Ultimate, you also wanted the jets to get Athanasiou who edmonton is desperate to move, the kid couldn’t even succeed playing with McDavid. We all make mistakes in players evaluating, I know I have! But you need to realize this was a bad take and I’m happy Jets never got this guy.
- Ross77

Well we always critique different systems. It's amazing how a player can work really well in one system and not so much in another. I really liked Athanasiou primarily due to his speed. Thought he would work well with Ehlers.

Oh well we can't all hit homeruns with every evaluation.

Well we always critique different systems. It's amazing how a player can work really well in one system and not so much in another. I really liked Athanasiou primarily due to his speed. Thought he would work well with Ehlers.

Oh well we can't all hit homeruns with every evaluation.
- TheUltimateJet

You are right, a different system could help, he may still surprise me.
It could also be a complete thing or wanting it more. Maybe he can turn that on more consistently

Two years ago I suggested that the Jets get him and that's when we had Trouba, Byfuglien and Myers. I was told that was a ridiculous idea.
- TheUltimateJet

Not by me

Well we always critique different systems. It's amazing how a player can work really well in one system and not so much in another. I really liked Athanasiou primarily due to his speed. Thought he would work well with Ehlers.

Oh well we can't all hit homeruns with every evaluation.
- TheUltimateJet

The problem with AA in Edmonton is what kind of player he is. He’s a transition guy. He works best when he carries the puck. This is why he doesn't gel with McDavid, because Connor McDavid is someone you always want having the puck.
This is the same reason he won’t work well with Tricky Nicky the Transition God.

Now, if you put AA with, let’s say, Roslovic and Copp... instant success.

I would like to keep Connor glued to Ehlers. I don't think we have seen what a dynamic duo they can be together. I am not upset with Connor developing chemistry with Scheifele. I am upset that Wheeler stays with them.

I actually think that Wheeler should be playing with Laine. Laine has the best shot and Wheeler has the best passing hands. They too should be glued together.
- TheUltimateJet

Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler would definitely feed Laine, but they would still get massacred defensively. There’s no defensive presence on that line. I also don’t think Wheeler can handle those minutes anymore.

Connor and Ehlers does have my attention. Let’s Ehlers do the hard work while Connor hides in the coverage. Makes the most of Ehlers’ chaos while taking responsibility away from Connor.

I think a factor we’ve all under-appreciated is that Kyle Connor is getting screwed over by the coaching staff almost as much as Laine and Ehlers.
We’ve seen in all of Phil Kessel, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Clayton Keller, or even prime James Neal how proper linemates and deployment can take a player with an insane finishing ability, and not much else, and make them an immense success on the ice.

Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler would definitely feed Laine, but they would still get massacred defensively. There’s no defensive presence on that line. I also don’t think Wheeler can handle those minutes anymore.

Connor and Ehlers does have my attention. Let’s Ehlers do the hard work while Connor hides in the coverage. Makes the most of Ehlers’ chaos while taking responsibility away from Connor.
- Rexypoo

I would rather Connor-Scheifele-Ehlers, and Laine-Elite Centre-Wheeler. I don't think Scheifele and Laine work well together. Watching them together last year, they looked disjointed.

I think a factor we’ve all under-appreciated is that Kyle Connor is getting screwed over by the coaching staff almost as much as Laine and Ehlers.
We’ve seen in all of Phil Kessel, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Clayton Keller, or even prime James Neal how proper linemates and deployment can take a player with an insane finishing ability, and not much else, and make them an immense success on the ice.
- Rexypoo

Maybe I am misunderstanding something - Connor has not been successful?

I would rather Connor-Scheifele-Ehlers, and Laine-Elite Centre-Wheeler. I don't think Scheifele and Laine work well together. Watching them together last year, they looked disjointed.
- TheUltimateJet

Does anyone work well with Laine ?

Maybe I am misunderstanding something - Connor has not been successful?
- bennythehat

Getting consistently outshot, outchanced, and outscored is not good. He has also not shown any signs of development since his breakout year

I would rather Connor-Scheifele-Ehlers, and Laine-Elite Centre-Wheeler. I don't think Scheifele and Laine work well together. Watching them together last year, they looked disjointed.
- TheUltimateJet

This is just patently false. They’re so much more dangerous together. It draws attention away from Scheifele, and gives Scheifele a passing option that can both shoot and be where he’s supposed to be

Does anyone work well with Laine ?
- bennythehat

Ehlers, Scheifele, Wheeler, Copp, Stastny, Hayes, and Perreault

This is just patently false. They’re so much more dangerous together. It draws attention away from Scheifele, and gives Scheifele a passing option that can both shoot and be where he’s supposed to be
- Rexypoo

Ehlers and Connor cannot do what you suggest?

Getting consistently outshot, outchanced, and outscored is not good. He has also not shown any signs of development since his breakout year
- Rexypoo

Maybe getting 40/40 is not good enough either. He played with Laine and Scheifele for long stretches this season. Also played with Ehlers and Connor is the only one responsible for playing defense on all the lines he's on. This makes little sense.

Ehlers and Connor cannot do what you suggest?
- TheUltimateJet

The idea is to maximize Laine and hide Connor. Ehlers and Connor can be with Copp

Maybe getting 40/40 is not good enough either. He played with Laine and Scheifele for long stretches this season. Also played with Ehlers and Connor is the only one responsible for playing defense on all the lines he's on. This makes little sense.
- TheUltimateJet

It’s not, when the other team is piling them up against you. He could score 95 goals, but if he allows 120, it’s bad news.

Connor was the 2nd worse defensive forward in the NHL last season. Only Patrick Kane was worse.
He blows assignments all the time, and can’t carry out of the zone without dumping the puck

It’s not, when the other team is piling them up against you. He could score 95 goals, but if he allows 120, it’s bad news.

Connor was the 2nd worse defensive forward in the NHL last season. Only Patrick Kane was worse.
He blows assignments all the time, and can’t carry out of the zone without dumping the puck
- Rexypoo

Might as well pick up AA from Edmonton then, instantly makes the Jets a better defensive team.

It’s not, when the other team is piling them up against you. He could score 95 goals, but if he allows 120, it’s bad news.

Connor was the 2nd worse defensive forward in the NHL last season. Only Patrick Kane was worse.
He blows assignments all the time, and can’t carry out of the zone without dumping the puck
- Rexypoo

He was also playing with a guy that led the team in turnovers. Connor also takes on all the heavy assignments that Lowry is supposedly taking. Did not realize that all goals scored against were solely Connor's fault.

The idea is to maximize Laine and hide Connor. Ehlers and Connor can be with Copp
- Rexypoo

Why spend all this time maximizing Laine, especially during a contract year? Do you really want to pay a passenger on a line 8million plus per year. Maximize him after he signs long term at Kyle Connor money.

Might as well pick up AA from Edmonton then, instantly makes the Jets a better defensive team.
- BWJumper

This is sadly true

He was also playing with a guy that led the team in turnovers. Connor also takes on all the heavy assignments that Lowry is supposedly taking. Did not realize that all goals scored against were solely Connor's fault.
- TheUltimateJet

Turnovers don’t mean much to me. Erik Karlsson piled up turnovers every year for Ottawa while quietly cementing himself on the Mount Rushmore of this generation. Doughty and Weber were some of the worst offenders for this even back when they were still top pairing players.

And nobody is saying it’s all on Connor. Scheifele was the 7th worst.
Difference is that Scheifele drives was more offence than he allows, and has been solid in the past. Connor doesn’t do anything when he isn’t shooting

Why spend all this time maximizing Laine, especially during a contract year? Do you really want to pay a passenger on a line 8million plus per year. Maximize him after he signs long term at Kyle Connor money.
- TheUltimateJet

Passenger? No. Finisher? Yes. Connor is a passenger. Laine drove the top line the majority of the time he was on it.

[quote=Rexypoo]
Yet Connor leads the team in takeaways. I guess you have different standards for different players. Last year you said Laine brings " goals, goals and more goals". Now another player that brings that is being chastised. You are really confusing.

Passenger? No. Finisher? Yes. Connor is a passenger. Laine drove the top line the majority of the time he was on it.
- Rexypoo

No he was not.

No he was not.
- TheUltimateJet

I mean, aside from the fact that he very visibly was, you’re correct.

It’s actually a huge indictment on both Scheifele’s effort level and the Jets coaching staff that Patrik Laine spent long stretches of the season having to lead both the forecheck and the backcheck on a shift by shift basis

(Also, we accidentally broke the quote system up there, so I don’t know what your Connor takeaway reply was actually replying to)