Player Discussion: Kyle Connor

[ps241]

I would love for Kyle to be rounded but realistically most elite scorers mail it in on defence.

P Kane, Drai, McD, the list goes on and on. Guys like Ovi and Kovi were laughably negligent if they even made it back to their own zone for the first decade of their NHL careers. I wish I was exaggerating but the Mark Stone’s, Bergy’s, Cooters are really unicorns.

It’s one of the reasons I was glad we traded Laine. You can’t build a team around a bunch of complimentary one dimensional wingers. Very expensive “empty calories”.

 

[Heldig]

While KC and others are not v. good in the defensive zone, how much is it a lack of committing to D an dhow much of it is a failure of the system the coaches have in place?

 

[LowLefty]

Imo Connor is Ehlers 3 seasons ago or so defensively. What KC needs to do is talk to Nikolaj and pretty much do exactly what Nik did. Watch the video of himself but maybe concentrate exclusively on improving the D play.

However Nik seems to be more built than KC. Off the ice Nik looks thicker than KC. KC is a skeleton.. lol. Dude needs to bulk up if he can a bit. Maybe put some more gym time in the off season on the list of things to do. I don't think he needs to be huge but.. atleast look like you are a pro athlete.

ah, I don't think so -
Connor is no bruiser but he's bigger than Ehlers and he's able to compete in the thick of it while staying on his feet.
Both are lean and that helps them play the way they do - fast, quick and slippery.
Not a lot of fat on either one of them - KC is around 180 and Ehlers 170 - depending on how much faith you have in what is posted.

 

[Adam da bomb]

I would love for Kyle to be rounded but realistically most elite scorers mail it in on defence.

P Kane, Drai, McD, the list goes on and on. Guys like Ovi and Kovi were laughably negligent if they even made it back to their own zone for the first decade of their NHL careers. I wish I was exaggerating but the Mark Stone’s, Bergy’s, Cooters are really unicorns.

It’s one of the reasons I was glad we traded Laine. You can’t build a team around a bunch of complimentary one dimensional wingers. Very expensive “empty calories”.

And you forgot Ehlers in unicorns. Which is frustrating as watching Kc play you think he should be able to duplicate what eels does on the other side because they play such a similar game. They have matching speed etc.
Yet eels is able to show awareness and not stick on the d when there is a guy wide open in front of the net. Eels is able to be effective on breakouts. Eels while not big will throw a hit.

 

[surixon]

I would love for Kyle to be rounded but realistically most elite scorers mail it in on defence.

P Kane, Drai, McD, the list goes on and on. Guys like Ovi and Kovi were laughably negligent if they even made it back to their own zone for the first decade of their NHL careers. I wish I was exaggerating but the Mark Stone’s, Bergy’s, Cooters are really unicorns.

It’s one of the reasons I was glad we traded Laine. You can’t build a team around a bunch of complimentary one dimensional wingers. Very expensive “empty calories”.

I don't think anyone is asking for him to be a Selke candidate but he should be able to at least get his game to replacement level in his end.

 

[Adam da bomb]

I don't think anyone is asking for him to be a Selke candidate but he should be able to at least get his game to replacement level in his end.

And I think a large part of the problem when ppl look at kc’s stats is they look at career he has been better this year since mo called him out. Have not seen last 2 games. At least that’s my take.

 

[Gm0ney]

Connor's just bad in his own end - you just have to watch him, never mind the fancy stats. Having a player like Ehlers on his line to make a few zone exits helps. Having two fly-the-zone linemates like Wheeler and Scheifele does not.

 

[ps241]

I don't think anyone is asking for him to be a Selke candidate but he should be able to at least get his game to replacement level in his end.

I would love to have a player that is half as good defensively as his coach says he is. Either way I am a Connor fan so onward.

 

[Atoyot]

I would love to have a player that is half as good defensively as his coach says he is. Either way I am a Connor fan so onward.

Yeah I have no issues with Connor, he's bad defensively, that's fine. The problem is he's used as if he's good defensively, which isn't his fault. He's a tremendous asset if used correctly, otherwise he's just a great asset as we're using him now.

 

[DRW204]

Ehlers in the defensive zone isn't some stalwart. but he is an elite transition player, getting the puck and getting up ice. Is that considered defensive play? dunno. However, being elite in transition and basically NOT playing defense is what Ehlers is usually good at. But when watching ehlers, he's average defensively. he's not a liability or some defensive messiah out on the wing.

if connor just rates average defensively that'll go a long way. Also getting better at Dzone exits - which i believe ehlers is quite strong at - is another area he can vastly improve in to limit himself from actually having to play defense.

Connor is an absolute bean-pole. Ehlers from what ive heard among friends and trainers at iceplex is not as tall as his listed height is but is pretty built in the lower body and that's where his weight is. connor might have him in a few inches in height but think ehlers is bigger in BMI (this is off a few summers ago so shit could have changed compared to today)

Imo Connor is Ehlers 3 seasons ago or so defensively. What KC needs to do is talk to Nikolaj and pretty much do exactly what Nik did. Watch the video of himself but maybe concentrate exclusively on improving the D play.

However Nik seems to be more built than KC. Off the ice Nik looks thicker than KC. KC is a skeleton.. lol. Dude needs to bulk up if he can a bit. Maybe put some more gym time in the off season on the list of things to do. I don't think he needs to be huge but.. atleast look like you are a pro athlete.

 

[Adam da bomb]

Ehlers in the defensive zone isn't some stalwart. but he is an elite transition player, getting the puck and getting up ice. Is that considered defensive play? dunno. However, being elite in transition and basically NOT playing defense is what Ehlers is usually good at. But when watching ehlers, he's average defensively. he's not a liability nor some defensive messiah out on the wing.

if connor just rates average defensively that'll go a long way. Also getting better at Dzone exits - which i believe ehlers is quite strong at - is another area he can vastly improve in to limit himself from actually having to play defense.

Connor is an absolute bean-pole. Ehlers from what ive heard among friends and trainers at iceplex is not as tall as his listed height is but is pretty built in the lower body and that's where his weight is. connor might have him in a few inches in height but think ehlers is bigger in BMI (this is off a few summers ago so shit could have changed compared to today)

Are teams doing something to prevent the Jets from going more to Ehlers side in the defensive breakouts? It just seems silly to go to kc’s side instead.

 

[KB1971]

Connor is an absolute bean-pole. Ehlers from what ive heard among friends and trainers at iceplex is not as tall as his listed height is but is pretty built in the lower body and that's where his weight is.

I've seen Nik in the public in the last year, he is very thin and lean. Connor looks to have a little more bulk. Not that any of this matters, it's what they do not how big right.

 

[Teemusalami204]

Connor is brutal in his own end and will always be.. we already got rid of one goal scorer who isn’t they good defensively. Connor stays but it’s up to Chevy and Maurice to get him linemates that can cover up his brutal defence.

If wheeler an sheif are allowed to coast up at the red line for offence leaving our defence hanging without any accountability we shouldn’t be all over Connor

 

[Adam da bomb]

Would have been pretty sweet if kc singlehandedly tied the last game. Bad d but sometimes your team falls behind and you need forwards who can tie it up. If the other team scores when he is on the ice there are 5 other guys on the ice who should have done more.
That said you can’t have too many one-dimensional players just 1 and we already dumped laine.
Especially when he is only 7 mil. Most other goal scorers of his caliber are 9 + mil so take that 2 mil upgrade the d you are pairing him with and Bob is your uncle.

 

[jorbjorb]

No, and it's 'worsening as the season goes on'.

30 points in 32 games. Is that any good?

 

[DRW204]

away from wheeler, the defensive game has been a little bit better i find.

 

[JetsFan815]

He has looked really good as of late. No complaints about him the last 3 weeks or so.

 

[JetsFan815]

Since March 1st Kyle Connor:

CF%: 55.57 (1st on the team)

xGF%: 54.42(3rd on the team)

 

[DRW204]

Since March 1st Kyle Connor:

CF%: 55.57 (1st on the team)

xGF%: 54.42(3rd on the team)

Primarily away from wheeler...

 

[KingBogo]

Primarily away from wheeler...

Mostly. This season Connor isolated with Scheifele has a CF% of 55.60, while isolated with Wheeler it is 45.24.

 

[JetsUK]

Mostly. This season Connor isolated with Scheifele has a CF% of 55.60, while isolated with Wheeler it is 45.24.

Thanks. That and the preceding seem like instructive stats. He has certainly looked better with both Scheif and (especially) PLD.

I can imagine Wheeler being optimized going forward as more of a PP specialist and top 9 "ladder player," moving up and down as needed rather than a top line/ top 6 lock.

 

[DRW204]

Mostly. This season Connor isolated with Scheifele has a CF% of 55.60, while isolated with Wheeler it is 45.24.

When does kc ever play with wheeler but without scheifele (as in who is the usual c between them) . What are you trying to tell us with this? The winger on the other side of kc-Scheif-xx is usually either ehlers or Copp (when not Wheeler) , who we know are typically solid in shot share stats.

 

[WPGChief]

81 with 55 and 27/9/13 - very good, and good enough to take defensive zone starts
81 with 13 and 27 - high octane, offence only
81 with 26 and 55/25 - pretty bad, mostly

 

[KingBogo]

When does kc ever play with wheeler but without scheifele (as in who is the usual c between them) . What are you trying to tell us with this? The winger on the other side of kc-Scheif-xx is usually either ehlers or Copp (when not Wheeler) , who we know are typically solid in shot share stats.

Isolating players with other players is not rocket science. Just gives some insight on who tends to play well with who.

 

[DRW204]

Isolating players with other players is not rocket science. Just gives some insight on who tends to play well with who.

There is no 'isolating other players' really. There's always a 3rd fwd with them that contribute to the shot share stats that has to be taken into consideration.