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Every commentator's assessment of the guy is that he can skate damned well actually. As in this is actually an upgrade in the skating department, since that was Cody's only significant weakness. I mean, granted, two or three could just be wrong, but Pierre, Ray, Doug McLean usually have some idea what they're talking about when it comes to prospects. Personally I can't argue because I don't really know. I watched a Sabres game earlier this year, the Flyers game he scored in, and didn't have any issue with his skating.
Kassian has a couple of bad hits on his record, one in the WJHC that resulted in a suspension and one against Sarnia IIRC that got a lot of attention. I know that. I don't know what else you're referring to though. I suspect we'll get a decent look tonight as MGGM expected both of them to play.
I still hate this trade and I will hate it until Kassian plays real minutes on a regular basis and contributes to this team in a meaningful way. If that never happens this is going to be my least favourite trade in, oh, a decade or so.
Well, difficult as it may be to take the word of guys with actual jobs in hockey media over the word of a Senators fan when it comes to player evaluation... pause for irony... I'm going to remain optimistic as to the guy's potential until I've seen enough to form my own opinion.
Still doesn't make me like this deal today though.
To change the subject a bit, for those wondering what it actually would've taken to GET Rick Nash out of Columbus, the following is rumoured about Glen Sather's negotiations with Howson:
He is believed to have offered the Blue Jackets a five-asset package including Brandon Dubinsky, 21-year-old top defense prospect Tim Erixon, highly regarded 2011 first-round draft choice J.T. Miller and 2010 second-round pick Christian Thomas, along with a 2012 first-round selection in order to make it happen as yesterday's 3 p.m. trade deadline approached.
There is a difference though between lusting and sinning, the latter the impulse Sather ultimately resisted by rejecting Howson's laughable demand the package include Dubinsky plus either Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto plus either Derek Stepan or Carl Hagelin plus 2009 first-rounder Chris Kreider, the Boston College winger who conceivably could join the Rangers when his college season ends plus a 2012 first-round selection.
In other words, Scott Howson is a fucking idiot. Wyshinski says the headline would've been "Rangers trade McDonagh, Dubinsky, Del Zotto, Kreider and a first round pick for Rick Nash". I think it would've been "Rangers completely ruin their chances of winning a cup now or in the future." I actually think what Sather OFFERED was arguably a bit high.
I agree to an extent - Weber is the best Dman in the NHL right now outside of perhaps Chara. However, you have to also give credit to the system Barry Trotz has the team play, which makes defensive players and goalies look very good. You also have to give some credit to Pekka Rinne because he actually IS good and makes his defensemen look good accordingly.
I also agree on Karlsson - he isn't so much a defenseman as an extra forward on the ice. Defensively, extremely suspect. Same goes for Brian Campbell and Byfuglien - not enough defensive credentials. But you do have to score a lot to be in Norris contention. So who wins it? Weber has to be the favourite, Lidstrom will always be in the conversation. I'd like to say Alex Edler, who has been near the top of the not-Karlsson defensive scoring list and is extremely well rounded, is approaching contender status, but to be realistic he isn't "the man" for the Canucks so will never have a chance at it. So yeah I'm going Weber this year too.
