How does Riley Sheahan still have a roster spot?

[Hammettf2b]

Because a player with better hands will be able to do more things with the puck (including making that very same play you are describing) which makes them more difficult to defend and allows them to generate opportunities that, all else being equal, a less skilled player cannot. Think of it this way, why was Datsyuk a more dangerous player than Helm given that Helm was a much better skater?

Then why don't they??? Helm is notorious for his stone hands, yet he creates chances. Why doesn't every other player on the team create those chances even with better hands?

 

[Flowah]

Then why don't they??? Helm is notorious for his stone hands, yet he creates chances. Why doesn't every other player on the team create those chances even with better hands?

Speed, acceleration, mobility can make up for a lot of that. If you can get to the puck faster than someone, if you can turn faster than someone, why do you even need to stick handle?

Helm's hands are "fine." They're not stone hands level. He just has no finish. When he gets a breakaway he seems lost which is odd considering how often he gets them. He's not going to turn anyone inside out but he's not Glendening either.

I'd say plenty of other guys create more chances though. Tatar, Vanek. Mantha's pretty good. AA creates a lot relative to his ice time. Probably Z too. Green might be up there as well.

 

[Hammettf2b]

Speed, acceleration, mobility can make up for a lot of that. If you can get to the puck faster than someone, if you can turn faster than someone, why do you even need to stick handle?

Helm's hands are "fine." They're not stone hands level. He just has no finish. When he gets a breakaway he seems lost which is odd considering how often he gets them. He's not going to turn anyone inside out but he's not Glendening either.

I'd say plenty of other guys create more chances though. Tatar, Vanek. Mantha's pretty good. AA creates a lot relative to his ice time. Probably Z too. Green might be up there as well.

Exactly my point.

 

[obey86]

I don't know but I hope he goes the entire season without scoring for the lols.

likewise. I'm all for making blashill look as dumb as possible.

 

[obey86]

Has anyone actually asked this question of Blashill during interviews?

Nobody on this forum can answer this question. It has to come from the coach's mouth as there is no good reason.

BLashill has been quoted numerous times this season (in the papers) that Sheahan is playing well.

 

[GMR]

BLashill has been quoted numerous times this season (in the papers) that Sheahan is playing well.

I understand him not vocally crapping on Sheahan in front of the media. However, he has been awful (let alone playing well). This guy was counted on to step up offensively this season, and he's giving the team numbers that enforcers would laugh at.

 

[Reddwit]

Yup, it was answered during a post game or practice media scrum. I remember him stating that there are several situations where it is helpful to have two forwards out on the ice who can take draws. He also mentioned that he wanted the team to spend less time out on the perimeter and that taking one of the big bodies out of the lineup frustrated that goal. Blash also mentioned that there were a lot of other good things that he was doing even though he wasn't scoring.


Riley obviously isn't anything special as a player, but he has been working hard over the last twenty or so games and has always been a responsible, coach's player. Like it or not he is still more skilled with the puck than Ott, Glendening and Helm (probably Abby too). Sadly, he never really overcame his skating issues and it greatly limits the manner in which he can play at this level and his overall effectiveness. What we are witnessing is a player who cannot really create his own offense and really depends on his line mates for offensive production.

More skilled how? You know who has a ton of skill? Tomas Jurco. A good lot it has done him without the brain to go with it. And Jurco hasn't had near the god-given minutes, linemates, and NHL debut timing that Sheahan has had.

Sheahan is not as skilled as Helm and Abby. Does he have a better shot? Yes. Pulkkinen's is better. That's where his advantage ends. He can't distribute pucks well when under pressure. He loses pucks easily after winning a battle. Unless he is a ball joint of a center between two skilled wingers, he has no idea where to be without the puck in the offensive zone. And he knows ****-all about getting a shot off. He has the brain, confidence, and physicality of Ville Leino, and his production will never look better than average without the most opportune of circumstances, much like Leino himself.

If you want to argue about the definition of skills, then you can run with that semantic argument, but at the end of the day, his tools + IQ pale in comparison to the tools + IQ of Abby and Helm.

And the worst part is, his brain and confidence are even holding him back from being an effective grinder. For all that should be in his favor, he comes out slightly above average in the defensive realm, despite being accepted and groomed as such for effectively two years running now.

That said, he still should be in the lineup. Through rote familiarity, anyone can learn to be effective in a role if given enough time, and the organization is clearly willing to give him that (as would most be, I'd imagine). The big issue now is figuring out where he needs to be and sticking with it.