Not that there's any excuse for that, but I think the most common sentiment is that Skinner likes to play with players that will give him the puck and allow him to do whatever the hell he wants. The times we tried to pair him with Staal it just didn't work out because they're both the same kind of player in a sense. They want the play to start and end on their tape. I think when he starts trying to consider his linemates too much it takes away from the assertiveness and individualism that makes him special. Being on a line with Skinner means your job is to get the puck to Skinner and when Skinner doesn't have it your job is to try to get it back. He doesn't really need a setup man in a conventional sense. I don't like Skinner being in deferential mode to anyone else on the ice with him and the times we've tried to pair him with skill players that has been an issue.
As far as Ryan is concerned, I think I have made myself pretty clear on that. Great guy. Great team player. Great story. It just sucks that he's going to have to play over slot because we likely aren't going to be able to accomplish one of our offseason goals. I remember Francis talking early in the offseason about adding two top nine forwards or something to that effect and we haven't even been able to add one.
The thing about all the folks saying "30 points!" is that I don't know the number, but I would imagine that a certain amount of icetime is worth a certain amount of points at a relative level around the league. As the quality of the icetime increases and the quality of the linemates increases, that number also increases. The gut feeling that I have, and again I don't have the stats on it but I would imagine someone here likely does, is that adjusting for quality of icetime and quality of linemates, Derek Ryan's production last year was at BEST replacement level with those factors considered. Not to mention the fact that his shooting percentage was incredibly high and his even strength production incredibly low, indicating potential for an even worse encore. I truly believe that all things considered, you could plug Poturalski into the slot where Ryan occupied last season and expect similar statistical output. To me, that makes him a guy you'd probably want to move on from.