E.L. wrote:
Mayfield was lights out in the playoffs. What a bargain he is. Might be the two after Pulock.
Totally disagree there. Pulock is far better offensively and people keep showing fancy stats that have him way over Mayfield.
Pokecheque wrote:
Chris18 wrote:
Rumor is the Jets are looking to trade Laine but want a 2nd line center back. Isles are rumored to be very interested, but certainly can't afford to give up a center. Maybe Lou tries to work a 3-way trade, sending D to a team with a center to spare so the Isles could finally get the sniper they need. It's a rumor of course... But hey, why not talk with myself about rumors in here? It's 2020. Who isn't talking to themselves?
Can any team afford to give up a center really? Maybe Montreal if indeed they're done with Danault, but that's about all I can think of.
I'd think the Isles' biggest needs lie on defense. I don't know what Dobson projects as but New York's blueline is lacking that big go-to guy. Pulock is, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, their best defenseman. Toews is probably their next best (?). Leddy and Boychuk are old, Mayfield and Pelech are depth options--unless their version of Sebastian Aho is going to be as good as the one in Carolina, I'm guessing they need to do something to upgrade the D.
Pelech is the Isles' best d-man. Their total collapse happened right after he went down with the injury. He doesn't get noticed much, but it's largely because people don't pass to the side he's covering because his guy is so well covered. The NBC analysts were talking about him during the Flyers series, and how he's just always in the right spot. Now and then he makes a dumb decision and pinches at a bad time, giving up a 2 on 1, but it's getting more rare with experience.
I'd say D-zone Pelech is their best d-man. O-zone Pulock is. They play together usually, so they are by far the top pair.
Mayfield gets better every year. Dobson is going to make someone expendable next year. Toews is good in both zones.
Leddy and Boychuk are getting old, especially Boychuk. But he still brings some physicality that only Mayfield really brings most of the time. Pulock will throw a big hit now and then but Boychuk usually makes other teams very aware of his presence. Leddy is going to slow down someday, and I don't know why, but I feel like it'll be next year.
The Isles also have Aho, who has been pretty good in the AHL, and Hickey, who would likely be a 3rd pairing guy on several other teams. So they've got D to move if they have to.
I know centers are in short supply these days, that's why the Isles had to overpay for Pageau.