OK, I'm not trying to be a dick (for a change), but of you didn't have numbers and metrics, how would ypu contrast Cole's game vs say Barron or Gus based soley on watching them play?
There are tons of little plays that don't end up anywhere on a stats sheet, including advanced metrics. Board battles that get pucks out (or keep pucks in) that lead to line changes, smart puck management in danger zones, etc. For bottom six guys (especially 4th line guys), that's the stuff that coaches want them to be elite at. It's not their job to score, it's to be dependable where they're out there
Those little things are examples of what Gus has been doing surprisingly well this season. That said, his strengths don't belong in the top six because their role is different
Ok, I'll try to answer. Cole does those little things as well. My guess is they are more noticed on Gus because that is really all he brings to the table whereas Cole is more counted on the score.
You talk about safe zone exits and wnsuring pucks get out. That data is tracked by Garrett and both Perfetti and Gus are tied for second best among forwards in the team with an 11% zone exit failure rate. Which means both are very good at ensuring the puck safely gets out of the zone. We have seen a number of examples of this by Cole. Just last week he smartly blocks out the opposition dmen and ties up his stick. It allows DeMelo's outlet to get by setting up a two on one in which Connor scores.
Cole also anticipates the play really well in the dzone. That was seen perfectly on his en goal last night. He read the play, jumped the route and put the game away. There are countless other times where he's supporting the d well and quickly recognizes danger and grabs loose pucks infront of our net and safety gets it out.
To be fair Gus does all this as well.
I get that this org doesn't have the best track record when it comes to developing rounded skilled players. All of Scheifele, KC, Laine, Roslovic and Ehlers range from mediocre to downright awful in their end which may cloud some judgement. But after 150 or so games of being consistently among the best on the team in goal prevention Cole is clearly doing something right.
This org had its best ever run when they had Little and Perrault on the fourth line. Skill that could be responsible in their end. That is what I see as possible with Perfetti, Namestnikov and Iafallo.
I guess I just view roster building differently. All the multiple cup winning teams had skill in the bottom 6. Kessel and Bonnio in Pittsburgh, Gourde and Johnson in Tampa. Richard's in LA etc.