This makes no sense whatsoever. Better 5-on-5 production does not make Zuccarello a better PKer that DSP or Stephenson. That's absurd. He is worse than either in every measurable way. If he replaces either of them on the PK, it will get worse.
What does 'medical evidence' mean?
I do not say that. I say : Zuccarello is the best of three forward with PK duties. Start to read carefully.
When your penalty kill if hovering around 77% with a fully healthy roster and no sign of potential improvement, it's time to start prioritizing effective penalty killing.
Hey, let's play Ovechkin on the PK. I'm sure he will be our best forward with PK duties.
We discussed careful reading ability in last post. Let's now look at the ability to give correct examples then talking about different subjects. Improving your PK by adding one new player is one subject. Changing one players role on the team is a different subject. So a correct example in your post could be: Hey, let's find a second Ovechkin and play him on the PK. etc. …
By the way, Zuccarello can improve our PK.
In other news, BMac has eyeballs that work and a mouth that doesn't make up lies. Good stuff from BMac.
At least he's not doing the whole cryptic compliment instead of honesty thing. As I said on the other thread, there is just about nothing you can do externally to make Kuzy care about the regular season more than he does. Bench him? Risky. Drop him to the 4th line? Risky and stupid. Belittle him in public? Praise him in public?
Maybe the best solution is just to double shift him... anyone legitimately got better ideas? He's basically Sasha Semin, except he brought a Conn Smythe effort in the playoffs one time.
I do not envy anyone who has to manage and try to motivate Kuznetsov. It's a challenge, no doubt.
I enjoy BMac's interviews, too. One the very few managers who communicates to the fanbase in an honest and straightforward manner.
I'm cool if he dogs it every regular season and produces at a 100 point pace every postseason.In 2017/18 Kuznetsov produced 2.38 points per 60 minutes of 5v5 time. This season he is producing at a 2.30 rate. Very close. But in 2017/18 playoffs Kuznetsov went to 2.84 vs. best NHL teams.
The question is: can he play 9/10 months straight at Conn Smythe level? I hope yes, and I hope we can find how.
I'm cool if he dogs it every regular season and produces at a 100 point pace every postseason.
I agree with this statement, but he needs to be careful on where he's assigning the lion's share of the blame (IMO it's Niskanen who has been struggling much more than Orlov).
I've said it before but if they are looking to "fix" this pair I think they need to look outside at a guy like Nick Jensen who would be a fantastic acquisition now or closer to the TDL. I think Niskanen needs to play fewer minutes at this point in his career. Niskanen hasn't been right since his injury last season, and Jensen is a guy who would be a great #4 D acquisition, similar to Kempny last year (except on the right side).
Player | POS | 2017/18 first 52 games | 2018/19 first 52 games | Progress |
Jakub Vrana | L | 1.41 | 2.28 | 0.87 |
Brett Connolly | R | 1.54 | 2.18 | 0.64 |
Brooks Orpik | D | 0.48 | 1.04 | 0.56 |
T.J. Oshie | R | 1.36 | 1.92 | 0.56 |
John Carlson | D | 1.16 | 1.7 | 0.54 |
Tom Wilson | R | 1.8 | 2.31 | 0.51 |
Nicklas Backstrom | C | 1.76 | 2.16 | 0.4 |
Andre Burakovsky | L | 1.09 | 1.34 | 0.25 |
Alex Ovechkin | L | 2.47 | 2.53 | 0.06 |
Matt Niskanen | D | 0.94 | 0.95 | 0.01 |
Evgeny Kuznetsov | C | 2.36 | 2.3 | -0.06 |
Madison Bowey | D | 1.04 | 0.87 | -0.17 |
Lars Eller | C | 1.94 | 1.66 | -0.28 |
Dmitry Orlov | D | 1.04 | 0.75 | -0.29 |
Devante Smith-Pelly | R | 1.41 | 1.1 | -0.31 |
Chandler Stephenson | C | 1.71 | 1.1 | -0.61 |
Christian Djoos | D | 1.28 | 0.66 | -0.62 |
Travis Boyd | C | - | 2.7 | n/a |
Nic Dowd | C | - | 2.27 | n/a |
Dmitrij Jaskin | R | - | 1.53 | n/a |
Michal Kempny | D | - | 1.08 | n/a |
Jonas Siegenthaler | D | - | 0.78 | n/a |
Jay Beagle | C | 1.43 | - | n/a |
Alex Chiasson | R | 0.95 | - | n/a |
Taylor Chorney | D | 0.7 | - | n/a |
I got it. You have a lot of imagination.Kempny-Carlson first pairing was our line up in the SCF and it was pretty money if you ask me.
Orlov is an enigma. At times it feels like he's better suited when he has to be the more responsible d-man and stay at home, he's less likely to make the boneheaded plays and turn overs that he does when he dives full into being an offensive d-man. On the flip side when he's locked in he's the most dangerous offensive d-man we have, and yes I know I'm discarding Carlson. Orlov's toolset and had the most raw talent in it amongst all our offensive D.
Truthfully the most consistent and responsible offensive d-men we've had in the last 10 years aren't playing right now. One is in Vegas and the other is recovering in Hershey from having his leg blown open.
I'm cool if he dogs it every regular season and produces at a 100 point pace every postseason.
Orlov-Niskanen played 145 minutes with Ovechkin in 24 playoff games. Kempny-Carlson only 111 minutes.I think there might be confusion around shutdown pair/top pair here, just to cut in before a disagreement
(I don't know what to call what, just seem like you're on different pages)
I got it. You have a lot of imagination.
vs Jackets: Orlov-Niskanen played 73 minutes in 6 games vs Panarin; Kempny-Carlson 21 minute.
vs Pens: Orlov-Niskanen played 60 minutes in 6 games vs Crosby; Kempny-Carlson 20 minutes.
vs Bolts: Orlov-Niskanen played 50 minutes in 7 games vs Kucherov; Kempny-Carlson 25 minutes.
vs expansiondraftabominations: Orlov-Niskanen played 43 minutes in 5 games vs Marshessault; Kempny-Carlson 17 minutes.
An honest question. Can you make an argument on how having Hagelin versus Stephenson makes us a better team?