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Originally Posted by Ohio Jones
Well said.  |
Indeed.
And its a deal that gone done because of different needs, circumstances, and most of all perspective.
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Originally Posted by Vagrant
With McBain
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I really needed more defensive depth - and so I've been watching a lot more hockey lately to find a player who would fit what I wanted. Which are good sized, good skating, two-way defenseman who will eventually pan out to have good all around ratings in the HFNHL. McBain wasn't really a target because, like Josh said, he'd seemed to have taken a step back. But as you know I went to the Canes/Ducks game a few weeks ago with Tony and McBain was simply great. And at around this time he also started playing the most minutes of the entire Canes D. What I saw that night and have seen since is a pretty dynamic player who can handle the puck well, makes smart decisions with the puck and had obviously improved tremendously this year.
He could fit in well in my bottom pairing now - and while Josh thinks 23 is old - I see 23 as the age when defenseman only START learning their trade in the NHL. Despite the influx of younger dmen into the NHL in the last few seasons, they're all pretty much erratic and inconsistent until they hit that mid 20's point and don't even become consistently well rated until much later... 27 or 28. So Jamie has a few years to continue to improve. I'm also not worried about the upcoming dmen. There are vets on this roster who will be cleared away and as this young team improves - McBain should be along for the ride... I don't see why he can't score 40 points on a regular basis (assisting on many a Skinner goal!)
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Originally Posted by Vagrant
With Orlov
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With Orlov I see unlimited upside. I've always loved him - and I'm not worried about the Russian factor. He could have stayed in the KHL where he's already played a full season. But he wants to play in the NHL. He's 20 and is noted as being an offensive dman but this season has made and stayed in the NHL because of his vast improvement in his own zone. The Caps are holding the reigns on him. Developing him properly. He is a physical player when needed, he has all the tools, but unlike a Siemens, this kid is hockey smart in a different way - and to me this is the kind of player that always seems to succeed. I've said I think this kid is the next Zubov, I'll take even a pale imitation (which I think Orlov is not....)
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Originally Posted by vagrant
in Puempel and Siemens Wedgewood
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With Siemens and Wedgewood, these were guys I had no interest in at the draft nor have I developed any since. But what they were were assets that I knew someone else would like. Trading Hejduk/ Wolksi for them and then flipping them for prospects I did like was always the plan. A round-about way to get a Hejduk/Wolski for McBain/Orlov trade ..(*though at the time I didn't know they were who I would end up with but were on my list of targets - and there were other assets like Galiev that I got for the same vets.)
I think Siemens is a classic "has all the tools" but doesn't put it all together. He is just all raw talent. And I didn't trade him because of his concussion but just generally because he's played, well, like **** all year and I didn't like him in the first place. Others however, like actual real NHL GM's actually love this guy, he was taken 11th overall. What do I know? But even if he does reach his potential he's 4 or 5 years away in my estimation. McBain is a year or two. Orlov two or three. That timeline worked better for me.
Puempel is a guy I drafted when my list of players I wanted at 19 were gone and he was the BPA. I tried, in vain, to drop down in the draft but decided the next level of prospects were not that good. I feel like it was a failed draft - I played it wrong. Puempel is, as one or two people who scout the OHL tell me, a natural goalscorer but he is a 'complimentary' player on any line. Unlike someone like Skinner who can generate his own chances, Puempel is not that type. Which is fine, but I really feel like Orlov has higher upside, plus he's already in the NHL and starting to make an impact, who knows if Puempel will even get this far. And the OHL guys I talked too really don't like Puempel. And they know more than me.
Wedgewood - I just find it hard to recompense that this guy isn't the full time starter. And the guy he's competing with isn't even considered an NHL prospect. He was the bait that put the trade over the top. I certainly don't know what his future is like, but I like my goalie prospect crop more, and to get this trade done he was a necessary piece.
I traded three prospects I didn't like that much for two guys I'm excited about. Plus, two of the prospects I gave up were acquired for veterans whose value was pretty low on the market.
Good trade for both teams - met the needs and I'm rebuilding on a quicker timetable than Josh who can wait for these three to develop. And we have different perspectives on the players. All in all only time will settle this deal.
