Quote:
Originally Posted by DutchShamrock
Schultz has nothing to do with Del Zotto. RD and LD respectively. Huge gaping hole on the right side, that's why Schultz is desired by NYR and why we are a potential target. MDZ is a known commodity for offense from the blueline... something we cannot say about any other blueliner under contract. McD was drafted to be an offensive guy and he developed into this shutdown stud. Gilroy never seemed to transfer the offensive side to the NHL, not enough to be counted on.
One day one or all of Erixon, McIlrath, Schultz, Sauer, Skej will start to push out some established guys. Some day in the future when they earn a spot and prove their value. But I don't understand the rush to part with such an amazing core when they are under contract for amazing prices. Wait to see with free agency. Be patient with the trades. No one moved a Staal level player for Thornton, Heately, Hossa or Kovalchuk.
It's like Mitch Hedberg's line about not eating an apple because eventually it'll be a core. God forbid we enjoy the journey before they leave.
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mcd was only 9 points behind del zotto without much pp time playing against the top players in the league all season. del zotto had like 14 of his 41 points on the pp vs mcdonagh's 2. you give mcd pp time and i guarantee he's a 40 point man. girardi and staal are both 30 point guy as well. del zotto's 40(14 pp) is not a godsend.. only real benefit is that he's 21 and will more than likely improve with experience(which can be said about mcdonagh as well-- he worked hard on his shot/offense and it showed)
player | pts | ppp | pts w/o pp
del zotto| 41 | 14 | 27
mcdna | 32 | 02 | 30
girardi | 29 | 10 | 19
*staal | 29 | 11 | 18
*last season
del zotto's good, but mcdonagh on the pp would presumably have outproduced him-- and mcdonagh is playing against the top players in the league.