Michael Stuart: Submit Your Questions to Mike's Mailbag!

Question submitted

https://winnipegsun.com/s...-period-of-time-with-jets

Demelo has had nice impact with Jets.

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/defenceman-demelo-made-big-impression-in-small-period-of-time-with-jets

Demelo has had nice impact with Jets.
- spatso

would be a good resigning... don't understand how guys like Jack Johnson who are totally useless keep getting multi millions and guys like Demelo get relatively peanuts...

would be a good resigning... don't understand how guys like Jack Johnson who are totally useless keep getting multi millions and guys like Demelo get relatively peanuts...
- kaptaan

He brings zero offensive ability. Once he steps out of his prime years, Demelo will be totally useless. He was a fine support guy for offensive d-men, but you should not lock up stay at home d-men outside of their prime years.

He brings zero offensive ability. Once he steps out of his prime years, Demelo will be totally useless. He was a fine support guy for offensive d-men, but you should not lock up stay at home d-men outside of their prime years.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Agree. But Jack Johnson has been useless since he got into the league it seems...

He brings zero offensive ability. Once he steps out of his prime years, Demelo will be totally useless. He was a fine support guy for offensive d-men, but you should not lock up stay at home d-men outside of their prime years.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I like Demelo.

But, I think I am more persuaded by your argument.

He brings zero offensive ability. Once he steps out of his prime years, Demelo will be totally useless. He was a fine support guy for offensive d-men, but you should not lock up stay at home d-men outside of their prime years.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

That applies to all players and all positions. Don't lock them up outside of their prime years.

That applies to all players and all positions. Don't lock them up outside of their prime years.
- granpa

I think certain players are still worth signing outside their prime years. That is usually reserved for superstar players and multi-dimensional players though. A one-dimensional, non-top 2 d-man is not on my list of priority signings, particularly long term. Demelo would be an ok addition for a 1 to 2 year contract for a contending team. However, guys like him are not hard to find.

I like Demelo.

But, I think I am more persuaded by your argument.
- spatso

My point was only that signing a player like Demelo who actually adds value, is better than signing someone like Jack Johnson.

Demelo has been a very positive player on his team's performance, unlike Johnson.

My point was only that signing a player like Demelo who actually adds value, is better than signing someone like Jack Johnson.

Demelo has been a very positive player on his team's performance, unlike Johnson.
- kaptaan

Demelo - 27
Johnson - 33

Demelo still in his prime. Maybe there for a season or two more. Johnson left his prime awhile ago and is becoming a journeyman.

I wouldn't sign either unless I was trying to make a run this year and add depth. In that case, sign Demelo for a year or two.

Demelo - 27
Johnson - 33

Demelo still in his prime. Maybe there for a season or two more. Johnson left his prime awhile ago and is becoming a journeyman.

I wouldn't sign either unless I was trying to make a run this year and add depth. In that case, sign Demelo for a year or two.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

yes, and even from the start of their careers... Johnson hasn't ever been as good as Demelo.

I think certain players are still worth signing outside their prime years. That is usually reserved for superstar players and multi-dimensional players though. A one-dimensional, non-top 2 d-man is not on my list of priority signings, particularly long term. Demelo would be an ok addition for a 1 to 2 year contract for a contending team. However, guys like him are not hard to find.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

It makes sense to sign a player like Demelo for $8m (2 years at $4m.). It is the term that kills you. A deal of 6 years at $24m. would be crazy.

He brings zero offensive ability. Once he steps out of his prime years, Demelo will be totally useless. He was a fine support guy for offensive d-men, but you should not lock up stay at home d-men outside of their prime years.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I agree - in past years, the team seemed to feel obliged to hand out large contracts to supporting talent like Michalek, Smith, Greening, Burrows, and got themselves into contract difficulty. In many ways, the trades of players like Dzingel, Pageau, Ceci, and DeMelo demonstrated the team's change in approach to these types of players. And when you consider that those trades yielded Duclair, Brown, Zaitsev, a 1st-2020, a 2nd-2020, a 2nd-2021, and a 3rd-2021, you can see just how valuable these trade can be. From here on out, the team needs to take a Blackhawks-style approach to protecting their core (eg. Chabot, Tkachuk, Byfield/Stutzle), and trading their expendable players when they start expecting the kind of money/term that will compromise the team's ability to stay competitive.

yes, and even from the start of their careers... Johnson hasn't ever been as good as Demelo.
- kaptaan

Different style players in their prime. Hard to compare the two.

I am not sure why everyone loves Demelo so much, but it is what it is.

Watched Stutzle today on Swissicehockey. Germany against Switzerland. Germany has a bad team. Stutzle is the real deal. Never saw him before. Get to watch him 2 more times this week. Hope LA management has a crush on Byfield.

Watched Stutzle today on Swissicehockey. Germany against Switzerland. Germany has a bad team. Stutzle is the real deal. Never saw him before. Get to watch him 2 more times this week. Hope LA management has a crush on Byfield.
- granpa

If they do, they're really shy. They didn't even interview him before the draft lottery

Watched Stutzle today on Swissicehockey. Germany against Switzerland. Germany has a bad team. Stutzle is the real deal. Never saw him before. Get to watch him 2 more times this week. Hope LA management has a crush on Byfield.
- granpa

I know there is a higher risk with Byfield. We all understand that he is the very big kid playing with 165lbs boys. But Byfield, like Formenton, is one of those very late birthdays. There is a lot more size and talent to come. Problem is with his size and strength there is not a lot of development advantage in sending him back to the OHL (likely will cancel most of next season anyway).

If Byfield should drop to #3 the Sens might get the only kid in the draft that some scouts believe might have a larger upside than Lafreniere.

It is up to the hockey Gods now. The Sens are going to end up with 2 players from the short list of Byfield, Stutzle, Drysdale, Rossi or Perfetti.

Nobody knows for sure who is the better choice. Just hope the Hockey God smiles on us and we get two top 6 skaters on the same day.

I know there is a higher risk with Byfield. We all understand that he is the very big kid playing with 165lbs boys. But Byfield, like Formenton, is one of those very late birthdays. There is a lot more size and talent to come. Problem is with his size and strength there is not a lot of development advantage in sending him back to the OHL (likely will cancel most of next season anyway).

If Byfield should drop to #3 the Sens might get the only kid in the draft that some scouts believe might have a larger upside than Lafreniere.

It is up to the hockey Gods now. The Sens are going to end up with 2 players from the short list of Byfield, Stutzle, Drysdale, Rossi or Perfetti.

Nobody knows for sure who is the better choice. Just hope the Hockey God smiles on us and we get two top 6 skaters on the same day.
- spatso

I hear LA has a lot of x-German players on staff so they'll probably draft Stutzle. The Sens will probably draft Byfield.

I know there is a higher risk with Byfield. We all understand that he is the very big kid playing with 165lbs boys. But Byfield, like Formenton, is one of those very late birthdays. There is a lot more size and talent to come. Problem is with his size and strength there is not a lot of development advantage in sending him back to the OHL (likely will cancel most of next season anyway).

If Byfield should drop to #3 the Sens might get the only kid in the draft that some scouts believe might have a larger upside than Lafreniere.

It is up to the hockey Gods now. The Sens are going to end up with 2 players from the short list of Byfield, Stutzle, Drysdale, Rossi or Perfetti.

Nobody knows for sure who is the better choice. Just hope the Hockey God smiles on us and we get two top 6 skaters on the same day.
- spatso

I don’t know if people listen to the Drive on Team 1200. It is very interesting what they hear from NHL scouts executives etc. Basically all their talk about the draft is about 2 prospects. They love Stutzle, they go on and on about how good he is, they hardly mention Byfield and think there is a chance he could drop to 4th.

The other player they rave about is Jake Sanderson who has rocketed up the charts. They love this guy and think he has passed Drysdale who they barely mention. Some of them think he will be picked third at the worst fifth. Sanderson dominated in his last 2 tournaments and showed an offensive flair that shocked the scouts. If the Sens get him they would have 2 dominant left handed D Men basically playing half a game each.

I don’t know if people listen to the Drive on Team 1200. It is very interesting what they hear from NHL scouts executives etc. Basically all their talk about the draft is about 2 prospects. They love Stutzle, they go on and on about how good he is, they hardly mention Byfield and think there is a chance he could drop to 4th.

The other player they rave about is Jake Sanderson who has rocketed up the charts. They love this guy and think he has passed Drysdale who they barely mention. Some of them think he will be picked third at the worst fifth. Sanderson dominated in his last 2 tournaments and showed an offensive flair that shocked the scouts. If the Sens get him they would have 2 dominant left handed D Men basically playing half a game each.
- Barrykerr1

Sanderson gets hype from being top ranked American kid in the draft. The hype comes from a media need. I doubt he moves into top 10. I don't doubt that the sports chatter will continue to promote him to their listeners.

He brings zero offensive ability. Once he steps out of his prime years, Demelo will be totally useless. He was a fine support guy for offensive d-men, but you should not lock up stay at home d-men outside of their prime years.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

PARAMOUNT!

Sanderson gets hype from being top ranked American kid in the draft. The hype comes from a media need. I doubt he moves into top 10. I don't doubt that the sports chatter will continue to promote him to their listeners.
- spatso

I haven't listened to much 1200 lately, but if Ottawa drafts Sanderson at 3rd or even 5th, I'm gonna burn down the station.

Different style players in their prime. Hard to compare the two.

I am not sure why everyone loves Demelo so much, but it is what it is.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Perhaps the better question is; why are you the only one who doesn't like him? I'd much rather have my boy DeMelo next to Chabot than Zaitsev.

Before the lottery draw, my preferred outcome for the Sens would have been.

A. Lafreniere and Rossi

B. Byfield and Rossi

C. Stutzel and Rossi

D. Rossi and Perfetti

E. Perfetti and Drysdale

I undervalued Stutzel as I just did not have enough looks at his game. I probably have overvalued Rossi because I have followed his game most closely.

Very confident that B or C will be on the table come draft day. Next year is going to be a fun season for Sens fans.