I dont quite agree hes a "slug" he skates pretty well for a big guy.
I wouldnt pay him 4 million but lets not act like we usually do we will just dump so and so and replace him easily. This team lacks speed and size up front.
Again...yes, this team lacks speed and size up front. But Joshua is just size. He's big and once he gets rolling he's okay...but he's a terrible skater. His acceleration is awful. He's not a "fast" player in any practical sense.
We've got a weird mix. We've got guys like Hoggy and Garland who are lightning quick, but still slow as heck in long speed. And we've got guys like Dakota and Myers who cover a lot of ground once they get going...but it takes them three days to get up to speed and they can't react to plays quickly enough when asked to change directions quickly.
That's where i'd be throwing wads of cash at a guy like DeBrusk who gives up a bit in tonnage on the scales to Joshua, but is a massively more effective physical presence because he's fast as heck and has superb instincts as a forechecker. And also just a massively smarter and more skilled player.
If Joshua wants to sign on for sub $3M short-term that's cool. But i don't think he's going to do that. He's a bottom-6 banger who has great chemistry with Garland and that's it. You don't pay those players, even though he came up clutch vs Nashville. Sentimentality kills.
I'm guessing teams will be lined up for a big "goal scoring power forward" UFA like Dakota. And will offer stupid money as a result. There's a point at which you're better off just trading for a guy like like Josh Anderson who is a better, faster version of that...and taking on his own dumb contract.
