harmfuljays wrote:
Yep, Rico Fata 2.0....trade him for Kerfoot! My wife also does not like Sam Girard......but he's still got some grace period.
I'd say this to Janelle about Sammy--one reason for his early-season struggles is that forecheckers are keying in on him big-time, and unfortunately EJ is way too slow and just plain not good enough anymore to take the heat off him. And...Sam wasn't really making quick decisions with the puck. He gets into trouble when he holds onto it too long, like the other night against the Sens he was skating it around the attacking zone and made a late pass that got picked off and sent the other way. Alas, he's only 21, there is still room for development.
I think once you get a legit defensive partner alongside Sammy, he's going to thrive. He's wildly talented and smart, but he's a little overworked. I wouldn't say he's a superstar but he's very good. The projected top four for this team the next two years or so could be fucking elite:
Bowen Byram - Cale Makar
Sam Girard - Conor Timmins
Obviously there are still major concerns about Timmins' health and we still don't yet know what kind of player Byram will be in the NHL (plus he's only like, 19 still). But in terms of raw talent that very well might be the best top-four in the damned league.
As for Rico Fata...at least that dude could skate. I'm stunned at how badly so many scouts missed on Jost. You can read scouting reports on him from back in the day who say he's a great skater. He's not, he's just about the slowest guy on the team apart from the old and banged-up defensemen (Johnson and Cole) who are being held together with scotch tape and glue. Just really sad...can't blame the kid's work ethic or character, he's got both in spades. He just...ain't good enough.