Condra of last year was useless but so was the whole team. He's really stepped it up this year and still has room to improve.
Kelley never scored 20 while on the Sens, he was around 10-15. I can see Condra as a 10-12g guy in the next couple seasons.
Pageau isn't on the same level as Vermette but Vermette also was also playing when the Sens were one of the top teams in the league and were also one of the top scoring teams around. Vermette also had 7G in his first 57 games ( Pageau has 5 in his first 50 spread over el3 seasons).
So I don't think they're that different really.
Edit: I'll give you that Vermette is more skilled but Stone-Hands Kelly more talented than Condra? They're basically the same player, they get a lot of scoring oportunities and have trouble scoring.
Over 5+ years here Kelly averaged 13 goals and 31 points per 82 games, playing 15 minutes a game with a S% of 11%. Condra has averaged 9 goals and 22 points per 82 games here, playing around 13 minutes a game, S% of 7%.
Even with the Sens being a superior scoring team in Kelly's early years, he was still the better offensive player as a Sen over Condra. When the Sens scored less in his later years, his scoring never really dropped off which showed that he wasn't dependent on those top players to allow for his stats to be better.
Next, the physical game- Kelly wins this hands down, he wasn't pushed around out there, and wasn't afraid to throw his body around. Condra prefers the stick work, but even then Kelly was just as good a takeaway player.
Finally. versatility- Kelly could play the wing or centre effectively, that is huge for a bottom 6 player, especially one who kills penalties.
So Kelly was a better scorer [even with the nickname stone hands], point getter, physical player, was relied on to play more minutes and was more versatile.
Condra is not the same player, he plays a similar game but is worse in most categories. He is having his best season, though.
To get back to Pageau, he's showing himself to be an NHL player that I agree is making Smith expendable. His faceoff game has improved, he's as gritty and physical as you'd want a bottom 6 forward to be, he's a very solid penalty killer, and he brings a good offensive game too.
One major problem with Condra is he failed his job miserably last year but has noticeably has stepped up in a contract year. I think Condra has a lot further to go to establish himself as a defensive specialist in the league.
