Dipsy Doodle
Rent A Barn
- May 28, 2006
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Where did I say that?Lol Fredrick Gaudreau was a career AHLer up until the 2020-2021 season with the Penguins, where he played in like 20 games.
Trying to paint him as "pretty solid" is just insanity. Gaudreau was excellent this year and has shown he's a NHL caliber guy, but saying he was a better linemate than anyone Malkin had is pure captain hindsight. You'd be complaining non-stop if the Penguins entered next season with a guy of Gaudreau's track record was slated on Malkin's LW. That's like entering the year with Zach Boychuck on Malkin's LW.
Fiala made it work last year with a rookie (who had a terrific rookie year) and a bottom-6 center. He made it work while playing with the caliber of linemates you blame for Malkin's failures. So yes, I would take Fiala over Malkin going forward, because Fiala actually showed he could make it work with lesser linemates.
I said Boldy was significantly better, and he is. Being a rookie doesn't change that. Fiala didn't "make it work", he simply got a much better calibre of linemate to work with.
He and Gaudreau - who I liked a lot with the Pens and that take is in no way hindsight, check the tape - are a better combo than what Malkin got.