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Pavel Buchnevich has a real Marc Savard feel to him...
Both profiled like stars early in their development but they wern't stars immediately. They were close. Buchnevich, in 247 games, has produced at a rate of 0.6 points per game. Savard, in 319 games (up until he was traded to Atlanta), produced at a rate of 0.64 points per game
Buchnevich is the same age now as Savard was when he was traded to Atlanta, btw...
Both players looked like stars that needed an elite linemate to explode. Savard produced with Iginla in CGY but didn't happen often. He's traded to ATL, played with Kovalchuk and Heatley, takes off, then to BOS, played with Bergeron, Kessel and prime Lucic... pure fire.
The remainder of his career after leaving Calgary, Savard was over a point per game player. What if that's Buchnevich?
Buchnevich has never had that elite consistent linemate. He's had samples with good players but not consistent enough or offensively elite enough. What does it look like if Buchnevich plays 75% with a player the calibre of Panarin? Or Zibanejad? Maybe Kakko down the line?
Buchnevich has also long been in the trade rumor mill. Does a team sweep in (with likely an underwhelming offer) and pick him up, insert him on a line with a player like Kovalchuk, and he explodes... just like Savard? Minnesota acquiring him to play with Kaprizov maybe?
