I think Sundqvist getting 9 (or a handful of) games is almost an absolute certainty. The bigger question, particularly if Sundqvist plays wing when Geno returns, is if Kapanen will get the 9 games. If Kapanen does not stay, and Sundqvist does, then it's virtually certain he'll play wing.
Sundqvist on the wing just doesn't make much sense to me. Sure, he can play there, but his biggest strengths shine when he is playing center.
It's similar to when Malkin is playing wing. Is he a good winger? Yeah. But you aren't getting everything out of him when you have him playing as a winger.
Well, it doesn't matter, because we DO have Malkin + Crosby, and we may also extend Sutter long-term, as well. Sundqvist is a natural centre and so we've seen what he can do as a centre. But until such time as we give him a long look on RW and allow him to get comfortable on the wing, there's no telling just how good (or not) he could be. In my view, I actually think that Sundqvist could end up being a better winger than C at the NHL level, particularly if he can't improve his skating significantly.
Anyway, when you have a good player who has at least SOME versatility, you can't go too far wrong. Remember: Crosby played RW for the vast majority of his first season, and he did just fine there. A lot of young centres get put on the wing when they first enter the NHL. I'm not saying Oscar is Sidney, but if he has the higher-end upside that some think he does (including myself), he should fare very well on the wing, as long as he's getting 3rd line minutes, playing with decent players and getting some 2nd unit PP time.
I agree. I think it's at least possible that his offensive ceiling is higher than expected. Even if the sample size is small and it was preseason hockey... he was doing some things that suggest that he isn't just a third/fourth line talent. His overall accelerated (and somewhat unexpected) development as a player also hints that there is more there. I think that as long as he's given enough minutes and plays with the right players, here... his offensive game could continue to develop without having to send him back to Sweden.
Though there is good sense in letting him play top minutes for Skelleftea to accomplish potentially the same thing. It's not like it's some backwater league he'd be going to.
EDIT: I'm also going to agree with Aiastelmon re: Sunqvist vs. Staal, offensively. Staal does a lot of things well... but to call him offensively gifted in any way would be misrepresenting things, IMO. Sundqvist already looks like his equal in most offensive categories and probably his superior in some. Staal doesn't drive offense on his line by virtue of his puck skills or creativity.
I think everyone would agree that if we look at the situation today, we'd say the
very best thing for Sundqvist (not the Pens) would be for him to get a number of games here (in whatever position/role), and then spend the balance of the season in Sweden, playing in a more significant role. Although, if Sundqvist is able to continue to improve at the rate he has, and look like can be a 15-20 goal guy, keeping him here would be equally good or better for his development.
With regards to the comparisons, I would put it like this: if he could be a poor-man's David Backes, that would be not only excellent for us, but also I think a fair comparison. No one would say "David Backes is a #1 C", and if he were on our team, he wouldn't even be the #2 C. But he's got great skills and such a valuable all around game, he's a guy who plays his position well and so much more. I could see Sundqvist could be that guy where he's a 3rd line C or middle 6 winger, but does so much more besides putting up very decent offensive numbers.
The Staal comparison is not quite right, IMO. But I would say that Staal himself is like a Rich Man's Martin Hanzal. I would rather have a poor man's David Backes than a poor man's Jordan Staal, and we've already pointed out several ways in which Sundqvist already looks better than Staal.
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