Eriksson is a better player, but older and a much higher injury risk. I'd rather pay Boedker $5m per over 5 years vs Eriksson $6m over 5 years. At least with Boedker you are getting ~3 of his prime years. Eriksson is starting on the downside of his career.
Ya I agree.
I dont want anything to do with Loui if its over 4 years, or over 5.5M. Way to much risk with him on that kind of term and cap hit.
Boedker is fitting in very well with the team so far IMO. Maybe he's not great defensively, but he's also definitely not a liability either. He came from Arizona playing under Tippett the last number of years so he has some of those smart safer characteristics in his play that he got from that system.
I actually think he's above average defensively for a winger. He's in the right position the majority of the time, he doesn't puck watch much if at all, and off the rush he's very good picking pockets and going the other way with it(Not Oreilly good, but probably better then any other forward we have minus Soderberg IMO).
I think the only problem with Boedker is that he struggles a bit with his compete level perhaps. I dont think he gives it a 100% effort every single night. On the nights where he gives it 100% you can see it and he's usually the best player on the ice or at least one of the best players. On those nights he's every bit as good as Duchene, Mackinnon, Landy, whoever. But then you also have those nights where he's not at 100% and you can see. A little more floating in the defensive zone, not as much drive and determination and more perimeter play. On these nights he's still not necessarily a bad player or having a negative impact, but he leaves you wanting more because we know that he has more to give.
The Anaheim game for example was one of those games I thought. He didn't seem to be giving it his everything and you could kind of see it.
But I think Roy is one of the top motivational coaches in the league(Easily better then Tippett I would guess) and is someone who would get more of those 100% games out of Boedker then other coaches.
It also comes down to Boedker himself and how he feels about his time this year with the Avs. If he enjoys himself and wants to come back then that would be a lot better then coming back just for the money we offer as well.