Merrrlin
Grab the 9 iron, Barry!
- Jul 2, 2019
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You could argue that Point is the most complete NHL forward after Bergeron. He's been this good for a while now, but he's doing it in clutch ways this off season.
Barzal is a top-10 centre in the league, isnt he?
- Thread starter De Montreal
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You could argue that Point is the most complete NHL forward after Bergeron. He's been this good for a while now, but he's doing it in clutch ways this off season.
GrandmaSlices51631
Registered User
You just brought up Tavares, how damn insecure are you?
I haven't cut Barzal any slack, if you look at my posts this postseason, I've been one of the most critical Isles fans.
Just give it up already with the JT stuff, you got the player, yet many of the Wilted Leafs fans still feel the need to jump on any Barzal Bashing bandwagon thread in droves. Win a playoff round or qualify for one!
Brunomics
Registered User
- Sep 2, 2006
- 8,787
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You are right. I love Barzal but he needs to take a look at what Point does and figure out how to turn himself into a more complete player. He needs to start playing like a killer out there. Take pucks to the net, shoot more, and keep things simple.
Jtown
Registered User
in all fairness there has been a common theme throughout Barzal's career and that is he is not a proficient goal scorer. Not many players have had the success he has had while scoring a career high of 27 goals in his post draft year. Point on the other hand has shown throughout his career that he is capable of scoring goals at any level. Barzal is a fantastic two way player as he thoroughly dominated the philly series, but He looked like he was out of gas in the lightning series. Still a great player.
KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
It's that killer instinct that separates Point and other top centers, IMO. The major problem with the perimeter play is it keeps him predictable. If he starts attacking the net, everything else he does will suddenly become more effective. Even if he's not a great shooter, a willingness to shoot will open up his passing options. TB really just covered his wingers and let him noodle around the perimeter all he wanted.
doublechili
For all intensive purposes, your nuts
- Apr 11, 2006
- 18,579
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I'm not worried about Barzal. He's better now than he was 1 or 2 years ago, and he'll be better than he is now in a year and in 2 years. He's improving, and he's capable of doing things that only a few (literally a few) players can do.
ViewsFromThe6ix
Zachary on the Attackary
Trotz does not encourage killing instinct. Lee had better killing instinct before he played for Trotz, because the players are not taking chances scared that if their risky move does not work it will be backfired. So it will come down to if you will play for the team or yourself? A lot of gifted offensive players will ignore the coach & just go with what their eyes tell them to do.
Barzal will improve defensively under Trotz but offensively he will only improve if he goes to a team plays wide-open hockey. He was really incredible in the junior under 18 international tournament and skill-wise he can definitely improve if he works on those. Hockey IQ also comes with experience too. He will be much better once he hit his prime. If he wants to win personal trophies then he probably will end up playing on an all offense team down the road but if he wants to become a complete hockey player then he will be better to stay with Isles and learn.
Anyway I do not see why he will be paid more than $8M per year and any offer sheet to grab him will not make sense and history shows that offer sheet is hardly ever signed because most GMs will not take that much risk on players not yet proven elite and if an RFA is already elite his team will definitely match because the player is worth that much.
The consensus on HF board is that Barzal is not elite so why would he get paid more than $8 M a year now? Which GM is that impulsive and willing to take a risk to derail his franchise by throwing that many top picks on a player that is not yet elite?
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Sky04
Registered User
- Jan 8, 2009
- 29,063
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I definitely don't think he should get 8M, the Islanders should bridge him and continue building around the core while develops into a better overall player. The only issue is I don't the Islanders have a leg to stand on if Barzal chases money, an offer sheet of 8M is a realistic thing to expect, probably not what the Islanders want to pay this year but it's not exactly worth losing him over either.
The reason why we're confident in TB players not taking offer sheets is because as a group they all seem very attached to the team and are placed in a very good situation already. Barzal on the otherhand, I'm not sure how far his attachment to NY goes or his fondness of playing Trotz's system. If he believes it's holding him back then he'll take money he thinks he deserves.
Have been comparing barzal to Jonathan drouin since barzal has come into the league. A lot of similar skill and issues. Barzal has found the back of the net more and i believe ultimately he is a better player but both had a habitual issue of skating in circles looking impressive and skilled but not really accomishing much and at times just turning the puck over because they over complicate the play
T REX
Registered User
- Feb 28, 2013
- 11,304
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ScaredStreit
Registered User
Barzal's about an average 1st line center and there's nothing wrong with that for a 23 year old.
DearDiary
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- Aug 29, 2010
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Even that is overestimating him. I can't imagine a team winning a cup with him running the 1st line
ScaredStreit
Registered User
Gurglesons
Registered User
I think they could easily win a cup if they get a legit first line winger with him.
TheNorthStars
Stars/Leafs
- Sep 3, 2018
- 257
- 364
McDavid, Crosby, Malkin, Tavares, Couturier, O'Reilly, Matthews, Zibanejad, Barkov, MacKinnon, Bergeron, Eichel, Aho, Pettersson, Scheifele, Backstrom, Point, Couture, Kuznetsov and Stamkos.
Some obviously better, some arguable.
Islanders fans when discussing Barzal: he is an elite C in the league, maybe a top 10.
Islanders fans when discussing Barzal and his contract comes up: he has a lot to prove, I think he should sign for 7.5M
Islanders fans when discussing Barzal and his contract comes up: he has a lot to prove, I think he should sign for 7.5M
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
- Jun 29, 2009
- 55,712
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Dallas is 3 wins away from winning the Cup with Seguin as their #1C. You really think Seguin's that much superior to Barzal?
DearDiary
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- Aug 29, 2010
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I was referring to being a guy who can drive a line... "Running the 1st line" as I mentioned. Seguin is playing with Benn/Radulov, so Dallas doesn't have that problem with needing a top center.
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
- Jun 29, 2009
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What is it about Barzal's game suggests he can't "run a line" as long as he has guys who can actually bury his passes?
Barzal's great at zone entries and he's a great passer. Lee's a bad fit because of how slow a skater he is (Barzal basically has to loop around to give Lee a chance to skate to the net, thus killing any quick transition offense) and Eberle's just not that much of a goal scorer.
I'm not saying Barzal can do what McDavid can or what Crosby could in his prime, but I'm not sure why Barzal's any less capable of being that premiere playmaker on a line that creates for his linemates, ala younger Giroux/Getzlaff or even what Marner (as a winger) does.
ScaredStreit
Registered User
I agree, which is why I said he's about an average 1st line center. That would put him around 16 give or take a few spots. I think that's a reasonable statement to make. Some of those names I'd argue Barzal is better than, others I wouldn't.
I have a hard time putting Barzal ahead of some of the top 10 lists...but I want to as a hockey fan. He’s quite incredible.
His possession and IQ are off the charts. He’s young and tries to do a little too much at times but this is common for the younger guys.
I think there’s a clear group ahead of him, but imo there’s an argument with couturier, stamkos, backstrom, etc.
His possession and IQ are off the charts. He’s young and tries to do a little too much at times but this is common for the younger guys.
I think there’s a clear group ahead of him, but imo there’s an argument with couturier, stamkos, backstrom, etc.
Pure Slaughter Value
Registered User
I'm perfectly fine putting him behind all of these players, an almost even % of which are either in or are about to enter decline years.
There's nothing wrong with having your #1 center be 20th in the league at the position if he's on the upswing. If Barzal wasn't steadily improving it'd be a concern but he has. My guess is Trotz sits him down and goes over why he can't try to do everything in the PO's as you see what happens. Kid's such a ridiculous competitor he'll take any coaching and run with it.
He should definitely sign a bridge 7.5M a year because yes that will give him the chance to show that he can turn those high potentials into top scoring production and help to put up points in the standings. If he can accomplish this, this will put him in his prime with great opportunity to net a large long term contract he desires. Furthermore, when the league has recovered financially well from Covid-19, the overall cap space will increase thus more teams will be able to compete for his next contract meaning that he will have more choices to go where he wants to play for long term. Isles can get more offensive production out of their current line-up as well as from newbe (the two forward prospects with NHL shots highly likely will be in the line-up next season).
He is not going anywhere else as there are too many reasons why he would take that bridge and stay with Isles. The UFA market this year means a lot of teams will be spending money chasing several top UFA instead of looking at RFA offer sheets.
