If Laine becomes better than Wheeler, I will be ecstatic!

Wheeler is already in decline, and should clock in at around the mid-range of 2nd line forward this season. He’s underpaid for his prime whilst 2 years into a somewhat quick decline.

Laine’s last season may already be better than Wheeler in 19-20, and I love Wheeler
- Rexypoo

The quality of professionalism from wheeler is not in decline, and his play remains at a high level for now. I stand by what I said that for the next 4 years (ok maybe 3) I would rather have wheeler than Laine if forced to choose. Obviously I would expect fair trade value for either as part of the tradeoff.

Wheeler is already in decline, and should clock in at around the mid-range of 2nd line forward this season. He’s underpaid for his prime whilst 2 years into a somewhat quick decline.

Laine’s last season may already be better than Wheeler in 19-20, and I love Wheeler
- Rexypoo

Does Wheelers's decline include putting up 91 points, or are you using analytics where he beat Laine in GAR, WAR, Corsi, last year.

Does Wheelers's decline include putting up 91 points, or are you using analytics where he beat Laine in GAR, WAR, Corsi, last year.
- BWJumper

I'd love to see Wheeler repeat this with a full year of Little as his center, then we can re discuss.

I'd love to see Wheeler repeat this with a full year of Little as his center, then we can re discuss.
- Ross77

So in other words all you got is excuses for Laine.

The only reason you should call Pionk the “main” piece in the Trouba deal is if you think he will have a larger NHL impact than Heinola.
I feel Heinola was the “main” piece in that return.
- Ross77

Think Heinola is already the main piece in that deal, at least by scouting reports

I'd love to see Wheeler repeat this with a full year of Little as his center, then we can re discuss.
- Ross77

So if we put Wayne Gretzky as Patrik's centre for a year - would you be happy? Christ, it seems like all you can harp on. Don't ever worry about Patrick's lack of desperational play or intestinal fortitude!

So in other words all you got is excuses for Laine.
- BWJumper

I said Wheeler, did you miss that? do you not agree 55 is our best player and anyone playing a full year with him and receive all
Pp time would benefit and see increase in production?

why cant I ask to see wheeler put up the same #'s with a different center? cause I have all the confidence 55 could with a different RW.

So if we put Wayne Gretzky as Patrik's centre for a year - would you be happy? Christ, it seems like all you can harp on. Don't ever worry about Patrick's lack of desperational play or intestinal fortitude!
- grahamzky

I was talking about Wheeler !!! not talking about Laine at all!!! I SAID, ID LIKE TO SEE WHEELER REPEAT HIS YEASR WITH LITTLE AT CENTER THEN WE CAN REDISCUSS. is that difficult to understand without getting all upset about Laine, hahahahaha

man is Laine in your head hahahahah

I said Wheeler, did you miss that? do you not agree 55 is our best player and anyone playing a full year with him and receive all
Pp time would benefit and see increase in production?

why cant I ask to see wheeler put up the same #'s with a different center? cause I have all the confidence 55 could with a different RW.
- Ross77

Can you point to the year that Scheifele got more than 50 points before he played with Wheeler

Anyone believe wheeler that media got it wrong and the room was actually fine? I do not.

The quality of professionalism from wheeler is not in decline, and his play remains at a high level for now. I stand by what I said that for the next 4 years (ok maybe 3) I would rather have wheeler than Laine if forced to choose. Obviously I would expect fair trade value for either as part of the tradeoff.
- 2.0

The quality of professionalism has so far suggested that Wheeler is a major problem in the room, if the last two seasons and rampant rumours are to be believed. His play has dropped. If I wanted a locker room all-star, I’d have signed Matt Hendricks.

If Laine becomes better than Wheeler, I will be ecstatic!
- bennythehat

They’ve already shared a season with Laine being the better player (17-18)

Does Wheelers's decline include putting up 91 points, or are you using analytics where he beat Laine in GAR, WAR, Corsi, last year.
- BWJumper

Both, given that points aren’t an effective way of judging future production, and that Wheeler saw a huge drop in all categories (outside of counting stats) for the second year in a row.

So if we put Wayne Gretzky as Patrik's centre for a year - would you be happy? Christ, it seems like all you can harp on. Don't ever worry about Patrick's lack of desperational play or intestinal fortitude!
- grahamzky

He carried Scheifele and Wheeler for the last 25 games, and scored more than both in he playoffs.

Why are you not also harping on those two for their lacklustre, uninspired performances down the stretch? They only woke up when St. Louis took the kead

Can you point to the year that Scheifele got more than 50 points before he played with Wheeler
- BWJumper

Someone has never heard of the aging curve.
Also, ignoring Scheifele’s development here, you’re forgetting that Wheeler was a dominant, elite tier winger from like 2014 to 2017. He obviously had an impact on Scheifele, but he’s aging out. Not the same player.

Anyone believe wheeler that media got it wrong and the room was actually fine? I do not.
- Ross77

It was so fine, they flew Hendricks back to show him how much they didn’t need him anymore!

I was talking about Wheeler !!! not talking about Laine at all!!! I SAID, ID LIKE TO SEE WHEELER REPEAT HIS YEASR WITH LITTLE AT CENTER THEN WE CAN REDISCUSS. is that difficult to understand without getting all upset about Laine, hahahahaha

man is Laine in your head hahahahah
- Ross77

I want a full season of Alex Ovechkin being centred by Nick Dowd. No exceptions, PP time or Dowd. That’s it.

He carried Scheifele and Wheeler for the last 25 games, and scored more than both in he playoffs.

Why are you not also harping on those two for their lacklustre, uninspired performances down the stretch? They only woke up when St. Louis took the kead
- Rexypoo

Who was the problem?

February 1-April 6

Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler 166 mins 42% CF%
Conner-Scheifele-Wheeler 197 mins 51%

And are you really trying to make the case that Laine was dominant in 6 playoff games by having a stat line of 3G 1A to Wheeler 1G 4A and Scheifele 2G 3A?

Anyone believe wheeler that media got it wrong and the room was actually fine? I do not.
- Ross77

I do. They just didn’t play very well last year.

Anyone believe wheeler that media got it wrong and the room was actually fine? I do not.
- Ross77

No I don't think the room was fine at all. I truly believe that was THE problem, the room was not fine. The room's divide showed on the ice in their play IMO.

Further to your post before, I'm thinking if early reports are true, that the Jets may have gotten a good one in Heinola, although everyone tends to over-rate their own prospects.

But don't think that's the case here. Wonder if Luoto may surprise as well?

Carson continued to score just below the rate he started on due to injuries, and Nash isn’t a comparable due to the era he started in.

Additionally, you aren’t taking into account the known quantity that is Laine’s ludicrous shot. It’s measurably better than anyone else’s. We know this.
- Rexypoo

Carson only scored 30 goals one more time during his twenties and that is when he played a full season.

Laine only gets his shot off, if he receives a perfect pass! I keep hearing that Laine needs an elite Center to play with. If that's the case we should trade Laine for an elite Center so that, that player could make players like Ehlers, Connor, Roslovic, Appelton, Vesalainen's better.

Carson only scored 30 goals one more time during his twenties and that is when he played a full season.

Laine only gets his shot off, if he receives a perfect pass! I keep hearing that Laine needs an elite Center to play with. If that's the case we should trade Laine for an elite Center so that, that player could make players like Ehlers, Connor, Roslovic, Appelton, Vesalainen's better.
- TheUltimateJet

I think the jimmy Carson comparisons should stop, they are too old and different era. I will say this though, Carson was a main piece in the Gretzky trade, Carson won a cup after the trade, Gretzky did not.


My honest opinion I think Laine’s career will end up something between Kessell and ovechkin, better than kessell not as good as Ovie

Who was the problem?

February 1-April 6

Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler 166 mins 42% CF%
Conner-Scheifele-Wheeler 197 mins 51%

And are you really trying to make the case that Laine was dominant in 6 playoff games by having a stat line of 3G 1A to Wheeler 1G 4A and Scheifele 2G 3A?
- BWJumper

Yes. Laine was visibly more dangerous than the other two the whole time. Process>Results.

The bad Corsi numbers are due to the thing I keep mentioning where Scheifele’s play cratered, and Wheeler still wasn’t skating. Once again, Laine carried them, which doesn’t mean he can drag both to success in spite of themselves, but simply that he was the hardest working member of that line by a mile.

Carson only scored 30 goals one more time during his twenties and that is when he played a full season.

Laine only gets his shot off, if he receives a perfect pass! I keep hearing that Laine needs an elite Center to play with. If that's the case we should trade Laine for an elite Center so that, that player could make players like Ehlers, Connor, Roslovic, Appelton, Vesalainen's better.
- TheUltimateJet

A: Carson paced for 30-35 for the rest of his 20’s, as I mentioned with the injuries. Repeatedly.
B: You’re wrong. You just are. Laine shoots everywhere all the time regardless of where or how he gets the puck.
C: Nobody has ever said he NEEDS an elite centre. Everyone has said he should HAVE one, because elite shot+elite setup=tons of goals, which is how you win goddamn hockey games.
Really, all anyone has said is that he needs a play making centre, which Little is not, of top 6 quality, which Little is not, and that Andrew Copp would work just fine if they won’t use Scheifele.