Zybalto
Registered User
- Dec 28, 2012
- 9,559
- 8,919
I disagree. Even the advanced stats point to a style change where possession was a secondary consideration
CF% dropped considerably
His blocked shot went up considerably per game
Shots attempted went way down per game
Defensive zone starts went from 52.3 to 61.9.
Either his injury was limiting his mobility in the 60 games he played or Babcock is trying to change the nature of his game to be more defensive, of which he is failing. This could be a short term development move to more quickly adapt him to smaller ice after a lifetime on the big ice...I don't know.
We will see next year. What is clear is that he has to be a top 4 D to justify his salary on this team.
The problem as I keep seeing it is that everyone keeps clumping his whole season together and then ignoring his playoffs and WHC.
First 45 games of the season, he was all the bad many are saying he was. His last 15, he had turned most of his poor underlying stats around and was earning his money and in the playoffs, he had borderline elite analytics. He then continued to tear it up at the Worlds.
I think theres an argument to be made that he should be deployed in a more offensive role but I'm fine with his current place in the system as long a he continues his strong play from the end of the season.