Northern Avs Fan
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- May 27, 2019
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How good can our power play be?
- Thread starter Northern Avs Fan
- Start date
S3rkie
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We have the tools to have a really good pp1 and average pp2. I still would like to see them try 3 forwards on pp2 with Z and Girard or at worse Girard and Graves If he makes the roster. Really need to find a dangerous aspect to the second unit and a big shot from the point would at least be something. Giving Z a bit more time and space might help with his accuracy issues and maybe his random snipes would become a bit more common.
I think it would at least give the 2nd unit a different look. Last season it seems like the 2nd unit ran the same shit as the 1st but with not nearly as much talent. When they only have 20 seconds maybe just keep it simple and blast pucks on net and look for rebounds.
I think it would at least give the 2nd unit a different look. Last season it seems like the 2nd unit ran the same shit as the 1st but with not nearly as much talent. When they only have 20 seconds maybe just keep it simple and blast pucks on net and look for rebounds.
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It depends. The power play started out scoring at an insane clip (unit 1 was a little sluggish to start, but unit 2 was great) but then MacKinnon hit his shooting stride and they were at record-setting percentages. Then they hit a bit of a slump when the shots just weren't going in. I think one thing that they really needed was a net-front presence. Landy is good at that, no doubt, but his place is behind the net IMO. So go ahead and put Kadri there, but I'd try to keep him at that spot instead of the "rover" they like to have that fifth guy be. Make everyone else move around a little more--if there was one thing I didn't love about the power play, it was that guys as a whole did not skate enough.
Top power play unit is a no-brainer.
Landeskog - Kadri - Rantanen
MacKinnon - Makar
2nd power play unit may be a work in progress as Bednar figures out who belongs where on special teams.
Wilson - Compher - Jost
Girard - Connauton
Yes, I think they should try 2D at the point, as Connauton is, at present, one of the better shooters on the team. Maybe rotate Burakovsky in there somewhere if they choose.
Personally there are enough shooters, the question is whether they can attack the net and get to rebounds, which would take their power play from good and make it automatic.
Since you didn't ask, here's what I'd do for the penalty kill.
PK forward pairings (since they like to rotate them through very quickly)
Bellemare - Compher
Nieto - Calvert
Donskoi - Landeskog
PK defensive pairings
Zadorov - Johnson
???? (gonna have to see how it shakes out, but I hope Graves makes the team and they use him here, and eventually Cole will be here too)
Ultimately what matters most to me is that the power play scores in the clutch. I'd rather it do that than go on huge hot/cold streaks. At times I think they fall into the bad habit of depending too much on MacKinnon's shot from the left circle to do all their work for them. And when it's on, it is indeed that dependable. But like even the best players, he can hit a cold streak. They need to really crash the net more often and then I think they'll have one hell of a man advantage.
The Kingslayer
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Northern Avs Fan
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- May 27, 2019
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Thanks for the deep analysis.
I’m very curious to see what Makar looks like on the man advantage. I really don’t know what to expect from him. Obviously his vision is very good, but I don’t know if his shot is good enough to take the pressure off Rantanen and MacKinnon. I’m not saying it’s not, I just don’t know.
The Kingslayer
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gonna be interesting to see Mackinnons chemistry with Makar on the PP. We saw it in the playoffs some but a full seasons worth. Damn gonna be fun.BTW, I fully expect Byram to be on the 2nd unit with Girard. I think Byram makes it out of camp and stays.
Northern Avs Fan
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Byram and Girard on the second unit would be pretty sweet.
- Jan 18, 2016
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I mean the guy has 9 and 12 goal seasons in the NHL. Might not be a sexy name or anything more than a 6D, but the guy can shoot the puck.
McMetal
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- Sep 29, 2015
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I feel like having Landy, MacK, Rants, AND Kadri on the same PP unit is too many shooters. Rants and MacK are both one timer threats on each dot, Landeskog tipping shots in front... Where does Kadri fit in? He's wasted in that role. I'd rather go with:
Landeskog - Compher - Rantanen
MacKinnon - Makar
Jost - Kadri - Burakovsky
Donskoi - Girard
Kadri can be the driver of his own unit in whatever position suits him best, and Compher can be the bump man on the first PP cleaning up rebounds and he isn't going to be misused if he never touches the puck.
Landeskog - Compher - Rantanen
MacKinnon - Makar
Jost - Kadri - Burakovsky
Donskoi - Girard
Kadri can be the driver of his own unit in whatever position suits him best, and Compher can be the bump man on the first PP cleaning up rebounds and he isn't going to be misused if he never touches the puck.
Why? He is an insanely good shooter. We’re talking like top 10-12 in the league or something. Why the hell wouldn’t you want to take advantage of that while he’s in the lineup? And what better place than on the 2nd unit power play?
The Kingslayer
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UncleRisto
Not Great, Bob!
AdamCalderHero
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I'm conflicted. I feel like Makar will be a better power play general than Girard, but I feel like LHD works better with MacKinnon on the half wall as it makes the one time from the line an option and should make give and goes easier.
TruePowerSlave
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- Jun 27, 2015
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Its not even close really. Makar needs to be on the 1st PP unit or Bednar has lost his mind.
Gatorbait19
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- Apr 2, 2019
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1st PP Unit takes a marginal hit this year without Barrie. Makar helps, but he won’t surpass what Barrie brought on the PP until next year.
2nd PP Unit is vastly improved with the addition of Kadri and (possibly) Donskoi, as well as the improvement from Jost, Girard and possibly Compher.
Overall, it’s a top 10 PP in the league, but fact of the matter is it won’t be great and/or top 5 unless we add 1 more piece to the 2nd Unit. I think we desperately need another playmaker there.
2nd PP Unit is vastly improved with the addition of Kadri and (possibly) Donskoi, as well as the improvement from Jost, Girard and possibly Compher.
Overall, it’s a top 10 PP in the league, but fact of the matter is it won’t be great and/or top 5 unless we add 1 more piece to the 2nd Unit. I think we desperately need another playmaker there.
2009/10- Vancouver Giants
69 GP, 24 G, 48 A, 72 P
Playoffs 13 GP, 3 G, 10 A, 13 P
Dude has skill. He just hasn't found it yet in the NHL.
S3rkie
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I remember while watching him the frozen 4 someone asked I think it was the UMass coach what part of his game still needed the most development, and he said the one timer from the point. Of course he scored on a one timer from the point pretty soon after. But from what I've seen it's usually not his first or even second option he goes with. But hopefully it's something he continues to develop to make himself even harder to read than he already is.
- Feb 24, 2012
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Lose:
Barrie ~4 minutes per game 25 points last year
Kerfoot ~2 minutes per game 16 points last year
Soda ~1:45 minutes per game 10 points last year
Gain:
Makar - will get Barrie's time, unknown production... say 17 points
Kadri - will slot on 1st unit, should push 20 points
Burakovsky/Donskoi - 2nd unit time... maybe 5 points each
I'd say there is a good chance the PP takes a step back. maybe from top 10 to top 15 unit.
Barrie ~4 minutes per game 25 points last year
Kerfoot ~2 minutes per game 16 points last year
Soda ~1:45 minutes per game 10 points last year
Gain:
Makar - will get Barrie's time, unknown production... say 17 points
Kadri - will slot on 1st unit, should push 20 points
Burakovsky/Donskoi - 2nd unit time... maybe 5 points each
I'd say there is a good chance the PP takes a step back. maybe from top 10 to top 15 unit.
nightonthesun
Registered User
Don't Kadri and landeskog serve similar enough purposes to warrant spreading them out? People keep putting them on lines together, both 5v5 and special teams, and I'm wondering what we might see as the advantage
avsfan09
Registered User
I remember the same thing with Eric Gelinas. Guy had a cannon but was useless on the pp.
nightonthesun
Registered User
The drive he took outta Denver must have been a long one for someone with nothing to think about. ;D
S3rkie
Registered User
Holy shit I didn't realize he played a few games for the Senators last year. I remember that goal he scored in SJS, thinking oh damn we might have something.
::Ron Howard Voice:: We didn't
He wasn’t used on the PP. Hard to suck when you don’t play.
