raymond23
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That San Jose game is why you keep AA around. He’s a game breaking talent when he’s skating. I’ll take the inconsistency... not every player is perfect. Everyone wants him gone and I just don’t understand why.
That San Jose game is why you keep AA around. He’s a game breaking talent when he’s skating. I’ll take the inconsistency... not every player is perfect. Everyone wants him gone and I just don’t understand why.
Ok I'm not going to die on this hill but I'll defend it once just to clarify, although I know you're going to accuse me of cherrypicking stats and there is admittedly subjectivity involved.
Since '08/'09:
- In G/GP AA is #5 behind Hossa, Franzen, Datsyuk, Mantha. For context, the first 3 got to play with each other on a much better team, and the latter got to play typically with much better playmakers and a lot more PP time.
- In EVG in a single season, AA is #2 with 27 behind only Hossa, with #3 having only 23 (15% fewer).
Look, I already know your arguments. Of course I'm not saying he's better than any of those guys, and of course I understand that he has flaws in his game.
I probably shouldn't have said specifically second to Hossa because there's subjectivity in my argument. But he is clearly in elite company in goalscoring ability alone, ignoring other factors.
My main point to takeaway if you forget about the nitpicking is that AA isn't just a good goalscorer. What he has accomplished -- with little icetime compared to other 1st liners, and with mostly mediocre linemates (and terrible D for that matter) -- is rare, and the fact that so many fans are so quick to throw him under the bus has always annoyed me.
No. That’s the crux of the discussion, bud.
If AA is “the best goal scorer since Hossa” that means he’s better than every name I listed. Which he’s not. And I don’t think it’s close.
I would rather rely on ANY of those players as goal scorers over Athanasiou, and it’s not really much of a discussion. Athanasiou is not a traditional goal scorer, and has required a substantial amount of odd man and breakaway chances.
I know you read my post, you know what my point is. Don’t play dumb.
I'd be inclined to make that trade, but Barrie may want $7-8M+, which is a no for me, that's Krug territory. At $5-6M he's probably good value, assuming he's at least an avg. #3 defensively. With Seider likely up next season, our right side would be set for the entirety of Barrie's contract barring a trade. Does anyone know if Barrie can play LHD? If not, can Seider play LHD?Athanasiou for Barrie tho? I’d take that in a heartbeat