See it’s comments like this that imply you pretty much expect top line production or dismiss players. In the prior 3 years to this season Mangiapane scored at a pace of 28 goals per 82 games. In what realm is that a third line guy in any shape or form? Even if just basing it off his play since being reunited with Backlund, over that time frame his even strength production is at about the same totals as Patrick Kane, Debrincat, Bergeron, Bratt at a low end 1st line production. He was also quite literally just a key offensive guy the season prior on a very strong Flames team.
Mangiapane has seasons of 32, 32, 56 points. Scoring pace means nothing, you don't get credit for scoring pace you get points for production. Debrincat had 78 points last year Mangiapane hasn't come close to that and show zero signs of ever getting there.
What strong Flames team? last year they were easily beaten by a weak Oilers team after struggling to get by a weak Stars team, that wasn't a strong team at all.
Coleman is exactly the kind of guy you pay, he was quite literally one of the pieces that pushed Tampa over the top for their first cup, and in an exclusively 2/3rd line defensive role he’s top 80 in the league for non-powerplay goals. He has more than guys like Gaudreau, Zibenejad, Marchand etc.
How much did Coleman make when he was with TB versus how much he makes now? How much did TB suffer by letting him go and not pay him his current salary? That is the problem.
Kudos though, I genuinely believe you saying you like Dube is the first positive comment you’ve made about the team. If I misinterpreted you saying Coleman and Mangiapane have absolutely zero value repeatedly as calling them garbage that’s on me as well.
I say they have very limited value based on their contracts. There are few, if any teams, that can afford to pay Coleman what he makes for the role he plays and have success. Same with Mangiapane.
The reason this is "the only positive thing" you have seen me post is a. you don't read much or remember much of what I post and b. there isn't much, if anything, to be positive about this team. it is a very unlikable group of players, with little to no success, in the worst situation to be in in modern NA sports- mediocrity. It has no stars, no good young players. The prospect (of the team) short term is shit, the long term projection is shit. I will gladly post a ton of positive things about the club when there are positives but what I don't do is post fake positive crap or overrate meh players. If others want to do it go ahead but I see zero reason why everyone should be expected to be a happy clapper.