We are more worried about the bottom 9 than the top end talent because we have top end talent and lack bottom 9 players... How hard is that to understand? You realize bottom 9 forwards play 66% of the game right. We currently have 2/3 of the game where we are straight up outmatched when comparing forwards with just about every team expected to make playoff
I gotta agree with you, I don't think I would acquire karlsson at the cost. I think they are better off doing what you say, hang onto Heiskanen and use the extra money to try to improve the other lines, that is indeed where their main weakness lies. We all know how great Karlsson is but acquiring him also kind of hancuffs them on improving those lower lines as you said.
I don't know about that but watching him move around the ice is for sure a sight to behold, kind of reminds me how Karlsson moves around the ice.
Heiskanen's value, the reason he went number 3 was because he had unbelievable defensive instincts approaching someone like Lidstrom defensively (in terms of the prospect Lidstrom, not the finished article obviously). His gap control, defensive IQ, and ability to poke check are elite at his age, especially for someone who's not prototypical Dman size. His concerns leading into the draft which pushed him down to where he was drafted, were offensive concerns. Those concerns are gone. He racked up goals at an incredible rate for a defensemen, and should absolutely be able to hit double digit goals in the NHL in exactly the same way John Klingberg consistently does despite not having a canon from the blueline. He effortlessly gets into the heart of the defense to fire off those incredibly accurate wristers. Basically you are looking at a guy who can put up Klingberg like offensive numbers in his prime, while having the potential to be one of the best shut down defenders in the NHL where his outstanding skating and instincts allow him phenomenal gap control at still such a young age.
No, a bad GM is someone who evaluates trade targets in a vacuum. Ignoring things like need, salary cap management etc. Dallas doesn't NEED another high scoring Dman. It would be a luxury. And because of that fact and the significant weaknesses that exist which they would no longer be able to address, like lack of scoring on 3 lines, no way would I guarantee cup contention simply by adding Karlsson. They would like to work out a trade for Karlsson purely due to him being BPA and the excitement generated by his name, when someone like Panarin would likely help the team more despite not being as good a player.
Honest observation. The league seems to have at least twenty generational players and prospects the way that term is being used now. It has replaced the word "elite".
That term is tossed around way too frequently. In the past year we have seen a generational forward prospect in McDavid and the rumblings are that Dahlin is a generational prospect as a Dman.
