Easily we can replace him for a 3 to 4 M 3rd line center that is even better defensively and can put up 40 points.
Thats the route we will be going soon.
Really? Who's that available center?
Ewww...the guy that gets criticized for being the laziest player in the league. Personally I think JJ could be our 3C, Nuge gets shipped regardless. Not sure why people aren't seeing that yet.We really should of traded Nuge this summer and signed Bonino.
I still think its too early to judge Nuge's game. He is a guy that by many accounts picks up the finer points of the game and improves.
A very very successful year, if he plays on the third line as projected, will be 40 points, plus anything, and improved face offs. Him and JJ are basically Jessies personal tutors, babysitters, teachers, and are there to make sure he develops in a proper 200 foot game manner.
Kinda interesting that management put the screws to him to be better offensively but yet have put him in a position where it is basically impossible to get more points than in previous years. Less ice time and worse line mates really limits his opportunities. If his line is used as anything other than a soft quality of competition/weak match ups type line, I think its safe to say Nuge is being set up to fail.
Ewww...the guy that gets criticized for being the laziest player in the league. Personally I think JJ could be our 3C, Nuge gets shipped regardless. Not sure why people aren't seeing that yet.
I would target Bozak out of TO. They will need cap space one year.
So solid defensively that he can't be trusted to take a D zone draw and was the heaviest - on the team by double the next player? Can we just admit his defensive game is grossly overrated by homers on this board?Man, I'm still pro Nuge. I'll agree that he has to pick it up offensivley, but to poo-poo his contributions against top lines and players is laughable IMO. He's very solid defensively. Hope he gets injured for a while so we can see what we're like without him. That'll make for a good discussion I'm sure.
So solid defensively that he can't be trusted to take a D zone draw and was the heaviest - on the team by double the next player? Can we just admit his defensive game is grossly overrated by homers on this board?
Easily we can replace him for a 3 to 4 M 3rd line center that is even better defensively and can put up 40 points.
Thats the route we will be going soon.
Ewww...the guy that gets criticized for being the laziest player in the league. Personally I think JJ could be our 3C, Nuge gets shipped regardless. Not sure why people aren't seeing that yet.
So solid defensively that he can't be trusted to take a D zone draw and was the heaviest - on the team by double the next player? Can we just admit his defensive game is grossly overrated by homers on this board?
I mean Jokinen for 3CSo Nuge out and Khaira takes his place? Yeah, we wouldn't skid a beat.
Here is the complete list of actual centers to choose from that have averaged between 35-45 points per year over the last 3 years:
Paul Stastny
Mika Zibanajed
Adam Henrique *
Kevin Hayes *
Vincent Trochek
Mikael Backlund *
Matthew Perrault *
Victor Rask *
Brandan Dubinsky
Alex Wennberg
Bo Horvat
Jordan Staal
Artem Anisimov
Travis Zajac
Carl Soderberg
Sean Couturier *
Ryan Spooner *
Nick Bonino *
A * means that their salary is in less than $4.5M.
Which of these guys 1) played as a third line center, 2) are better defensively than Nuge and 3) would be easy to juts go get?
Nuge may well get traded. But I think people need to recognize that thinking that there are available cheaper options who are just as good is unreasonable.
Obviously Khaira doesn't replace Nuge but Jokinen would be decent in that 3C spot. I like Nuge but at 6mil per he needs to play top 6.As soon as you admit that his entire game is grossly under rated by his detractors.....sure. Seems that whenever someone points out a good quality of Nuge's game, posters will say he's being over rated. Just because he's making a dumb ass amount of money thanks to previous Managment doesn't equate to him being as poor a player that he's likened to by a few posters here, yourself included. I don't like his lack of improvment at taking FO's, his lack of points, or his salary. No point in just belittling his positives that he brings, many of which do not tend to be recognized here. If we get a better player for the team through trade, great. People suggesting Khaira over Nuge is a fine example of what I'm talking about here.
Could you imagine the impotent rage if Backlund signed with the Oilers for cheap?
Backlund has turned himself into an excellent #2C and is one of the best bargains in hockey. He's also 28 and at the same age that Nuge is now he was barely an NHL'er. People tend to forget that despite being in the league for 6 years Nuge is still very young.
If Backlund has a similar year this year to last he could easily get $6M on the open market.
Sorry, I did understand your post and yes I am sure there would be a few fans down south that would go nuts, though I am also sure you would quickly hear how it was all a mirage and that he was just being carried by their big stars.I know that. I'm just saying, how funny it would be?
I mean Jokinen for 3C
Time for overly optimistic predictions: Nuge will a have a huge year and will end up second in scoring behind McDavid.