Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Morin's Offensive Potential

i know i'm gonna get killed by saying this but would you guys consider trading simmonds for a nice package?

i know i'm gonna get killed by saying this but would you guys consider trading simmonds for a nice package?
- webleedblue

Why would they kill you for asking for something they in no way have any control or influence over???

Why would they kill you for asking for something they in no way have any control or influence over???
- ruttager17

cuz i'm a ranger fan and i was just asking if they would consider it, i know they can't control it and they certaily can't predict anything with their gm

cuz i'm a ranger fan and i was just asking if they would consider it, i know they can't control it and they certaily can't predict anything with their gm
- webleedblue

Sweet baby black jesus, can't you two get along???
Be thankful you are a fan of a team that has other fans that hate ya. How boring would it be to be a fan of the Bluejackets, Coyotes, Panthers or Preds just as an example.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Morin's Offensive Potential
- bmeltzer

It's clear that Morin's development is on a totally different trajectory than that of Pronger or Weber. Pronger was dominant in Juniors and carried that into the NHL. Weber was steadily improving while in Jr's and into his first few years in the NHL until finally becoming an elite defenseman. Morin started from a very low base skillwise and seems to have skyrocketed in improvement in a short time. I know that improvement hasn't fully translated into offensive numbers but enough to pass the eye test of many scouts including the Flyers.

Are there any comparable defenseman with that trajectory, ie, someone who improved so much during their draft year going from mid round projection to 1st round pick and how they've fared in the NHL? I'm sure there are plenty of busts that fit that description but there has to be a few successes also. A trajectory like that can go either way but a bigger, better skating Luke Schenn is probably the most realistic projection since it doesn't depend on his offensive improvement.

Sweet baby black jesus, can't you two get along???
Be thankful you are a fan of a team that has other fans that hate ya. How boring would it be to be a fan of the Bluejackets, Coyotes, Panthers or Preds just as an example.
- ruttager17

true but it makes it easier to talk trades

true but it makes it easier to talk trades
- webleedblue

Growing up in Southern Alberta (and being old) my older brother and I used to have to be separated by our mother over fights over the Oil and Flames. I envy a fan of any team on the East coast, who has had passionate rivals, for so many decades. At first, your (package, for simmonds) proposal, looked like a pun.

The draft selection process is an inexact science. It will be interesting to observe the development of Morin over the next couple of years. Amazing how guys like Kimmo, Weber, and Letang are the most sought after assets in any draft, but were evaluated as lesser prospects then their contemporaries in their particular draft class. Not to mention St. Louis and Read never even get drafted.

Drafting is as much about luck as it is about evaluation in my opinion.

i know i'm gonna get killed by saying this but would you guys consider trading simmonds for a nice package?
- webleedblue

A nice package? No one else laughed when they read this?

i know i'm gonna get killed by saying this but would you guys consider trading simmonds for a nice package?
- webleedblue

Yes, but it'd take a really good offer, especially if we were sending him up the Turnpike to play in Manhattan

Sweet baby black jesus, can't you two get along???
Be thankful you are a fan of a team that has other fans that hate ya. How boring would it be to be a fan of the Bluejackets, Coyotes, Panthers or Preds just as an example.
- ruttager17

I hate fans of every team. Including the Flyers.

Yes, but it'd take a really good offer, especially if we were sending him up the Turnpike to play in Manhattan
- Jsaquella

I think everyone is tradeable for a nice package.

I'd trade Giroux for the proper return.

I think everyone is tradeable for a nice package.

I'd trade Giroux for the proper return.
- Flyersgod

Geography matters too. If the Rangers or Devils wanted Simmonds, and a team out west was interested, as well, I'd want more from the Rangers or Devils. They'd have to absolutely beat the west team's offer.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Morin's Offensive Potential
- bmeltzer

I thought it was going to be a blank page.

I hate fans of every team. Including the Flyers.
- Flyersgod

Bill, love your daily blogs, but I have a question for you.

When the Flyers acquired Ryan Parent, you were a bit skeptical. The reasoning you used was that, even defensive defensemen in the NHL are usually good offensive players in juniors because of the large talent discrepancy. Ryan Parent never posted great junior numbers and, as we found out, never did live up to the hype (injuries may have hindered him).

That said, if Morin, playing an offensive (not as much as int he 80s/90s) junior league should, theoretically, doesn't have an offensive breakout campaign this year and next year in juniors, should we be worried about his NHL potential?

Sorry if I misremembered anything you said, by the way.

I think everyone is tradeable for a nice package.

I'd trade Giroux for the proper return.
- Flyersgod

Giroux for Lundqvist and either McDonaugh or Callahan would be hard to say no to.

Giroux for Lundqvist and either McDonaugh or Callahan would be hard to say no to.
- jmatchett383

For the Rangers, right?

For the Rangers, right?
- jak521

For the world's best goalie and a true #1 defenseman locked up long-term? It's a centerpiece as the most "common" position for a centerpiece at the hardest position to fill plus a top-pair defsnseman. I'm not saying I'd do it, but it's nothing to laugh at.

Comparing Morin to Pronger is unfair, and puts a lot of undo pressure on the kid. Let him be himself. I hope he's given ample time to develop, and not rushed to the NHL where he will be devoured if he's not ready by uneducated fans, and media alike.

If you look at things realistically, it's more likely (and by a significant margin) that Morin is Chris Therien, then he is Chris Pronger. Something in between would be just fine.

Bill, love your daily blogs, but I have a question for you.

When the Flyers acquired Ryan Parent, you were a bit skeptical. The reasoning you used was that, even defensive defensemen in the NHL are usually good offensive players in juniors because of the large talent discrepancy. Ryan Parent never posted great junior numbers and, as we found out, never did live up to the hype (injuries may have hindered him).

That said, if Morin, playing an offensive (not as much as int he 80s/90s) junior league should, theoretically, doesn't have an offensive breakout campaign this year and next year in juniors, should we be worried about his NHL potential?

Sorry if I misremembered anything you said, by the way.
- jmatchett383

You are not misremembering. And, yes, if Morin remains right around his current level two years from now, I will become concerned that he may not have the puck skills that even defensive defensemen in today's NHL need to have.

Good morin' everyone

Good morin' everyone
- feelingkettle

Lets hope so, we dont want to.. in a couple years.. be saying, "bad morin."

For the world's best goalie and a true #1 defenseman locked up long-term? It's a centerpiece as the most "common" position for a centerpiece at the hardest position to fill plus a top-pair defsnseman. I'm not saying I'd do it, but it's nothing to laugh at.
- jmatchett383

Read that wrong. I thought you said you would say no.

There is no way in HELL the Rangers would even contemplate a deal like that.