How are Jarnkrok/Bonino outscoring Duchene/Johansen in NSH?

[Civetty]

Unless I'm missing something, the last player to hit 70 points on the Preds was in 2007 - 2008 when J.P. Dumont and Jason Arnott both got 72. Aside from that, they've pretty much only hit mid 60's though a couple would have gotten more if not for injuries. Only twice have they had an 80+ point player and that was Paul Kariya.

The Nashville Predators are an offensive black hole. They win based on team defense and depth but have never really had any game breakers. Philip Forsberg has come close but injuries prevented him from hitting that plateau. Every other guy they have brought in for one reason or another has not lived up to the expectations.

Can look at it like that, personally I'm impressed how many above average players they have on their team.

 

[Rebels57]

Jarnkrok isn't a center, he's actually been on Johansen's wing most of the season. He's having probably his best season as well.

The third line is Grimaldi - Bonino - Smith, which benefits from Grimaldi's speed, Smith's defense and Bonino's willingness to go to the net.

As good as that third line has been, Laviolette split them up last night along with the Blackwell - Sissons - Watson line, to spread their hustle and work ethic throughout the lineup. The Preds scored 8 goals.


One thing that has hurt the Preds top-6 this season is injuries. Forsberg, Granlund, Arvidsson and Duchene have all missed games to injury.

Duchene hasn't really been allowed to gel with anyone yet even though his talent is obvious, game after game he is making plays but has no finisher on his line. At the beginning of the season he scored well when paired with Forsberg and Granlund, but then the injuries started and his line has been in a blender ever since.

Johansen, seems to be a case of work ethic. He can take over a game when he's got some fire in his belly, but it seems like he's content to coast through large portions of the regular season. I think he suffers from missing Arvidsson more than anything, Johansen thrived on playing a responsible game in his own end and collecting assists by springing Arvidsson for breakaways.

The Preds lack of top-6 scoring is a major reason for their standing at the moment. The bottom-6 playing well is great, but not enough to carry the team alone. Not with the inconsistent defense and goaltending that we've gotten.

But I think moreso than just injury and lazy play, what it really boils down to, is the continued failure of the Predators powerplay. It's been more than a full year of a truly awful powerplay that the coaching staff cannot figure out. And not scoring on their advantage opportunities is sucking a lot of points off of the top-6 totals.

Do they still just bomb away from the point over and over on the PP?

 

[FanTheFlames]

Duchene got payed so now he doesnt care anymore and Ryjo is the Adam Larsson of the Seth Jones deal and everyone knew it at the time so no suprise there.

 

[McOilers97]

Johansen is one of the most overrated players in the league, and Duchene takes time to get going.

EDIT: Although, it's time for Duchene to get it going..

I remember when Johansen had 30+ goals one year and 70+ points the next year. He seemed like he might be ready to jump into the top tier from that 2010 draft class with Hall, Seguin, Tarasenko.

Since then he’s levelled off into a 55-60 point player and hasn’t scored more than 15 goals in a season.

 

[Mass]

lol. johansen sucks. guy had one good year and after that barely passes 50 points with arvy/forsberg as his wingers.

That's a weird way to describe a player that has more 60 points in 2 of this 3 full seasons in Nashville. Not including finishing with 60 the year of the trade after a slower start in Columbus.

 

[Coffey]

That's a weird way to describe a player that has more 60 points in 2 of this 3 full seasons in Nashville. Not including finishing with 60 the year of the trade after a slower start in Columbus.

You don’t have to defend him. Everyone here knows he is mediocre.

 

[Mass]

You don’t have to defend him. Everyone here knows he is mediocre.

Accuracy with the numbers is necessary I think. I'm sure you'd be quick to correct someone who said McDavid's been 95ish point player in his career so far.

 

[Betelgeuse]

This points race is just as tight as the Rocket. Duchene (35), Bonino (32), Johansen (31), Ekholm (30), Jarnkrok (28), not including tonight.

Duchene and Johansen....wow

 

[hellstick]

Nashville is such a weird team. Josi is leading them to any respectability. Goaltending has sucked, key offensive players have sucked, and they hired John Hynes. What a weird team.

 

[yeaher]

Duchene has had two 70 point seasons in his career, and they were both in contract years, he will be a 45-60 point guy and enjoy his life and lead the Predators to some great draft picks.

 

[Voight]

I may be in the minority, but I honestly think Duchene will have a bounce back season next year and score 70+ points