These people deserve this team.
*The Athletic
I would give up assets for him. He’s a career +42.6 xGF-xGA difference. Career 53%+ CF%, basically all of his point shares are defensive point shares, and generally speaking players are more likely to do better with him on the ice. He’s more of a dull player, but he only costs 2.5mil next season and at 30 he won’t get a huge raise. I’d be fine throwing him a mid term contract because his play and metrics haven’t been sporadic. Good or bad team they’ve been similar. I’m for that. He’s good for many systems.
McNabb would be an upgrade, but not the type of big upgrade they’re looking for, & I don’t know why Vegas would trade him. He’s a low cap hit & Vegas is trying to contend every year so why would they weaken their D?
It depends what you’re looking for. Zach Whitecloud is definitely the better player who is quickly taking over McNabb’s role. They’re also both very similar. Whitecloud’s TOI is increasing and McNabb’s is decreasing. He’s likely the 5/6 and they may want more cap flexibility for their B6. It would be a futures trade and it likely won’t be expensive. Peitrangelo, Theodore, Whitecloud, McNabb, Martinez, Hague is their D rank. Plus, Martinez is utilized as their #3. It’s the same argument that people pose here- they have a lot of the same defenseman. He’s not the best of their group, so that makes him expendable. He’s still good and that’s leverage. If we really want to dish out assets I’d go after Whitecloud, but he’s likely an untouchable.
Martinez is a UFA and a better player, so it makes more sense for the Flyers to go after him.
Martinez is aging and quite frankly a worse player than McNabb. Martinez has hockey pedigree and a better reputation I suppose, but he isn’t the better defenseman who will likely cost more.
In a vacuum Martinez may offer more, but McNabb is better suited for our defense. Plus, McNabb is a pretty consistent player analytically and by eye test. Martinez is not. I’m not designating him a high risk, high reward type player, but he has those tendencies and when this team lacks consistency, McNabb likely won’t be one. Cant say the same for Martinez. Plus, we need cap space, not less. Martinez won’t help with that. I’d rather have McNabb. I feel like most who have done research on the 2 would agree given everything associated.
