Tanked season not hindering Ennis... Played his way into the "future core"?

[Dreakon13]

I'm looking forward to the day when we have good players and there isn't a subset of fans that immediately want to sell them off to the highest bidder. Ennis is by no means untouchable, but if he can produce under these circumstances, I still want him around when it actually matters. Especially if he's on a line that plays to his strengths.

 

[Revelate]

Thing that has impressed me most about Ennis this season in his possession game. He finally gets it. He dumps the puck in an uses his speeds and agility to cycle the puck. He's also managed to stop setting himself to get boarded horrendously every 10th game.

 

[mikemcburn]

Ennis' PP production has certainly gone up per/60 this season, but perhaps arguably at least in part due to being on the 1st unit (aka: with the better quality linemates available) relative to years past? His even-strength play appears to be much the same, so kudos for maintaining his production despite the team around him. Is that what people mean by "improvement" though? What am I missing?

Ennis::

Even Strength

Season Age Salary AAV G60 A60 P60 CF% TOI/Gm
2014.15 24 7.3000 4.6000 0.70 0.70 1.40 37.30 14.50
2013.14 23 3.0620 3.0620 0.70 0.60 1.30 43.90 14.50
2012.13 22 2.5620 2.5620 0.80 0.80 1.50 46.10 13.30
2011.12 21 0.8750 0.8750 1.10 1.50 2.60 48.50 13.30
2010.11 20 0.8750 0.8750 0.80 1.10 2.00 49.50 12.70

Power Play

Season Age Salary AAV G60 A60 P60 CF% TOI/Gm
2014.15 24 7.3000 4.6000 1.90 2.50 4.40 84.60 2.80
2013.14 23 3.0620 3.0620 1.40 2.10 3.60 87.10 3.20
2012.13 22 2.5620 2.5620 0.80 4.70 5.50 87.70 3.30
2011.12 21 0.8750 0.8750 1.40 1.40 2.80 81.70 1.80
2010.11 20 0.8750 0.8750 1.80 3.10 4.90 87.20 2.10

For those who get a thrill comparing Ennis & Hodgson, Hodgson's numbers follow. With him I'm seeing the biggest even strength dip at actually coming from assists per/60 and a bigger dip on the power-play, again as per Ennis, stats which will at least in part be attributable to linemate combos (and in Hodgson's case, also whatever side-effect to his game that comes from being the resident dog house kid lol).

Hodgson::

Even Strength

Season Age Salary AAV G60 A60 P60 CF% TOI/Gm
2014.15 24 3.5000 4.2500 0.40 0.50 0.90 37.60 11.30
2013.14 23 3.0000 4.2500 0.50 0.80 1.30 42.50 13.80
2012.13 22 0.7870 0.7870 0.90 1.20 2.10 46.50 13.40
2011.12 21 0.7870 0.7870 0.70 1.00 1.80 49.60 10.80

Power Play

Season Age Salary AAV G60 A60 P60 CF% TOI/Gm
2014.15 24 3.5000 4.2500 0.00 0.70 0.70 79.70 1.30
2013.14 23 3.0000 4.2500 2.20 2.50 4.60 88.60 3.10
2012.13 22 0.7870 0.7870 1.00 1.00 1.90 83.90 2.70
2011.12 21 0.7870 0.7870 2.30 2.70 5.00 86.40 1.90

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

There's a big difference between part of the future core, and a cost controlled contributor. Ennis is an affordable winger who will put up his points on a third/second line. When his contract is up he will not be a cost controlled contributor and I'd imagine he yields his roster spot to a younger cheaper option. By no means is he "core" material, he doesn't produce huge point totals, massive possession numbers, dominant PK mins, impact PP time, he's not irreplaceable but he's also not easily replaceable. You keep him through his contract then let him check out FA or take a home town discount.

 

[ZeroPT*]

He can be our Kunitz. That's what I think. Ideally he's feasting on the weak competition but I'd think he can be a good winger flanking thou that shall not be named.

 

[1972]

Some of you are certainly unaware of what constitutes of a third line player if you think that's what Ennis will be, he is a definite top 6 forward.

45 points while being the focul point of other teams and playing against other teams best players on a poor team that gets slaughtered in possession is no easy feat. Give him a legit playmaking center, and improve the talent around him and he will put up 60 points.

 

[ZeroPT*]

Some of you are certainly unaware of what constitutes of a third line player if you think that's what Ennis will be, he is a definite top 6 forward.

third line players don't exist anymore. Tarasenko is a 3rd line player. His line plays against easy competition whilst Backes/Stastny do the heavy lifting.

The old traditional 3rd line grinders are nonexistent. It's role distribution.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Ennis also is one of the only forwards to show up in the playoffs post Drury and Briere. He is a keeper.

 

[Moskau]

50 points makes you a 1st line player in today's game. Saying Ennis may become a 2nd line winger when the team is good is a pretty silly thing to say.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I'm cool with keeping Ennis unless he's a throw-in to obtain a better player. I appreciate the fact he's been a trooper through out this rebuild. He always plays a feisty game. I'd like to see him here once this team starts to turn it around. He's earned that, imo.

 

[sba]

Last night, I was stuck with the Devils broadcast, and they said that Nolan told them earlier in the day that he thinks that Ennis could get 40 goals with a playmaking center

I should have put this in the Nolan thread because it shows how clueless he is.

1) Ennis will never ever score 40 goals
2) Ennis always has the puck, so the playmaking center would do very little to help him

 

[joshjull]

Last night, I was stuck with the Devils broadcast, and they said that Nolan told them earlier in the day that he thinks that Ennis could get 40 goals with a playmaking center

I should have put this in the Nolan thread because it shows how clueless he is.

1) Ennis will never ever score 40 goals
2) Ennis always has the puck, so the playmaking center would do very little to help him

Ennis would very much benefit from playing with a playmaking center. Ennis liking the puck on his stick in no way contradicts that. A perfect example is the success Reinhart had for Canada in the World juniors playing with a player like Domi. Someone who likes to have the puck on his stick. Reinhart was fanastic at setting up Domi/Duclair and he wasn't the one with the puck constantly on his stick. Being a playmaking center does not mean that center has to always have the puck. Ennis might have issues playing with a center that needs to have the puck on their stick a lot. But thats a separate thing from being a playmaking center. Some have the puck a lot and others do not. Most playmakers are able to adapt to who they are playing with. Thats why they are such great playmakers in the first place.

I have no idea if Ennis could score 40 goals but 30+ is a very real expectation with a center like Reinhart (as an example). Ennis working with a playing making center who could free him up for scoring chances, in the way Reinhart did for Domi, would be a deadly combo.


It seems Nolan saying this would be great for Ennis is the only reason you have for thinking its stupid. So instead of thinking it through from a hockey pov. You give us a "I hate Nolan" knee jerk response. One that kind of tells me your criticism of Nolan as being clueless might be better directed elsewhere.

 

[stokes84]

third line players don't exist anymore. Tarasenko is a 3rd line player. His line plays against easy competition whilst Backes/Stastny do the heavy lifting.

The old traditional 3rd line grinders are nonexistent. It's role distribution.

You seem to have it backwards. Backes is the third line, shut down grinder that you say doesn't exist. He just happens to be a really good one. Somewhere along the line, some people on this forum decided that having an offensive role somehow made you a lesser player. Tarasenko sees shut down lines every night. He is a 1st line player in every sense of the word.

 

[Sabretip]

If he wasn't already there in your mind, has Ennis played his way into the future solution? Or is he still the last remaining piece from the old regime that we need to turn out?[/b]

No - but not for the reason you offered. Instead.....

He's still an asset to me. I don't trust him as a first line scorer, he can't play on the checking line, and the opportunity cost of returning him to a sheltered, offensive zone role, is huge.

...this is why. Plus, if Murray really does intend to chase after O'Reilly this summer, he'll need more ammunition to persuade Sakic/Roy with. Whether they really believe what they said about O'Reilly being part of their core or it was just PR posturing, I imagine that Murray will need to counter any trade pitches with assets that he can claim are part of his "core" - and Ennis would far more credibly fit that bill than Grigorenko would. (FYI, I don't think Murray will entertain dealing Zadorov).

Ennis may provide more offense than O'Reilly but can't play the 2-way, "heavy" game that Murray wants - and needs - on his roster. Their ages being close, I would think Colorado would at least consider a trade of O'Reilly if Ennis were offered as part of the return. He certainly fits the speed transition game the Avs thrive on, even if their immediate needs may be more on defense.

 

[ZeroPT*]

You seem to have it backwards. Backes is the third line, shut down grinder that you say doesn't exist. He just happens to be a really good one. Somewhere along the line, some people on this forum decided that having an offensive role somehow made you a lesser player. Tarasenko sees shut down lines every night. He is a 1st line player in every sense of the word.

no. He doesn't.

As for the rest of your post, it's a bunch of stuff I've never said nor implied. Not a surprise coming from you, but still. I never sad Tarasenko WASN'T a 1st line player. I never said having an offensive role made him a lesser player.

 

[stokes84]

no. He doesn't.

As for the rest of your post, it's a bunch of stuff I've never said nor implied. Not a surprise coming from you, but still. I never sad Tarasenko WASN'T a 1st line player. I never said having an offensive role made him a lesser player.

Yes. He does. And you just said he was a third line player.

 

[ZeroPT*]

Yes. He does. And you just said he was a third line player.

I said he was a 3rd line player the same way Ennis is. His role. He has the talent of a 1st line player.

I misspoke. My bad.

 

[30Yonge]

Determine his future as in another test year to see if he "earns" a spot with his play? Or gauge the trades in an inevitable deal of some form? The latter is a bit absurd

Determine if you think Ennis will be an effective scoring winger (2nd line/2nd PP) on your playoff team. If not, then I would look to trade him and acquire that winger. Not inevitable either due to Ennis' play over the next two seasons or the availability/cost of an upgrade in 2017/18.

 

[Snippit]

Some serious underrating of Ennis going on here. The guy has created offense all by himself all year. On pace for 45+ points on the worst offensive team in the league. As someone alluded to, 50+ points usually constitutes a second line winger. Give Ennis a good center like Reinhart and he'll hit 55-60 without issues.

Kane-Reinhart-Ennis

Would love to see this as early as next year.

He's a top 6 player on most teams in the league, and he's our best offensive player right now.

 

[MayDayMayDay]

Some serious underrating of Ennis going on here. The guy has created offense all by himself all year. On pace for 45+ points on the worst offensive team in the league. As someone alluded to, 50+ points usually constitutes a second line winger. Give Ennis a good center like Reinhart and he'll hit 55-60 without issues.

Kane-Reinhart-Ennis

Would love to see this as early as next year.

He's a top 6 player on most teams in the league, and he's our best offensive player right now.

I also look forward to the possibility of this line in the future. Kane & Reinhart were made for each other, and adding Ennis' offensive prowess just sounds delightful.

 

[jBuds]

Determine if you think Ennis will be an effective scoring winger (2nd line/2nd PP) on your playoff team. If not, then I would look to trade him and acquire that winger. Not inevitable either due to Ennis' play over the next two seasons or the availability/cost of an upgrade in 2017/18.

Thanks for clarifying - but does this mean you question if he can be that effective scoring winger on the second line and play some PP on a winning team? And if so, what's the timeframe of this test run?

Or is it something where you have to wait until the team is good to see how he does? Please clarify

 

[TehDoak]

Things I like about Ennis:

-Speed
-good, accurate shot
-Among the forward, he's been pretty consistent in terms of his effort. If this were the NFL i'd call him a "high motor" guy. Yeah, he's taken stretches 'off', but compared to pretty much every other top 9 forward save Girgenson's, he's been the most consistent offensive threat.

I think his role with the team will really depend on how he works with whatever our top 2 scoring lines are.

 

[SabreBlood]

I don't think there's any question Ennis is a core player here. When he's skating on Eichel's wing, Ennis will put up 30-35 goals. Offensively, his skill set and and style are similar to Patrick Kane, although not at a hall of fame level. I also expect Ennis to wear a letter on his jersey for the lion's share of his Sabres career.

He's not top 9. He's absolutely top 6. He may be top line long term moving forward. I expect our top line to be Kane - Eichel - Ennis for quite awhile.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I have no doubt that Ennis will be a legit top-six FW. I expect around 55-60 pts per season with better Cs on the roster, and that would put him roughly in the top 60 in scoring for FWs. I just hope that he can also produce through 3-4 playoff rounds as well.

 

[DazedandConfused]

He seems to be getting better every year in his overall game. Give him some skill to play with and players who can keep up with him through the neutral zone and he'll be fine on any line. He'd excel on a 2nd/3rd sheltered setup, but he'd be more then adequate on a top line..