Yikes I take that back. ERod is tearing it up in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Did he suddenly morph into a different hockey player? The guy is 30ish & been in the league for nearly a decade.

Let’s also completely gloss over the fact that the guy has benefited greatly from playing over the course of the last 3 years with Crosby, Mack, Mikko & now Matt Tkachuck. Major minutes with some of the best players in the world & he still maxes out around 40pts. He’s soft as tissue paper to play against. Doesn’t really play special teams. And is a 3rd liner who can in spots play in the top 6. There’s literally half a dozen guys like him or more, available every off – season.

If you’re going to criticize people at least make a coherent counter argument.

Wouldn’t disagree, just didn’t want to go back nearly a decade. Plus, they at least got something, including a guy who helped them win a Cup.

💯 agree, although add Chris Drury too if you want to go back further for players that got away, even if by trade.

Obviously you have not watched many Florida games this season. Very poor scouting report by both of you.

As I said previously, not going to argue with anyone that prefers Rodrigues to Wood.

It’s not an apples to apples comparison though. If Wood isn’t scoring you at least notice him on the ice. And there’s a physicality & speed to his game, that isn’t there with Rodrigues. My main quibble with Rodrigues is if he’s not contributing offense, what does he really bring? The versatility isn’t there, he doesn’t kill penalties, etc. At that point he’s just a guy. I think that’s the reason both Pittsburgh & the Avs felt ok with letting him walk.

Ryan O’Reilly will always be the ONE that got away. Should’ve paid him, thought that then & everything he’s done since only reconfirmed that.

It’s interesting though, had he stuck around. They never trade for Naz. Do they still bottom out the way they did & get Cale etc. Lots of what ifs, I think in hindsight it worked out well for both sides. Plus the Avs got Compher from Buffalo as part of the ROR package.

Yes, I’m serious. Like I said, I liked Wood’s game, but for all the people complaining about E-Rod’s second half with the Avs, why aren’t they complaining about Wood? He had three goals after Christmas. His speed and physicality are nice, but he’s a very limited player. There’s a reason why multiple coaches have now praised Rodrigues’ versatility and had no issues playing him on their top line. He’s a smart, trusted player.

The OT breakaway goal was nice but what about the handful he flubbed over the course of the season?

Are you serious Evan? I was much more impressed with Wood this year than Rodrigues the year before. So often he demonstrated his speed and physicality in the same play. He had no trouble getting pucks to the net and like Joe said, that OT breakaway goal had many people mistaking him for Mackinnon. The same can’t be said for Erod.