Eichel was also on pace to score 8 goals this year in 82 games. He hasn't been able to bring his team close to the POs ever. I have big concerns for him just as I did with Brad Richards. I think he make the most sense for a solid strong team, that doesn't have top end ability. But I would be concerned about how he would do for a team like ours. Would he match-up well against the top lines around us?
I just don't think he is a good counter to guys like Barzal, Aho, even Crosby can be mentioned, Tampa's speed and so forth. If we were talking about like Barzal, I would be willing to go all in without any doubt. But Eichel just doesn't do it at all for me. JMHO.
Yes, without any doubt I would also sign Barzal over Eichel. He has the driving quality that wins games. He's on a rival team, but I have to admit he's really efficient at what he does. He drives the play really well and was a godsend for the Islanders barn.
But, so has Zibanejad been. He is a hockey dictator on the ice when he's in his flow, it's as simple as that. Eichel doesn't just because he's a very skilled player. Eichel doesn't carry the line. That's what you want in a core player.
It's the mixture of qualities that matters. Eichel on the right team would be a star, say he would play in Pastrnak's role in Boston. He would probably outshine Pastrnak. Boston can afford that, NYR can't. That's also why I laughed when Buffalo signed Adam Hall, because it was such an outlandish mixture of the qualities the team actually needed. Their owners are terrible in the extent of their terrible GM signings. New York fans can at least be happy the team wasn't owned by owners like in Buffalo.
Big OT warning:
You are right and this is actually the secret behind the Vikings as well.
Superhumans, no, I am sad to write this but there are no superhumans, only in the sagas. Super strong groups and loyalty is something else which do exist from time to time, ok, it helped a bit too with their strange religion and not being afraid of dying. ;-)
Even bigger OT: This cultural trait of being very loyal is very easy to attain when the world you live in is a frozen wasteland. You quickly learn you need the help of others to survive and grow. It's also why I culturally think the Nordic nations were so quick to revolt and become protestants in the 30 year war in the 1600s. They couldn't submit to one monoteistic truth even after centuries of that rule and were very eager to change that in a grand war.
