Santorelli has done nothing these past two games. Games we only scored 1 goal in. If Santorelli produces at a fairly consistent rate in most games, then I would be satisfied. He did so for a brief period at the start of the season, but him tapering off now makes me more inclined to believe his production is regressing to the norm rather than a brief dry spell before he starts producing at a 50+ point rate again.
Having a 2nd line made up of 3 35 ES point players isn't a competitive 2nd line compared to lines that boast Sharp and Hossa, or Couture and Marleau, or Bergeron and Iginla, or Richards and Carter. Even though our 1st line might be better, it leaves us far more vulnerable to an "off" game by that line. And if the Sedin line goes cold for even one playoff series in this years run, we're toast. Because three 35 ES producers isn't going to be able to make up the difference.
You know VKW, I'm literally laughing right now. My sides are splitting. I'm not kidding. Three 35 point ES scorers in 2011-2012:
Cory Perry, Dustin Brown, Shane Down, and David Backes for good measure. Further, Sam Gagner and Derek Stepan.
I have to really question your understanding of scoring as it relates to the NHL/reality. I'm really just at a loss for words about it.
Santorelli producing at a "consistent rate" doesn't jive with a 50 point pace. A 50 point producer is by definition inconsistent. He's going to have 32 games, at least, where he doesn't produce anything. If Santorelli simply repeats what he does for every 20 game block, he's 45 point ES scorer. That's top40 production at ES. Forget 2nd line, that's upper end 1st line production.
I really think the lack of PP production is tripping you up in your entire analysis.
I don't know what Burrows is without the Twins because it rarely happens. Small sample size. I don't think he's a first liner without the Twins but definitely a second liner.
Being on the second line should also come with PP production. That line is a poor PP line because it lacks skill. Higgins is a fringe second liner. He has 15 points in 41 games last year.
Potential is a huge portion though. I am not confident with a Higgins-Burrows-Santoriell 2nd line.
So Burrows is a 2nd liner. Ok, that's one down.
Higgins had 15 ES points in 41 games, which put him at 175 in forward production last year. Just inside the top180. So I can buy the "fringe" argument for last year. He produced the same amount as Lupul, Alfredsson and Stastny. The year before that, he was on the upper end top120.
Being on the 2nd line does require a certain level of PP production, I agree, but the PP is an altogether different beast than ES production. If people were just worried about the PP production in these arguments, then the talk wouldn't be as alarming. You also don't have to have confidence in the line. That's fair. All I'm commenting on is what they have done. To this point, 2nd line production has been very good over a 20 game sample.
to be our saviors
