He's a beauty, makes all the small things happen, he's like a silfverberg that can score..
Faceoffs are what they are. If he can generate offense there that's where we need him. I can't underscore the importance of having a scoring third line enough. We'll have the ability to do some interesting things now. Him and Rakell or Perry could give us a substantial matchup advantage.
But a good face off guy clearly gives you an advantage. Let's just assume we pair Raks with Getz, and Henrique with Perry. Which do you think would make a stronger line?
Ritchie - Henrique - Perry
or
Henrique - (Vermette/Grant) - Perry
Is that pairing better served with more possession from face offs, or more offense from Ritchie?
I think smart defense is an easier ask than providing offense to begin. Especially if our other two main lines are scoring lines.Wagner has looked pretty good this year too, do you think he might fit on that line if Grant can't?
And is it smart to put Kesler on the shutdown line right away? Maybe putting him with Henrique and Perry for a little while might be smart to "ease" him in.
But a good face off guy clearly gives you an advantage. Let's just assume we pair Raks with Getz, and Henrique with Perry. Which do you think would make a stronger line?
Ritchie - Henrique - Perry
or
Henrique - (Vermette/Grant) - Perry
Is that pairing better served with more possession from face offs, or more offense from Ritchie?
There are statistics that show faceoff success has little to do with generating offense or preventing it on a macro level. Situationally yes it's important but Henrique will never be asked to take those.But a good face off guy clearly gives you an advantage. Let's just assume we pair Raks with Getz, and Henrique with Perry. Which do you think would make a stronger line?
Ritchie - Henrique - Perry
or
Henrique - (Vermette/Grant) - Perry
Is that pairing better served with more possession from face offs, or more offense from Ritchie?
What are the odds that playing, and practicing, with Vermette and Kesler will improve Henrique's face offs? I can't see him staying at center for us if he can't get over 50% on the dot.
I don't think you can draw the line at 50% when practically half of the players in the league are below that at any given time. Heck, Getzlaf has never reached 51% in a single season in his entire career. Henrique is below average in the faceoff dot, but he's not Cogliano level bad. Seems like he's typically around 48% most of the time, which is 'ok'. We've just gotten spoiled with Kesler and Vermette in recent years, as well as Getzlaf starting to be more consistent at 49-50% from year to year.
Although I don't like that this is true, I agree that it's true. Getz can produce consistently against other teams' best defenders, Perry can't. And Perry's got 5 points in his last 4 games with Henrique. I'd do Henrique-Perry, Kesler-Silf, and Getz-Kase as our core center-wing pairs moving forward. Although, Kase seems to have something going with Vermette, too.I'd leave him with Perry. getzlaf and Perry don't fit together anymore
You would float Ricky at LW between the first and third lines trading off with Ritchie?Although I don't like that this is true, I agree that it's true. Getz can produce consistently against other teams' best defenders, Perry can't. And Perry's got 5 points in his last 4 games with Henrique. I'd do Henrique-Perry, Kesler-Silf, and Getz-Kase as our core center-wing pairs moving forward. Although, Kase seems to have something going with Vermette, too.
Ricky's one of our worst defensive forwards, so his use ought to be situational.You would float Ricky at LW between the first and third lines trading off with Ritchie?
Ok. I didn’t realize you were focusing more on the defensive side first. I guess mainly because they all look pretty solid offensively too.Ricky's one of our worst defensive forwards, so his use ought to be situational.
Good to see henrique doing well. I've been pleased with vatanen thus far in NJ. They have been tapping more into a defensive role, playing on the top shutdown pairing, as opposed to trying to get the most offense out of him. Which more fits was the devils need. He's been really solid especially given his partner (Greene) has been pretty putrid the past half dozen games or so (even dating back before Sami arrived). Been moving the puck quickly in the dzone when he gets it on his stick and effectively separating guys from the puck down low. Playing on the #2 pp unit as well, and can tell he is still trying to get acclimated there. Would like to see him shoot it more with the man advantage.