Yeah I don't think being a high end scorer means you must be one of the worst defensive players in the league. It just seems that the org never expected it of him for whatever reason.
yup. working off that premise and segmenting just to the elite-to-top goal scorers over the past few years, connor is near the bottom in xGA rates and in net-goal differential - while he has the best goalie in the league backstopping him. i think most can live with a bit of a trade-off with the goal-scoring, but worst of the bunch?
i understand players cant be great in every aspect of the game, & no one is expecting that, but can we get at least average at defense? or some semblance of physicality? when Elias Petersson who can barely fill out half a seat at MTS Centre is showing more physicality than you, something is amiss.
edit: i looked at this a few weeks ago but refreshing it;
from 21-24: let's consider the top-32 as the "elite goal scorers" which is a group he belongs in. not sure if that's to short or big of a list. you get roughly the same rankings for him if it's expanded to top-50.
Connor is 15th in total-goals scored, 31st in 5v5 net-goals (-2: basically is at even) and xGA/60 (3.0 xGA/60, 165 xGA), and 31st in total hits registered (87).
just to put in context; the average of the top-32 goal scorers are a +39 and 2.6 xGA/60 (or 138 xGA) at 5v5, and 235 total hits registered over the 3-seasons.