duul
Registered User
- Jun 21, 2010
- 10,462
- 5,083
I wouldn't really consider him to be capable of 'putting the puck in the net' when Josh Archibald has outscored him this year playing on the 3rd and 4th lines of our team playing with the likes of Riley Sheahan etc, all the while adhering to a structured and sound defense-first game plan.Well first of all McDavid isn’t Crosby, they dominate the game in completely different ways, so it’s reasonable that the players they clock best with wouldn’t be the same. The example of comparing AA to Kunitz is situational, not suggesting they are similar players skillset wise. The Pens targeted Kunitz specifically because they felt he would be a good fit for Crosby, much like they’ve now done with Zucker.
AA can skate and he can put the puck in the net, two skills that should be at the top of the list when you’re scouting players to play with McDavid. No doubt he has some warts in his game, otherwise you wouldn’t get him for a pair of 2nds. But he’s got a nice package of size, speed and shooting/goal scoring that could fit well with McDavid. Now the work starts to break his bad habits, raise the compete level and train him how best to be effective with 97, and I trust Tippett do be able to get more out of this player.
AA has the worst +/- in the entire NHL and completely disregards the defensive zone. He doesn't care if he is scored on 10 times as long as he gets his breakaway. When Josh Archibald is playing bottom 6 minutes, outscoring you, and playing great defensively...I'd be very hesitant to say you're capable of 'putting the puck in the net'.