Points only Muzzin vs Butcher vs Pulock

[Happy Hour]

Has Pulock turned a corner in his development and surpassed Muzzin in a points format ? Where does Butcher fit ?
I can keep 1 of the 3 and struggling to lock in on just one. Welcome any opinions.

[fungchen3]

When do you need to make your decision? A lot can happen this offseason which could effect this scenario. If Karlsson, or another big name D lands in NJ, it could hurt Butcher. If Doughty leaves the Kings, it might benefit Muzzin in a positive way (more PP time). If Tavares leaves the Isles, Pulock's value takes a dip, etc. So many unknowns. However, based on what we know right now, in points-only (no G bonus), I would go...

1. Butcher
2. Pulock / Muzzin

[StuntMan12]

I think the safe pick here is Butcher. Pulock has been looking very good the last 20 games or so. Muzzin is solid. Gun to my head I take Butcher but Pulock wouldn't be a terrible pick either.

[YzermansLegacy]

As Fung said, if you can wait at all on this for some summer moves to play out it would be well worth it.

I personally think Pulock has the highest upside of the bunch, but we're not talking much of a gap here.

Here's my crystal ball:

If JT leaves, I want little to do with Pulock. Even if he got PP1, I see the whole unit running through Barzal from the low-to-half wall. As a RHS and primary passer, he doesn't "fit" well with Pulock as the RH bomb from the point. If JT stays, then I'm taking Pulock... with the caveat that Weight just doesn't seem to trust him defensively, meaning he could be staples to the bench/scratched a few times next year.

Butch just had too many secondary apples and I think Vats winds up running PP1 next year. I'm not big on NJ's secondary scoring (without a summer trade/signing) so I think short-term for sure, he'll be the odd man out and long term, well I'm just not sold on him tbh. Lots of other guys are though so take that with a grain of salt.

Muzz is where it gets interesting for me. Pre-Phaneuf, I'd probably have him ranked on top, but I'm weary in points-only for next season now. If a 2nd D spot on PP1 is available (which it might not be with Carter back full-time), I feel like they may give it to Dion over Muzz most of the time. Just a hunch. BUT... if Doughty leaves, then it becomes much muddier for me. Probably not enough to take him over Pulock... but I'd really have to think about it.

To circle back, all that forecasting might be moot anyways, so if you can wait - wait, and see how things shake out. If you have to make a choice now, then for me the 3 guys are close enough that I'd go with your gut or the Dobber majority.

[Dikoi]

Safe bet = Muzzin
Home run = Pulock

[MZac]

Safe bet = Muzzin
Home run = Pulock

I'd agree with this. I'm leaning more towards muzzin...

[pmorrow]

I think I would gamble on Butcher or Pulock. Muzzin doesn't have their upside and I'm not sure if his floor is all that different from these two. Maybe if you are being extra safe you know Muzzin is a going to get big minutes in LA, but I think the other two have carved out big roles on their respective teams as well. But they are the sophomores so we will have to see if they can do it again.

[HonkyTonkMan]

Points only, Butcher

[lucafen4]

I would prefer Pulock of the 3, highest upside... even if JT leaves, he still has Barzal, who's just a monster. It looks like Snow is on his way out as GM -- that's a bigger deal than JT IMO.

[4T2]

I like Pulock here as the highest upside of the three although he is probably the biggest gamble as well. Butcher is a close second and Muzzin not far behind.

In all honesty, I think that all three are close enough to each other at this point that you can't really go wrong. So with that being the case, why not swing for the fences and go with Pulock?

[Belexus75]

i own butcher and muzzin..and i had to drop one it would be tough sell to drop Muzzin, he is just most proven.

I would not touch Pulock with 100 foot pole myself.

[bizzy]

I would take Butcher, the other 2 are plugs

[ericdaoust]

Butcher
Muzzin
Pulock

[rtstr]

Butcher
Pulock
Muzzin

Curious, why all the Pulock hate? He's produced at every level and shoots the puck well over 100mph. For a 23 yr old dman on a shit team he looked great to me-- expectations exceeded.

[lucafen4]

... next year this will be a good revival thread, even though this is nothing more than a hunch, I think Pulock surpasses both.