I'd like Skinner better than Radulov to solve our top 6 for next year issue because he's a known quantity at this point. He plays in the NHL, he's younger, he's under contract. I expect Radulov to cost just as much if not more, be around only a couple of years and the whole idea may not even be feasible for many reasons. However I do not want to sell the farm for Skinner either, I'm not advocating that.
I'd like Skinner better than Radulov to solve our top 6 for next year issue because he's a known quantity at this point. He plays in the NHL, he's younger, he's under contract. I expect Radulov to cost just as much if not more, be around only a couple of years and the whole idea may not even be feasible for many reasons. However I do not want to sell the farm for Skinner either, I'm not advocating that.
He isn't really a known quantity though. Are we getting a 1 deminsional 3rd line scorer in the mold of PaP/Iggy but faster, or a guy who is going to give us 30/30 in a top6 role? That is a very big unknown.
If I can use futures to get Skinner for $5m or less I'd do it.
That said I'd probably back out if it requires a major piece like Bigras, Grigs, Zads, Rants or a 2016 1st that isn't top 10 protected.
Skinner has played over 70 games each of the last 2 seasons and is only 23 and shown the skills to be a very good top 6er. My concerns over his injuries is not near what it was 2 years ago
I'd take a $6m per deal for Rads over Skinner any day, but only a select few people know what is really going on there. So as a fan, it is hard to count on.
Skinner isn't worth selling the farm over, but he could take a chunk out and the Avs would still be better off if he can stay somewhat healthy.
The Avs would be looking at a U25 forward group in the NHL of: Landy, MacK, Duchene, Skinner, Grigs, Wagner (not special, but a NHL player), and soon to be Rantanen. If Rantanen pans out to be at least a top 6 player... 5 of the 6 top 6 spots are sealed up. If Grigs develops into one... all 6 are filled or 6 of the top 9 is filled. It makes it easy to round out the forward group going forward... especially with players like Bleaks, Compher, and maybe a 2016 first round pick on the way.
The kid had 1 bad season where he still score 18g... if healthy, he is a top 6 player easily. With a decent set of linemates, he will pop in 30.
He is working on his 2nd "bad" season.
As for the linemates, other than Staal he was with their most productive players last year. And is now playing with Veersteg who is doing just as good as anyone else on that team.
And who is to say he would get decent linemates with us? PaP was demoted because he was a 1 deminsional scorer. Iggy has been demoted for the same reason, when he was on pace for well over 30 goals.
He would not easily be a top6 player if he is just simply healthy. He could be one. We certainly would hope. But, no, you can not say he would for sure be anything more than he is now.
How many times has this team changed identities in the past bunch of seasons? Lets play fire wagon hockey. Lets have all puck moving defencemen. Lets have all defensive defencemen. Lets have a mix. Lets have really skilled forwards, but no two way forwards. Let's get all big forwards. Part of me is afraid is what future off seasons will bring. The Avs haven't found success with any style, and it's making the rebuild so much longer constantly changing what they're looking for.
A 2nd bad season where he is on pace for 23-24 goals and would be 3rd on the Avs currently while playing with mostly scrubs this year for Carolina. Yes, Veersteg is a scrub. Skinner's worst season was on a terrible Carolina team where he scored 18 goals... which would have been 5th on the Avs last year. That Carolina team scored over 30 less goals than the Avs.
Skinner would pair great with either MacK or Duchene... Skinner excels a't getting into dangerous spaces. Those two can draw defenses and feed him the puck in those areas.
The difference between Skinner and the likes of Pap/Iggy is night and day. Unlike those two he can actually skate and make a pass. PA was good when was floating around which wouldn't be a problem for Skinner.
The only reason he's on the market is because of injuries, otherwise he'd probably be the Canes most productive player.
My god some of you guys put to way to much emphasis on skating. That doesn't make someone a better more effective player. If all you bring to the table is goal scoring and skating, well, all you really bring is goal scoring. Skating is a physical trait, not something that shows how good/effective you are at hockey. The only difference that Skinner's skating gives him is the way he looks on the ice. Some people will be wowed by that and think the others are slow. But the results are still the same. You still have players who can score goals but are liabilities in other areas.
As for passing, what? How the hell is Skinner better?
Floating is not good. It might make the individual look good, but this is a team game. The point is to win hockey games, not pad your individual stats.
My god some of you guys put to way to much emphasis on skating. That doesn't make someone a better more effective player. If all you bring to the table is goal scoring and skating, well, all you really bring is goal scoring. Skating is a physical trait, not something that shows how good/effective you are at hockey. The only difference that Skinner's skating gives him is the way he looks on the ice. Some people will be wowed by that and think the others are slow. But the results are still the same. You still have players who can score goals but are liabilities in other areas.
As for passing, what? How the hell is Skinner better?
Floating is not good. It might make the individual look good, but this is a team game. The point is to win hockey games, not pad your individual stats.
I'd like Skinner better than Radulov to solve our top 6 for next year issue because he's a known quantity at this point. He plays in the NHL, he's younger, he's under contract. I expect Radulov to cost just as much if not more, be around only a couple of years and the whole idea may not even be feasible for many reasons. However I do not want to sell the farm for Skinner either, I'm not advocating that.
Based on age, it would make sense but based on injury history, it doesn't for me.
I think we'll end up with Radulov, personally. I'm not saying it's a done deal but I think it's something that just ends up happening.
I also believe, despite what he said last month that Iginla will waive his NTC and we'll get a guy like Eller or something similar, which I think would fill a hole in the top #9 with at minimum a guy who can win faceoffs and play solid defensively.