Blade Paradigm
Registered User
- Oct 21, 2017
- 823
- 1,172
Tyler Motte's preseason performance thus far seems to have surprised most onlookers. Those who were introduced to him months ago when he was packaged with Jussi Jokinen as part of the Thomas Vanek trade thought he was a throw-in minor-league player. Motte, a fourth-round pick in 2013, made his debut as a 21-year-old two seasons ago with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played 33 NHL games that year. The following year, he played 46 NHL games, split between Columbus and Vancouver.
He is now 23 years old and looking to secure a full-time NHL roster position -- so far, he has made a very strong case to start the 2018-19 season with the Canucks.
Motte is unlike a lot of the bottom-six forwards we've seen play for the Canucks in recent years. He does not seem like he will ever be a significant offensive contributor. What he brings in spades, however, is intelligent positioning and tenacious fore-checking. As a player in a two-way energy role, Motte excels with great anticipation of where the puck will be, great quickness, and a heavy, gritty game along the boards. His skill set allows him to clog opposition lanes on a consistent basis, force opposition turnovers, and position himself to always put pressure on the opponent. He was impressive as a penalty killer last season and knows how to close his distance on the opponent to force their hand and force errors from them. This is exactly what the Canucks have lacked from their bottom six for years.
This team has seen quite a few grinders over the years who have skated around aimlessly and contributed nothing. There is a difference between a bottom-six player with mediocre hockey IQ and a smart bottom-six contributor. Tyler Motte has, thus far, been a breath of fresh air for those of us who have seen too little from the bottom six in recent years.
Update (November 18, 2018):
After 20 games, he has faded. His level of consistency has started to waver, although when he is focused he can be effective.
He is a defense-only player. He won't score points, but can be highly-useful at pressuring the opposition and forcing his opponent to move pucks prematurely. He has not been consistent, but he possesses talent in a shutdown role.
He leads the Canucks forwards in hits (23rd in the NHL) and is second in shot blocking (32nd in the NHL).
From a statistical point of view, Motte and Brandon Tanev are very similar players. Jets fans view Tanev as a fourth-line grinder and a potentially-expendable asset depending on the circumstance.
Both lead their teams in hits (45 for Motte, 47 for Tanev), and blocked shots (18 for Motte, 21 for Tanev). Both score at about the same rate. Both are quick, puck pursuit players whose main roles are to kill penalties and pressure the opposition. Tanev has averaged 14:08 of TOI per game so far; Motte has averaged 13:55 of TOI per game.
I would give Tanev the slight edge, but they are very similar. Motte is also three years younger.
Motte's decline in hit totals recently reflects a lack of consistency on his part. His preseason play and early performances this season were commendable. As of late, he has faded significantly. Some consistency would help Motte retain value as a defensive player.
Jets fans on B. Tanev:
Highlighting Motte's penalty-killing ability:
In terms of PP goals against / shorthanded TOI, Motte is actually among the league's best forwards at keeping pucks out of the net in shorthanded situations.
NHL.com - Stats, Shot Blocks, Boston Bruins, 2018-19
A big reason for the discrepancy is the line matching. Top line of the other team vs shutdown line, in 5-vs-5 situations as well. Motte also records some shot blocks on the penalty kill, which obviously is spent mostly in one's own zone. The entire PK shift is spent in the defensive end, save for the occasional shorthanded opportunity a la his goal today.
Motte leads the Canucks forwards in penalty kill TOI this season. In fact, he has the 5th-most penalty kill TOI of all forwards in the entire NHL.
He is 43rd in the NHL in PP goals against, which means he is effective on the PK -- especially relative to his PK TOI. Markus Granlund, on the other hand, has the second most PP goals against in the NHL and has less SH TOI than Motte, which means he bleeds goals against on the PK.
NHL.com - Stats - SH TOI, All Forwards, 2018-19
NHL.com - Stats - PP Goals Against, All Forwards, 2018-19
Patrice Bergeron has been on the ice for 6 PP goals against in 37:37 of SH TOI.
Tyler Motte has been on the ice for 5 PP goals against in 58:21 of SH TOI.
Alexander Barkov has been on the ice for 8 PP goals against in 39:31 of SH TOI.
Everyone who has logged anywhere near as much SH TOI as Motte has been on the ice for more PP goals against than him. For example, Carl Soderberg leads all NHL forwards in SH TOI with 65:47, but has been on the ice for a league-leading 14 PP GA. If you want to pinpoint a problem on the Canucks' PK, it's Markus Granlund: 11 PP goals against in 58:15 of SH TOI.
Motte has been effective for the Canucks on the PK. The Canucks have the 21st-best PK % in the league. I think it would be worse if not for him.
Between 2015-16 and 2017-18, the Canucks averaged the third-worst PK in the NHL.
Update: After tonight, Motte has the fourth-most SH TOI of all forwards in the NHL, although Patrik Laine was able to beat the Canucks on the PP today. He has 6 PP goals against in 61:20 of SH TOI. That's some commendable penalty killing on his part.
He played a strong game today. 4 shots, 4 hits, 3 blocked shots, and a shorthanded goal. He was placed on a line with Sam Gagner and Bo Horvat in the third period, and they created a few chances.
Winnipeg Jets - Vancouver Canucks - November 19th, 2018
He is now 23 years old and looking to secure a full-time NHL roster position -- so far, he has made a very strong case to start the 2018-19 season with the Canucks.
Motte is unlike a lot of the bottom-six forwards we've seen play for the Canucks in recent years. He does not seem like he will ever be a significant offensive contributor. What he brings in spades, however, is intelligent positioning and tenacious fore-checking. As a player in a two-way energy role, Motte excels with great anticipation of where the puck will be, great quickness, and a heavy, gritty game along the boards. His skill set allows him to clog opposition lanes on a consistent basis, force opposition turnovers, and position himself to always put pressure on the opponent. He was impressive as a penalty killer last season and knows how to close his distance on the opponent to force their hand and force errors from them. This is exactly what the Canucks have lacked from their bottom six for years.
This team has seen quite a few grinders over the years who have skated around aimlessly and contributed nothing. There is a difference between a bottom-six player with mediocre hockey IQ and a smart bottom-six contributor. Tyler Motte has, thus far, been a breath of fresh air for those of us who have seen too little from the bottom six in recent years.
Update (November 18, 2018):
After 20 games, he has faded. His level of consistency has started to waver, although when he is focused he can be effective.
He is a defense-only player. He won't score points, but can be highly-useful at pressuring the opposition and forcing his opponent to move pucks prematurely. He has not been consistent, but he possesses talent in a shutdown role.
He leads the Canucks forwards in hits (23rd in the NHL) and is second in shot blocking (32nd in the NHL).
From a statistical point of view, Motte and Brandon Tanev are very similar players. Jets fans view Tanev as a fourth-line grinder and a potentially-expendable asset depending on the circumstance.
Both lead their teams in hits (45 for Motte, 47 for Tanev), and blocked shots (18 for Motte, 21 for Tanev). Both score at about the same rate. Both are quick, puck pursuit players whose main roles are to kill penalties and pressure the opposition. Tanev has averaged 14:08 of TOI per game so far; Motte has averaged 13:55 of TOI per game.
I would give Tanev the slight edge, but they are very similar. Motte is also three years younger.
Motte's decline in hit totals recently reflects a lack of consistency on his part. His preseason play and early performances this season were commendable. As of late, he has faded significantly. Some consistency would help Motte retain value as a defensive player.
Jets fans on B. Tanev:
Good hustle, grinder and defensive player
1.15 for a guy who forechecks, skates like the wind, draws a lot of penalties and suppresses shots at a good rate? I think that's fine.
That's also basically everything he does on the ice.
great player, just lacks scoring touch.
Kid's a total rottweiler that gives 110% every shift. He's earned his spot on the team.
Motte needs to find some consistency and play more like he did earlier in the season.Good contract. Loved his grit and determination last season. Always gives it all he's got
Highlighting Motte's penalty-killing ability:
In terms of PP goals against / shorthanded TOI, Motte is actually among the league's best forwards at keeping pucks out of the net in shorthanded situations.
Hence, Patrice Bergeron has the most shot blocks of the Boston Bruins' forward group?When a player block a tons of shots, it usually means his team doesn’t have the puck often when he’s on the ice
NHL.com - Stats, Shot Blocks, Boston Bruins, 2018-19
A big reason for the discrepancy is the line matching. Top line of the other team vs shutdown line, in 5-vs-5 situations as well. Motte also records some shot blocks on the penalty kill, which obviously is spent mostly in one's own zone. The entire PK shift is spent in the defensive end, save for the occasional shorthanded opportunity a la his goal today.
Motte leads the Canucks forwards in penalty kill TOI this season. In fact, he has the 5th-most penalty kill TOI of all forwards in the entire NHL.
He is 43rd in the NHL in PP goals against, which means he is effective on the PK -- especially relative to his PK TOI. Markus Granlund, on the other hand, has the second most PP goals against in the NHL and has less SH TOI than Motte, which means he bleeds goals against on the PK.
NHL.com - Stats - SH TOI, All Forwards, 2018-19
NHL.com - Stats - PP Goals Against, All Forwards, 2018-19
Patrice Bergeron has been on the ice for 6 PP goals against in 37:37 of SH TOI.
Tyler Motte has been on the ice for 5 PP goals against in 58:21 of SH TOI.
Alexander Barkov has been on the ice for 8 PP goals against in 39:31 of SH TOI.
Everyone who has logged anywhere near as much SH TOI as Motte has been on the ice for more PP goals against than him. For example, Carl Soderberg leads all NHL forwards in SH TOI with 65:47, but has been on the ice for a league-leading 14 PP GA. If you want to pinpoint a problem on the Canucks' PK, it's Markus Granlund: 11 PP goals against in 58:15 of SH TOI.
Motte has been effective for the Canucks on the PK. The Canucks have the 21st-best PK % in the league. I think it would be worse if not for him.
Between 2015-16 and 2017-18, the Canucks averaged the third-worst PK in the NHL.
Update: After tonight, Motte has the fourth-most SH TOI of all forwards in the NHL, although Patrik Laine was able to beat the Canucks on the PP today. He has 6 PP goals against in 61:20 of SH TOI. That's some commendable penalty killing on his part.
He played a strong game today. 4 shots, 4 hits, 3 blocked shots, and a shorthanded goal. He was placed on a line with Sam Gagner and Bo Horvat in the third period, and they created a few chances.
Winnipeg Jets - Vancouver Canucks - November 19th, 2018
Last edited: