JianYang
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2017
- 17,989
- 16,497
A real first line center must be a 60 points guy though. IMO there's absolutely no question about it. People always talk about how Bergeron is the weakest first line center to win the cup but the guy was a regular 60 points guy and he had 70 points seasons. In career Bergeron is a 62.13 points over 82 games guy. And it's not like he was playing with Ovy quality wingers. We always talk about Toews defensive prowess but he is still in career a 70.01 points over 82 games guy. He had the chance to play with Kane on the PP and Hossa at ES but he's still producing offensively. He's having an average year (on pace for 53 points in 82 games) and the Hawks are out of the playoffs for now.
As far as i'm concerned a 50 points guy is not a first line center no matter how guy he is defensively. Horvat is still young and could progress but so far he has not shown the ability to be a regular 60 points guy (unless he would be paired width elite wingers).
Horvat is not a finished product, and I'd be shocked if he's peaked at the age of 22 in terms of points. Scoring 52 points at the age of 21 on a bad team should be seen as promising. He was on pace to eclipse that mark this season, and I see no reason why he can't continue to progress based on what I've seen.
As far as bergeron goes, I have considered him a premier #1C for many years. He can absolutely score some more points IMO, but he seems to take extra pride away from the puck, and when you combine how great he is in that aspect with his production, you got a real good thing.
I'm also not one to knock toews. At one point, I considered him the best C not named crosby. He's still pretty good.
Here's my main take.... given the information that has come out, I think it's reasonable to conclude that the Habs were going to trade subban, and that they had an internal deadline to do it. If so, then you have already lost leverage, but having said that, any Canucks offer revolving around tanev, horvat, and more? That's a great return in a bad situation, and I would take it over Weber in a heartbeat, as much as I like Weber.