OgeeOgelthorpe
Baldina
- Feb 29, 2020
- 17,234
- 18,391
Are we talking about how easily replaced these guys are, or what their future value is? Because when it comes to how easily they are to replace, Veleno has gotta be near the top of the list.
I just don't see a lot of upside with Veleno. He's kinda the Lindstrom of the center position. Solid enough, safe, but bottom of the depth chart in terms of what he actually brings. Zadina is probably the winger version of both, but with a higher ceiling.
Ras and Hronek are the most difficult to replace, given the former's skillset and the latter's role.
Maybe a combination of both.
Lindstrom is easily the lowest value for me. He's an offensive black hole who isn't a total liability defensively. A perfectly mediocre 7th defenseman. Dime a dozen player.
Rasmussen got hot near the end of the season to produce at about an average 4th line rate. I think he could at best be a perfectly average 3rd liner. Dime a dozen player. If he were 6'2" instead of 6'6" he would have been in the minors.
Zadina is 10 ply with poor offensive instincts for an offensive winger. His shot still can't find the back of the net, he's allergic to any contact (maybe he fears he'll get the Hossa sickness). A guy like Sonny Milano would have been an upgrade.
Hronek...ugh...don't make me say it.
Veleno now can probably be easily replaced by some random plug 4th liner but like I said, I still think there's more to him. I don't think 2nd line C is in the cards anymore but Veleno could become that solid 3rd line center if he starts to play like he did his final year of junior and at the 2020 WJC. Confidence is the key issue here.