Which is extremely frustrating, considering how long people had been questioning putting our best goalscorer, who isn't good defensively, on a shutdown line.
It flies in the face of reason, but for some reason was a continued practice.
What?
It makes perfect sense to put Hoffman, who you admit is lacking defensively, on a line with two much more defensively responsible forwards........... so he can take the occasional "risk" and perhaps score...... and have two players back him up?
It's just a logical to put one defensively responsible forward with two offensively skilled forwards, to give them the same "backup" when they take a risk or two.
This type of line balancing is done by all teams in the league.
Yeah, sometimes during the course of game, situational demand calls for more offense and teams will unite their three better offensive threats on a line to spark some offense ............. just as when protecting a lead calls for a complete line of "shutdown" players ......... like late in last night's game.
Hoffman is put on the 3rd line because he is one of two forwards we have that can make a difference by themselves.
Why not put him on the 4th line then....
Fact is, he'll have an easier time making that difference in the top 6, and the 3rd line will have an easier time shutting down the oppositions top lines with a guy better suited for that role.
You put guys in roles and situations where they are most likely to succeed.
I agree. I'd rather Hoffman play with skill.
We ran Spezza out of town partly imo because we kept giving him greenings and butlers as limemates.
lines should operate as duos where there are two offensive players with creativity supported by a speedy grinding bottom six player who can hold possession.
Why? $472k a goal and on pace for a career low 22. Dzingel has more goals. As a “pure scorer” he should be doing a lot better, and for that price tag should definitely be doing a lot better.What a stupid ass comment.
Now do the rest of the team.
Yes, it makes perfect sense to put your best goal scorer who sucks at defense on the shutdown line.
"Let's limit his offensive chances, where he thrives, and increase his defensive responsibilities, where he lacks, by placing him on a shutdown line, real smart".
Jesus Christ man....
when they were putting Hoffman on the third line, he was not playing a "shutdown" role, he was an offensive threat, and had a little more room playing with two defensively responsible (other) forwards, and usually playing vs the opponents' third pairing D........
Yes it was real smart, as it lead to a number of scoring chances, and goals.
The Ottawa Senators folks, the only team in the league where you are better off offensively playing on a shutdown line than you are with skilled players in the top 6.
I know you'll spin it off to show how I'm just a "fan" and condescendingly (ironically) "prove" me wrong, so I'll await it.
Well, you thinking the 4th line is the shutdown line is enough for me to not bother responding further than this.Look, at the time, early in the season, he was not up to par defensively, in the Coaches' eye to play in the top 6.
So would you suggest they have just made him a healthy scratch, rather than having him play on the third line ......... the third line, not the "shutdown line" AKA the fourth line, the third line, with two more defensively responsible forwards????
We're just not using Hoff properly on the PP anymore. Why are we over-complicating things? Dude needs to stand at the Hoffice (on the right side dot) with his stick in the air and shoot at will. Score a goal or break some legs, let others handle the rebounds. Leave it to Karlsson and others to move the goalie and the defense from side to side and set him up when the time is right, which it actually always is.His 5v5 goals are on par with last year, it's his powerplay goals that have plummeted. Assists are fairly similar in both categories.
He only had 26 goals last year. It's not inconceivable to think he can get 15 in the remaining 40 games.
Isn’t he in pace for 60 points. Half way through the season. What you’re asking for or hoping for doesn’t cost just 5 million.Why? $472k a goal and on pace for a career low 22. Dzingel has more goals. As a “pure scorer” he should be doing a lot better, and for that price tag should definitely be doing a lot better.
I don’t care if the team sucks, he needs to elevate his play - big time. Especially for such a one dimensional player.
Why? $472k a goal and on pace for a career low 22. Dzingel has more goals. As a “pure scorer” he should be doing a lot better, and for that price tag should definitely be doing a lot better.
I don’t care if the team sucks, he needs to elevate his play - big time. Especially for such a one dimensional player.
Opportunity missed! FTFY.When he’s on, he’s on. When he’s off? He's Hoff.
This is a bit of a dumb article but it says that the Sens offered Hoffman for the Flyers 1st + Travis Sanheim (2014 17th overall pick, 35 NHL games, currently in AHL).
The angle of the story is that the Flyers balked at that - thank god they did.
This is a bit of a dumb article but it says that the Sens offered Hoffman for the Flyers 1st + Travis Sanheim (2014 17th overall pick, 35 NHL games, currently in AHL).
The angle of the story is that the Flyers balked at that - thank god they did.