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Some interesting thoughts in the Hockeywriters piece linked below.
On Sutter:
Θ I’m not a big fan of Brandon Sutter’s lack of physicality and general inconsistency, but he’s stepped up his game once again in the playoffs. Sutter isn’t good along the boards and doesn’t have a quick release to catch-and-shoot off the cycle, but he’s establishing himself as one of the best in the league off the rush. Not many players in today’s game can consistently beat goalies coming down the wing like Sutter can. Pittsburgh needs to somehow find ways to get him more of those opportunities.
Θ Sutter is a player that needs talented linemates to thrive. He’s not going to generate offense on his own. The problem is it’s tough in today’s cap era to surround him with decent wingers on a third line. Sutter makes $3.3 million. If you assume above-average wingers cost at least the same, an ideal third line for Sutter would total almost $10 million. The Penguins will never be able to afford that in the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin model. Prediction: A team with a second-line center need will come to the same conclusion and trade for Sutter this summer.
On MJ outcoaching AV (or at least attempting to match lines where AV did not):
Former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma didn’t like to match lines. He preferred to dictate the game and force other teams to scramble for matchups against his big guns. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault claims he’s not matching lines in this series — although he does seem to be targeting certain matchups with his defensive pairs.
Mike Johnston does a lot more line matching and the strategy has paid off so far in this series. Rangers rookie Kevin Hayes is no match for Crosby’s line, especially when Hayes is often flanked by two smaller wingers in Hagelin and Martin St. Louis. If the Hayes line can get sustained offensive zone time, they’re fine, but that wasn’t the case in Game 2 and Crosby made them pay.
On Chourney vs. Doumolin:
Θ Taylor Chorney isn’t Kris Letang, but he’s held his own in his playoff début. He’s even been an asset on the second powerplay unit, directing the breakout and distributing the puck with confidence in the offensive zone. Pittsburgh shouldn’t rush to give Chorney ($550k and UFA at year-end) Paul Martin or Christian Erhoff’s money when the two leave for free agency this summer, but Chorney is carving out a spot at the NHL level.
Θ The same can’t be said of Brian Dumoulin. Rough start in limited minutes for a young defenseman that’s in over his head in playoff hockey. The Penguins don’t have much of a choice. Scott Harrington would be no better at this point and Ehrhoff is lingering in the fuzzy “day-to-day†world of playoff injuries. Dumoulin is lucky his panic turnovers and unnecessary icings haven’t backfired so far. Johnston needs to be very careful with his deployment of the nervous rookie.
There is a lot more, a worthwhile read:
http://thehockeywriters.com/emptying-notebook-penguins-rangers/
On Sutter:
Θ I’m not a big fan of Brandon Sutter’s lack of physicality and general inconsistency, but he’s stepped up his game once again in the playoffs. Sutter isn’t good along the boards and doesn’t have a quick release to catch-and-shoot off the cycle, but he’s establishing himself as one of the best in the league off the rush. Not many players in today’s game can consistently beat goalies coming down the wing like Sutter can. Pittsburgh needs to somehow find ways to get him more of those opportunities.
Θ Sutter is a player that needs talented linemates to thrive. He’s not going to generate offense on his own. The problem is it’s tough in today’s cap era to surround him with decent wingers on a third line. Sutter makes $3.3 million. If you assume above-average wingers cost at least the same, an ideal third line for Sutter would total almost $10 million. The Penguins will never be able to afford that in the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin model. Prediction: A team with a second-line center need will come to the same conclusion and trade for Sutter this summer.
On MJ outcoaching AV (or at least attempting to match lines where AV did not):
Former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma didn’t like to match lines. He preferred to dictate the game and force other teams to scramble for matchups against his big guns. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault claims he’s not matching lines in this series — although he does seem to be targeting certain matchups with his defensive pairs.
Mike Johnston does a lot more line matching and the strategy has paid off so far in this series. Rangers rookie Kevin Hayes is no match for Crosby’s line, especially when Hayes is often flanked by two smaller wingers in Hagelin and Martin St. Louis. If the Hayes line can get sustained offensive zone time, they’re fine, but that wasn’t the case in Game 2 and Crosby made them pay.
On Chourney vs. Doumolin:
Θ Taylor Chorney isn’t Kris Letang, but he’s held his own in his playoff début. He’s even been an asset on the second powerplay unit, directing the breakout and distributing the puck with confidence in the offensive zone. Pittsburgh shouldn’t rush to give Chorney ($550k and UFA at year-end) Paul Martin or Christian Erhoff’s money when the two leave for free agency this summer, but Chorney is carving out a spot at the NHL level.
Θ The same can’t be said of Brian Dumoulin. Rough start in limited minutes for a young defenseman that’s in over his head in playoff hockey. The Penguins don’t have much of a choice. Scott Harrington would be no better at this point and Ehrhoff is lingering in the fuzzy “day-to-day†world of playoff injuries. Dumoulin is lucky his panic turnovers and unnecessary icings haven’t backfired so far. Johnston needs to be very careful with his deployment of the nervous rookie.
There is a lot more, a worthwhile read:
http://thehockeywriters.com/emptying-notebook-penguins-rangers/
