Inspired by the 'Top 30 Left Wing' poll series in the poll section on the main board, I was curios about who Blues fans think is their best winger.
David Perron was voted in at 20th place. McDonald and Steen are still in the polls, and McDonald is getting his butt kicked from the likes of players who's only had one good season. He's even tied with Chris Kunitz, and having seen them together on the Ducks I know that McDonald is twice the player Kunitz is.
Contracts, age and potential aside... Who's the best winger on the Blues up until now when they're all healthy? How do you rank the rest?
Maybe I'm biased, but seeing how I've seen the Blues plenty in recent years because of Kariya and McDonald I think AndyMac is your best winger when he's healthy (again, right now). I could easily see Perron being the better player from now going forward, though.
Does anyone have those stats from last year with and without McDonald? It was a pretty drastic difference if I remember correctly. Assuming health, I go with McDonald without much hesitation.
Andy Mac for me, he scores at almost a PPG when healthy, thats the only issue, the health. Perron could surpass him this season sure, but right now its McDonald.
Assuming health, it is McDonald. In terms of trade value he is probably the lowest though!
Steen moving to C obviously changes things, but if he had been able to keep up his scoring pace from last season then I think he'd have to be considered the best.
Went with Perron. It was really hard not to go with McDonald, but I put a premium on health. Perron seems to be past his concussion issues. I'm not as sold on McDonald being over his.
Oshie's the best two-way winger, but still gave the nod to McDonald because his offense is the best among the group when healthy (right now) hands down.
I think you have you ask yourself who's the best defender, playmaker, scorer, penalty killer, power play contributor and plays physical against the best players on the other team. Then since it can earn the team an extra point who scores at the highest percentage in shootouts?
This is tough to choose. Best winger should include all aspects of the game, blended together, to form an overall value to the team in gaining wins. Oshie is the best all-around winger. But, does adding in the value of his defence and physical game vault him above Andy McDonald's higher offensive worth? How does Perron's and Steen's game stand up against theirs?
I'd say that Oshie's overall game is worth more right now than McDonald's better offensive production for The Blues. I'd say that both Steen (on the wing) and Perron are very close to Oshie's worth. I chose Oshie in the poll.
Don't really understand the votes for Steen, but I have an admittedly lower opinion of him than most here. Great guy to have on the team and certainly a leader but there's no way I would put him above McDonald, Oshie, or Perron
McDonald drives the play forward better than any forward we have, by a pretty wide margin IMO. That coupled with his hockey IQ, his puck possession skills, and his ability to consistently generate chances in the offensive zone regardless of linemates/opposition makes him the top guy in my mind.
I think you can make a strong case for Oshie as well.
