K215215 said:
However, a guy like Ovechkin would put fans in the seats. A true crossover star and a face for the Franchise. Put Ovechkin, Horton, Weiss, Stewart, Neordost, and Olli in front of Luongo and, wow. Its not like we werent already giving up 40 shots a game anyway
Yeah, you're giving 40 shots a night... and losing badly too. You need to have some blueline at some point. Jay Bouwmeester looks like one of the best defensemen drafted in quite some time. And defensemen are more of a crapshoot than forwards when you draft them.
There are good star forwards at the top of many drafts, and it looks like the Panthers have a lot of that. It's the young stud Ds that are hard to find. Bouwmeester may become one of the best defensemen in the league.
On top of having immense talent, he is a really low-maintenance, humble young man. It's a very good asset for a franchise player to have. He's going to log 30 minutes a night and if he fulfills his potential, be more important than any forward in the game period.
I'm relatively satisfied with his development. It hasn't been *ideal* but it's been good enough so far considering he is a defenseman. If his development had been amazing, I would say "no question" to this deal but as you can see, I am still a bit tentative.
I am not convinced it is the right decision. Not 100%. But I think the odds would be largely in my favor and that is why I would not do this deal.
I agree with you, a forward like Ovechkin might be more marketable. By their nature, it seems forwards are the most, with goaltenders also raising some attention in the right markets.
The 7th overall can be used in a number of ways. There will be good players available at all positions. Probably mainly on goaltending and forwards.
Really, Bouwmeester was a very special player in a pretty special draft. It was a weird draft because it was lackluster but on top you had a few absolutely amazing players. In most draft years, Jay would have gone first (and he was first as far as I am concerned at the time).
I find that there are amusing similarities between Jay and Ovechkin. Both were early-bloomers type and there was a long romance between hockey fans and him with all sorts of unrealistic expectations.
I find it ironic that today Jay is at the center of a rumor and much of the arguments supporting Ovechkin are remarkably similar to the kind of nonsense we kept hearing back then. But a lot of people will never learn that lesson.
Essentially, this is what this trade is about:
A rare talent who bloomed early and has been labelled a phenom
FOR
A rare talent who bloomed early and has been labelled a phenom
plus a 7th overall pick
Anyone who is firmly grounded in reality will know what to choose at this point in time. It might turn out to be a mistake but it's the right call. Bouwmeester has two years of experience under his belt and the Panthers have been in the crapper for too long. There are issues surrounding how Ovechkin will be signed and when. Bouwmeester is secured.
Jay has proven he can play in this league and like Ovechkin, he is doing admirably well in international competition. Jay has a relationship with the Panthers, Ovechkin doesn't. And excluding the fact I am really not sure Ovechkin is a better talent than Bouwmeester, it also makes sense from a need perspective. The Cats are loaded with forwards, many with great potential. Bouwmeester covers them up in another respect.
The 7th pick can be used to improve goaltending depth or add a skater with very interesting upside. Some are risky but there is something to be done here.
This game is all about icing a team. It is collective and chemistry is of the utmost importance. Constant trading is for perennial losers like Dudley and fantasy GMs. The NHL is taking place in the real world, where guys share a locker room and where GMs, coaches and players have a set time to achieve goals.
At this point in time, few GMs in Keenan's shoes would do this deal.