I assume you mean he is not a top 6 guy, because otherwise that's one hell of a turn around you just did! If players can put 16 points in 17 games just because they are on a line with Barkov, why didn't it happened last season? Why did Barkov's production increase since playing with Bjugstad? Since they are playing together; Barkov is on pace for 111 points, Bjugstad 77, Dadonov on pace for 96. If we can play Barkov with cheap talentless plugs, I see no reason to waste Borgstrom there. Play Sceviour there, since he should be good for +70 points there by your account.
I know you say that Borg and Tippett are more deserving of a 1st line spot than Bjugstad and also, that they have higher upside. But why not play them together? They can drive a line by themselves, since that's one of your main knock on Bjugstad. They'll drive the line together and post+80 points each!!
Dadonov(95)-Barkov(110)-Sceviour(70)
Huby(60)-Trocheck(60)-Malgin(60)
Borg(80)-McCann(70)-Tippett(80)
Mamin-Mack-McGinn
I reckon that by your calculation, this would be the best group of forward in the NHL.
He isnt a bottom 6 guy. Thats why he has only been productive in the top 6 over his entire career. No coincidence that he produces with a Huberdeau or a Barkow, you can say that about a lot of top 6 tweeners they have both lined up with.
But he lost his 2nd line spot straight up to Trocheck two/three years ago while fully healthy.
Selective excuses being pulled around here.
So why was Ekblad so bad last year, with no hope, waiver quality, buyout potential when he was obviously hurt all year?
The guys who bashed Ek are 100% on board the Nick train here.
Smith is a superior player to Bjugstad. Offensively and defensively. Not sure how styles of play matter that much. Yes they're different, one is also not as good. One manages to stay healthy and play special teams, the other not so much.
I'm happy to see Bjugstad produce but let's not pretend he's on the same level as Smith.
Last 5 season point totals
13/14 - 51, 38
14/15 40, 43
15/16 50, 34
16/17 37, 14
17/18 60,38
Throw in PK responsibilities and being good defensively, and it's hard to see how they're on or near the same level.
And I'm not knocking Bjugstad, for all the criticism he gets, and a lot of it is deserved, we're winning with him on the top line, he's producing, and Barkov and Dadonov are putting up nice numbers. He's also not a defensive liability and has made some nice defensive plays lately.
Not even close.
This is the same Smith that lined up on the 2nd line with a center in Trocheck, that doesnt distribute the puck, and has been getting ripped here all year too, whilst Nick still gets a pass.
Same guys ripping Trocheck too.
Because it's not 15 games.....
And you seem to always bring up Nick going goalless in 19 games but hide that Smith had a stretch of 28 games where he had 3 goals....
You have it in your head Smith is capable of consistent 70pt seasons now and Bjugstad can't put up 60-65pts on the top line all because of what? You just said to give players time to shine, well look at what he is doing with it. Both Karlsson and Smith are having career years but you're sold that's what they are going forward....
Because Nick had never and still hasnt ever hit even 60 points. Smitty was much more likely to return to form.
The only way to make Nick productive was feeding him top line. Smitty never needed that to produce.
If Bjuggy gets at least 50-60 more shots....he very likely breaks 20 goals which would be huge for him and us as a team.
He is currently shooting below his career average so he should still see an uptick soon. His current SH% is more likely to increase than it is to decrease in the coming games so that would be huge.
He may be sniffing 50 points also, maybe 47-50.
But he has to outproduce and outpace anything he has ever done to match the regular production of a player he replaced in the top 6 who played a lower line, to even match the up and down career of Smity.
If you want to be really fair he should be judged against Jagr, thats who he replaced in the lineup.
But hand picking the comparisons works better to prove the points you guys like to live and die on.
Also out of the next seven games six are against opponenents that are out of the playoff race.
He should be getting a lot of opportunities against these teams and if he's hot... yeah, I could see him score a lot.
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts...
The injuries played a huge role no doubt, but I have another theory. Injuries aside, what was the one thing Bjugstad was known for prior to this season? Floating. Lazy half-assed defensive effort, that made him look like a beer league player on most nights. Now what is different this season compared to past seasons? Two things. New coach and the said coach slotting him primarily as a winger. When Boughner was announced as the new coach, he said that he'd watched a lot of tape of Panthers games and had many ideas on how to improve the line-up. Could it be that Boughner was Bjugstad's first NHL coach that told him like it is and he took it to heart to improve (and what an improvement it has been) that part of his game? I always found it weird how Gallant never benched Bjugs, even when he was playing really poorly. Maybe the injuries played a part, that it was a cop out for the coaches not to push him harder.
That wont be a positive memory. lol
But GG was reknown on here for his lack of changing the lineup. Throw it out there no matter what.