NHL Rumors: Connor McDavid top trade asset, revamp offer-sheet system, and Evander Kane picking fights
Anthony Scultore
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The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel compiled a list of the 50 most valuable assets in the NHL today. As a precursor, he explained his approach in how he determined what makes a player more valuable than the next.
It’s a fun read and certainly raises some great questions as to different ways of determine player values. For Jonas he based it on youth, contracts, and ultimately, “who would you pay for more in a trade?” He added context, such as a player like Alex Ovechkin was left off because of his age (35) and the fact he only has one year left on his deal.
NHL Rumors: Connor McDavid most valuable trade asset
It should come to no one’s surprise that the Edmonton Oilers megastar, Connor McDavid is at the top of the list. He edged out Nathan MacKinnon at #2, and Auston Matthews at #3.
McDavid has won two scoring titles, two Ted Lindsay Awards (top player as voted by players), and one Hart Trophy. I would argue he deserves at least one more. (He was first on my ballot in 2018 when he led the league in scoring and posted 18 more even-strength than the next closest player. The Oilers only had 78 points, though, knocking him down, in Mike Trout-like fashion, to fifth.)
Jonas Siegel, The Athletic
There’s no more sure thing in hockey for the next decade than McDavid.
Calls to change the offer sheet system growing
Every year we hear that there’s a good chance we will get an offer sheet to a top RFA. Almost every year we are disappointed, and if there is one they are almost always matched.
Several hockey writers and analysts are debating it on social media with calls to make a change. The question was posed by Arpon Basu with others like James Mirtle wondering if they should change the compensation. Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic proposed eliminating the right to match.
Ultimately, former NHL player PJ Stock had the best response. “It’s a thing,” he began. “Except when the boys meet a few times a year in Florida for dinner and drinks and golf…they feel they don’t wanna screw over their buddies. It’s simple business. Zero real reason why it doesn’t happen besides that.”
Related: Fear of Lou Lamoriello preventing a Mat Barzal offer sheet
Evander Kane picking fights on Twitter
It truly is the offseason as we have entered the realm of the silly. San Jose Sharks forward, Evander Kane apparently wants to fight YouTuber Jake Paul. The internet celebrity knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson over the weekend (the undercard for Tyson v. Jones Jr.).
He’s not the only one, as apparently Robin Lehner of the Golden Knights wants to as well.
This led to a rekindling of an old feud with Knights enforcer Ryan Reaves calling out Kane. In a now deleted tweet, Kane responded to a comment about a Kane/Paul fight with some apparent inside joke. Reaves and Kane continue to go at it.
Question is, will this carry over into the season? Who knows but it’s been mildly entertaining.