schooner44 wrote:
mechaphil wrote:
The signing of Brooks Laich in Washington doesn't mean shit - he's a winger who can fill in at center for a few games but shouldn't be forced to play the role full time.
Squanto wrote:
Richard's price is inflated because he's the only top tier center available in a weak UFA crop. Laich doesn't affect that much at all.
Any reduction of supply creates greater demand, regardless if that supply is part-time center or not. There are some teams that feel they have an outside chance at Richards but if not, they will go to plan B which would have most likely been Laich. You can't say it doesn't effect it because it absolutely does...its just simple business.
Regardless of that, I asked more about Richards vs Roy and what Richards...the Conn Smythe trophy is a good response. That's the kind of discussion I was looking for.
Richards netted a big contract with another team due to his play. Something Roy has yet to do. Thus far either a team hasn't asked, or maybe Darcy hasn't answered?
I'm no expert on Brad Richards by any means, but I would think that he's had better chemistry and point production when paired with the top wingers on his team than Roy has had with Vanek (well since not being 3rd line players).
I looked at the 35 games Roy played last year and I know its not an entirely fair comparison as Ruff flips players to different lines more than a lot of coaches, but I counted only 6 times where Vanek scored and Roy had the primary assist I think 2 other times he got the 2nd assist. On the PP there were six times where Vanek or Roy scored and the other got the primary assist.
Not that this amounts to a hill of beans, just trying to figure out if the lack of chemistry between Vanek and Roy was a bad as we thought it was.