in the O-zone. Huby could probably bring back a combination of a physical top 6 guy who can skate like Abdelkader or Josh Anderson plus a 2nd or a #4 or #5 LHD similar to Petro and a 2nd. Interesting to see if the Jackets get Panarin resigned at LW or if he enters UFA.........they would need a replacement on LW.

McGinn is a UFA after next season. Not for a few years. Nothing like Demers.

Huberdeau wills score more than 45-55 points on Trocheck's wing. I know you needed to make up that low number so your insane trade proposal sounded more reasonable.

They're not trading Huberdeau. He's a core piece. He's on a good deal, he's one of the better LWs in the league, and he almost had 70 points last season. That return you came up for him is hilariously bad.

 

[Brokin]

McGinn is a UFA after next season. Not for a few years. Nothing like Demers.

Huberdeau wills score more than 45-55 points on Trocheck's wing. I know you needed to make up that low number so your insane trade proposal sounded more reasonable.

They're not trading Huberdeau. He's a core piece. He's on a good deal, he's one of the better LWs in the league, and he almost had 70 points last season. That return you came up for him is hilariously bad.

I used McGinn as an example because he had a few years left on his deal when we acquired him. What is so difficult to understand about that? You actually think some team is going to give up a 2nd or 3rd for Bjugs without asking us to either take back salary or a contract like McGinns? His contract the next 3 years is no bargain. A caveat would be to keep Nick next season and if he puts up 40-45 pts on mostly the 3rd line then it's possible to get even parity in a trade. If Nick hadn't been showcased on the first line, IMO he would have been a buyout candidate even projecting 100% 3rd line minutes and 30-37 pts.

Your infatuation with Huberdeau borders on obsession. The guy is a very good LW who can play for any team that doesn't place a premium on winger speed. In case you haven't noticed, there aren't too many top 6 wingers on the remaining teams that aren't a hell of a lot faster than Huby. It's part of the DNA in today's game. Granted Huby has improved his overall skating, but he still relies on his slick stick work/passing to move the puck and his IQ/strength to get to the high scoring areas.

You think he's on a great contract, huh? In other words he should be getting $7 to $8M. The guy played 36 games with Tro and had 23 pts which equals .6388 per game.............or projected to 82 games = 52 pts. He also averages around 3:25 minutes a game on the 1st PP Unit and 19 pts, which was second to Tro's 3:48 minutes a game and 27 pts. Nick had 49 pts and only averages 1:51 minutes on the 2nd PP Unit and 7 pts. Makes you wonder what kind of pts Nick could put up if he averaged 3:25 minutes per game on the 1st PP Unit. I'll give him the fact that the 2nd line didn't have a RW that could consistently have chemistry with Tro. Find the missing link........and yes......Huby could produce numbers close to what he did on the 1st line.

 

[vendetta]

Huby drop off when placed on tros wing is a direct reflection of how bad tro was 5 on 5 this year.. he had chemistry with no one and every winger that got placed with him took a massive hit in points and posession metrics.. he was aweful.. I would rather put two McGinns with tro let them crash the net and cause havoc since tro has no use for his wingers anyways.. huby would be better suited to play wing on 3rd line 5 on 5 with someone who can actually see plays develope and knows how to stall or slow down a bit to open lanes.

 

[RogerRoger]

Sorry i forgot with 49 Points he stand at rank 122. Oh yeah that is the best option, even the Sedin Twins on there last breath make more points then him.

49 points is 24th for RW.

 

[RainingRats]

I used McGinn as an example because he had a few years left on his deal when we acquired him. What is so difficult to understand about that? You actually think some team is going to give up a 2nd or 3rd for Bjugs without asking us to either take back salary or a contract like McGinns? His contract the next 3 years is no bargain. A caveat would be to keep Nick next season and if he puts up 40-45 pts on mostly the 3rd line then it's possible to get even parity in a trade. If Nick hadn't been showcased on the first line, IMO he would have been a buyout candidate even projecting 100% 3rd line minutes and 30-37 pts.

Your infatuation with Huberdeau borders on obsession. The guy is a very good LW who can play for any team that doesn't place a premium on winger speed. In case you haven't noticed, there aren't too many top 6 wingers on the remaining teams that aren't a hell of a lot faster than Huby. It's part of the DNA in today's game. Granted Huby has improved his overall skating, but he still relies on his slick stick work/passing to move the puck and his IQ/strength to get to the high scoring areas.

You think he's on a great contract, huh? In other words he should be getting $7 to $8M. The guy played 36 games with Tro and had 23 pts which equals .6388 per game.............or projected to 82 games = 52 pts. He also averages around 3:25 minutes a game on the 1st PP Unit and 19 pts, which was second to Tro's 3:48 minutes a game and 27 pts. Nick had 49 pts and only averages 1:51 minutes on the 2nd PP Unit and 7 pts. Makes you wonder what kind of pts Nick could put up if he averaged 3:25 minutes per game on the 1st PP Unit. I'll give him the fact that the 2nd line didn't have a RW that could consistently have chemistry with Tro. Find the missing link........and yes......Huby could produce numbers close to what he did on the 1st line.

He didn't have a few. He had two. Wrong again.

Not an infatuation, just some people don't appreciate the player. It's odd and not abnormal for fans to take some players for granted. You're always looking to throw out of left field ideas around so it's no surprise you're attacking him and trying to dream up an argument to trade him.

No team wouldn't want Huberdeau because of his lack of speed. He's one of the better LWs in the league. He's a tier below the Marchands and Halls. Not sure how much more you want from the guy. Oh no, he has to rely on his stick work, passing, and iq and strength! God forbid a player used his assets!

He's on a great contract. Yeah, after this season if he was a UFA, he'd easily get at least 7 million a year. I don't care what he did with Tro, it's not that important. They may not be the best fit together as Tro struggles with everyone and Huberdeau has always been the guy to get his line going. His overall production and production in the prior years is a lot more telling but of course you'll leave that out.

 

[RogerRoger]

Huby drop off when placed on tros wing is a direct reflection of how bad tro was 5 on 5 this year.. he had chemistry with no one and every winger that got placed with him took a massive hit in points and posession metrics.. he was aweful.. I would rather put two McGinns with tro let them crash the net and cause havoc since tro has no use for his wingers anyways.. huby would be better suited to play wing on 3rd line 5 on 5 with someone who can actually see plays develope and knows how to stall or slow down a bit to open lanes.

If Trocheck doesn't go back to his old 5v5 form, then he's just a PP specialist and should be the 3rd center and be given less minutes at 5v5.
I'm hopeful Trocheck 5v5 good play was not only the mkaing of Smith.

 

[GrumpyKelly]

If Trocheck doesn't go back to his old 5v5 form, then he's just a PP specialist and should be the 3rd center and be given less minutes at 5v5.
I'm hopeful Trocheck 5v5 good play was not only the mkaing of Smith.

the guy just put up 75 points...

 

[RealHumanBean]

bust
edit: How the hell do I make the quote button work

 

[Drugs Delaney]

bust
edit: How the hell do I make the quote button work

Maybe

 

[Brokin]

He didn't have a few. He had two. Wrong again.

Not an infatuation, just some people don't appreciate the player. It's odd and not abnormal for fans to take some players for granted. You're always looking to throw out of left field ideas around so it's no surprise you're attacking him and trying to dream up an argument to trade him.

No team wouldn't want Huberdeau because of his lack of speed. He's one of the better LWs in the league. He's a tier below the Marchands and Halls. Not sure how much more you want from the guy. Oh no, he has to rely on his stick work, passing, and iq and strength! God forbid a player used his assets!

He's on a great contract. Yeah, after this season if he was a UFA, he'd easily get at least 7 million a year. I don't care what he did with Tro, it's not that important. They may not be the best fit together as Tro struggles with everyone and Huberdeau has always been the guy to get his line going. His overall production and production in the prior years is a lot more telling but of course you'll leave that out.

So two years isn't a few? Okay, whatever you say.

Second of all, learn to follow the bouncing ball. Patient Panther asked me what he thought Huby's trade value was and I told him. I then proceeded to offer my opinion as to why. The conversation never started with me suggesting Huby should be traded. It's a very simple philosophical explanation based on the fact that the league is trending towards speed. Take the majority of first line wingers with similar production and see if anybody would trade you even up for Huby. You would be laughed out of the room by 90% of the GM's.

 

[Gizmo Tkachuk]

No point in trading Bjugstad without a plan to replace him. If Dale and co feel that Borg/Tippett are absolutely ready to go next season, then different story.

I agree with Rats though that Huby is vastly underappreciated.

 

[Brokin]

the guy just put up 75 points...

Thank you.

It's amazing how people think Tro somehow doesn't have the assets to be a 2C. 13 of his team leading 31 goals were on the PP along with 27 of his 75 pts. Does this somehow relegate him to a one dimensional PP specialist because he happens to be terrific in that role? Subtract his 13 goals from his overall and you get 18. Subtract Huby's 7 on PP and Barkov's 5 and their net goals are 20 and 22 respectively. Barkov only scored 5 goals on the PP and they were all shorthanded where 3 of Tro's 13 were SH.

People don't take into account his clutch ability to perform under pressure. He carries the puck through the neutral zone into the O-zone and is one of only a few guys on the team that can do that consistently. He still put up a total of 30 net assists 5 on 5 compared to the two best distributing forwards on the team...... Barkov's 40 and Huby's 30. Add to that he is solid and clutch in the FO circle.

Granted Tro will never be known as a slick distributor but he is far from ineffective. Even with his warts his assets far outweigh his liabilities 5 on 5. Inverse of Huby, I think 90% of teams would be willing to trade their 2C for Tro any day of the week.

 

[I am not exposed]

I wasn't saying that, I'm was referring to what THEY were saying about him.

If he's our best D why don't neither Boughner or Tallon like him on the top pairing with Ek? I mean if he's so great and all. You guys don't even listen what they are saying

Yandle by all measures had a good year but for some reason they're not only hinting it but saying out loud that they didn't like the role he had this year. Which is pretty odd.

You called him a pure PP specialist. That is exactly what you said. Something I strongly disagree with. He's far better than that imo.

 

[GermanPanther]

49 points is 24th for RW.

I watched every in the League not only RW to look him better, why i did this cause also Center play Wing. I showed that our Top 6 Winger where he is ranked along all player. When even a Defender get more Point, good for the Team who have them. But shows your lack in the O-Zone. How much player who also called Top Player are better then him, cause the Argument here was there is no chance to replace him in a better Way. lets say 80-90 other forward did a better Job on scoring.

So lets start again with talking we cant replace him.