Brayden Schenn: Becoming a Powerplay Catalyst

[LastWordArmy]

Take a look at the top power play scorers in the league and you’ll find some familiar names. Alex Ovechkin sits second with 12 goals on the man advantage. Wayne Simmonds is enjoying some success on the power play as he also finds himself with 12 goals. Sidney Crosby is eighth with 10.

The player with the most power play goals may be a bit of a surprise to some. Brayden Schenn leads the league with 14 goals on the man advantage. His 23 points on the power play also find him in the top three, behind Phil Kessel and Tyler Seguin.

http://lastwordonhockey.com/2017/02/21/brayden-schenn-power-play-specialist/

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[beetee15]

doesn't matter it's on the powerplay..

 

[flyersfan187]

Teams are so worried about the rest of the guys that Schenn is open a lot of times in the middle. Good for him to be able to score on those opportunities though. I just wish Schenn would improve his even strength play

 

[kelmitchell]

doesn't matter it's on the powerplay..

Yeah the power play doesnt count

 

[tictactoe]

he is average or below average in every other part of the game wit exception around the net.

 

[dats81]

Nothing wrong with having specialists on the roster.
Unfortunately, the Flyers have very few players who can drive the play 5v5.

 

[OzFlyers]

It sure sucks having the top PP Goal scorer in the league!

 

[Psuhockey]

Teams are so worried about the rest of the guys that Schenn is open a lot of times in the middle.

That's my question with Schenn is how much is it his talent or that position on the powerplay. Hartnell was also very productive from that spot. Could someone else, like Couturier, take over that spot and have similar production? Could Voracek be moved there and the Flyers have two defensemen on the PP1?

 

[Hockeypete49]

It sure sucks having the top PP Goal scorer in the league!

It makes me wonder about some of our fellow fans. He could score 100 goals and there would be some here who would still *****.

 

[Curufinwe]

Schenn has the best wrister on the team and makes goal scoring on the PP look easy, but can't buy a goal at 5 on 5 this season. It's pretty weird.

 

[daa5250]

That's my question with Schenn is how much is it his talent or that position on the powerplay. Hartnell was also very productive from that spot. Could someone else, like Couturier, take over that spot and have similar production? Could Voracek be moved there and the Flyers have two defensemen on the PP1?

Not at all. Schenn just fits that role really well like Hartnell did. Schenn's PP role takes advantages of his best assets. He's developed a great 1 timer from the slot, he's good at deflecting shots, and he's good at crashing the net for dirty goals. Role is tailor made for him.

No other players on the Flyers would have the same success as him in that role.

 

[daa5250]

That's my question with Schenn is how much is it his talent or that position on the powerplay. Hartnell was also very productive from that spot. Could someone else, like Couturier, take over that spot and have similar production? Could Voracek be moved there and the Flyers have two defensemen on the PP1?

They could change the set up of the PP and have 2 dmen with Provorov whose great at the point. They did take Voracek off the PP and replaced him with Provorov for a couple games recently. But if we are talking about the specific set up the Flyers have had for many years with Giroux and Voracek on the boards, Simmonds in front, and a dman at the point with someone in the slot, Schenn is definitely the best option for that slot role and thrives in it.

 

[Magua]

That's my question with Schenn is how much is it his talent or that position on the powerplay. Hartnell was also very productive from that spot. Could someone else, like Couturier, take over that spot and have similar production? Could Voracek be moved there and the Flyers have two defensemen on the PP1?

Schenn is legitimately very good in that role on the PP, even if he's surely overshooting what is sustainable. He's really good there -- full stop. But it's a thought I've had plenty. His 5v5 scoring is bound to return to normal to help balance it out, but even normal is average, middle 6 production and a slight possession drag, even if we overlook this year. His value is basically defined by his excellent PP play....which is fine. But I don't think he's irreplaceable there either, which is part of many reasons he's the most replaceable guy in the Flyers top 6, should they be looking at the future/upgrading (and he's only on a 3 year contract at this point). He can't simultaneously be the 5th most important player on the PP1 and also can't-do-without, as we saw with Hartnell before him in that spot.

We'll operate under the assumption Voracek goes back to the half wall on PP1, which he should. Could Couturier play there and provide 75-80% of his normal PP value? Probably. Lindblom seems the most obvious candidate, if they go that route. But if it is determined that Schenn's PP scoring, or most of it, can be recouped elsewhere (I err this way), while the Flyers can upgrade 5v5 or acquire some blue chip asset more important to the future, it's an avenue that interests me heavily.