TSN’s webpage offers the following graphic this morning, with an accompanying set of stories from MLive’s Ansar Khan (the Dylan Cozens article) and The Athletic’s Allan Mitchell…
So here’s the deal:
- A couple of days ago, The Athletic’s Allan Mitchell suggested that the Oilers pick up Patrick Kane at the deadline, though he admits that Kane’s no-trade clause and the Wings’ attempt to make the playoffs complicate the situation:
In late January, I identified Brad Marchand as a quality target for the Oilers at the deadline. He’s a veteran, has had success in the regular season and playoffs and might be available if the Boston Bruins slide out of the playoff race.
Patrick Kane is a similar player. The Athletic player card analysis by Dom Luszczyszyn and Shayna Goldman doesn’t love him, but he’s covering his $4 million contract and could spike as a member of the Oilers.
Kane’s foot speed, via NHL Edge, remains solid to above average at 36, as he’s in the 64th percentile in speed bursts over 32 kph. He remains quick, is dangerous with the puck on his stick and can push the river in a way many of the available deadline talents can’t (and never could) on NHL ice.
Kane as a complementary winger on, say, the McDavid line would allow the trio to enter the zone, maintain puck possession and set up passing opportunities. If teams double cover McDavid (as is happening more often this season), Kane is a player who can push the river and get results.
2. The Athletic’s Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal also suggested that Michael Rasmussen might be a player that the Vancouver Canucks should acquire…
Michael Rasmussen
Hailing from Surrey, B.C., Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen appeared to be on the verge of breaking out last season.
The big 25-year-old forward converted from centre to wing. Playing primarily along the walls, Rasmussen provided the Red Wings with reliable supporting offence, producing a career-best 33 points in a third-line role as the Red Wings pushed to make the playoffs down the stretch. Rasmussen’s performance and upside earned him a four-year extension. It seemed as if Rasmussen had cemented himself as a fixture in the Red Wings lineup.
This season, however, Rasmussen’s role has diminished. While he’s still producing at a similar clip, he’s being deployed on the fourth line and seeing second-unit power-play time. The quality of his linemates has fallen precipitously, and his offensive impact has gone with it.
At his best, Rasmussen is a big-bodied skill player. Not the most dynamic skater, Rasmussen is the sort of winger who thrives below the hash marks and leans heavily on puck protection and playing an area game to control play and generate offence. He’s also still a reliable enough centre option in a pinch and has tended to have better five-on-five metrics as a pivot.
I thought that Rasmussen was doing just fine in Detroit as he continues to play on the “third line” most of the time, but what do I know…
3. Drance and Dayal also spotlighted Christian Fischer as a “high-character player” who could help the Canucks…
Christian Fischer
Christian Fischer is a fourth-line forward with enough versatility to pinch in either at centre or along the wing. He plays a physical brand of hockey, can win a few draws — although he’s by no means the answer to Vancouver’s need for a right-handed faceoff winner — is familiar with Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, who he speaks very highly of, and has a reputation for being an exceptionally hard worker with a positive attitude off the ice.
In Detroit this season, Fischer — who was a regular for former Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde — has been a somewhat frequent healthy scratch since Todd McLellan took over behind the bench during the Christmas break. Given that he’s a pending unrestricted free agent on a one-way contract who has fallen out of favour, he should be extremely affordable to acquire.
Still just 27, the best hockey of Fischer’s professional career came under Tocchet. He’d give Vancouver some size and toughness and a vocal, hardworking personality behind the scenes at, potentially, a cut-rate price if the Canucks decided to target him ahead of the trade deadline.
Again, Fischer seems to be doing well when he does play, and he’s a voice of wisdom in the locker room, a really inspirational force, so while his long-term future with the Wings is iffy, I don’t see Detroit shipping him out for a 4th or 5th round pick…
But what do I know?
It’s just weird to read about “your team’s” players described as pieces of meat.
