Andrew Gordon - 2011-2012

I’d suggest creating a Fanshot for this as this is minimal in content.

I don’t know about top line, but he certainly is a more affordable, but less… bleeding Matt Bradly

Frankly, no I don’t see A. Gordon filling the spot on the top line. Watching them both play, I think Fehr is the bigger, stronger, more talented player with the skill set that fits best with Ovechkin and Backstrom.

So Ovi and Backy are signed for the next decade or so, and Knuble probably doesn’t have much gas left in the tank. Of the guys on the roster, you have two other prototypical grinders in Fehr and Laich, and maybe a third in Hendricks.

If they manage to resign Laich and Semin, I don’t see that duo being split up. They clearly have chemistry, and they produce. And lets face it, I like Hendricks a lot, and he was a great signing, but he’s not a first liner on any NHL team, certainly not this one.

That leaves Fehr. Fehr and A. Gordon are for all intents and purposes the same age. To date, Fehr has played 187 NHL games to Gordon’s three. A grinder primarily scores using strength, size, and hands. I’m not sure Fehr is the clear winner in the hands department, but in terms of size and strength there is no comparison. Given the fact that he also has much more NHL experience, and his history of producing at a very high level everywhere he’s played, I think Fehr is the obvious choice should a vacancy open on the first line.

That said, as talented as Gordon is, I think he certainly finds his way onto the roster next year on the 3rd of 4th line, maybe higher depending on chemistry and on who comes back next year.

If it is someone on the roster, it will be Fehr. Gordon is probably a 3rd liner.

If Knuble continues to struggle I’d like to see Fehr or Laich take that spot sometime this season.

Gordon… I don’t see it. Nothing he’s done in the NHL leads me to believe that he will ever be a top-line player (or even a top-6), and he’s not exactly a kid either. He was drafted the same year as Ovie, Schultz and Green, and even C. Bourque and Sami Lepisto have substantially more NHL experience than him.

Although I love his heart and pugnacity, I don’t see Laich as having the hands to match Knuble. Fehr has potential if he gets the chance and is willing to take the abuse and do the necessary work.

That said, it’s possible neither one has the ability to make the quick and accurate decisions and reactions necessary to be a Knuble but I guess time will tell.