- Dec 29, 2016
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We definitely see the situation after all quite differently. I see no problem with the effort that either Laine or Ehlers are having. Not being a great grinder or especially good in board battles does not definitely automatically mean that a player lacks the will to work. Sometimes it can be even about that, but in Laine’s and Ehlers’s case it is definitely about them not being physically developed enough to be very strong in battle situations. In Laine’s case he needs to also clearly develop his stamina much more.
But still either of them is not as bad in battles and defensive play, as some people are constantly trying to claim here. The 5 on 5 goal difference that the Jets have when they are on the ice should prove it, if some people don’t realize just by watching them play.
But neither Laine nor Ehlers have board play or grinding as their biggest strength and in my opinion it’s practically crazy to expect them to ever be players that are going to seriously excel in those areas. Sure they can get stronger and learn to become better with them. But it’s not like either of them is hopeless even now, as if they were, it would be impossible for the Jets to have such good 5 on 5 goal difference even when they are both playing on the same line.
But there is still no reason to not try to have optimal lines in the way where players have different kind of roles, and their strengths are used to exactly support their linemates with some areas that are not their biggest strengths. Much better to have one great grinder playing with a great playmaker and a great goalscorer than have three great playmakers playing together, or three great goalscorers playing together, or three great grinders playing together. Just simply because strengths combine better with supporting the possible weaknesses in the lines. Three players with similar strengths and similar weaknesses make for most probably a weaker line.
In my opion the Jets have exactly enough of all kinds of players to mix them in the right combinations to have at least two very good scoring lines that are not really weak in any particular way. In my opion it’s really strange talk to say that good playmakers like Scheifele or Stastny wouldn’t want to play with good goalscorers like Laine or Ehlers. But it’s in my opinion also strange to think that they wouldn’t also want then the other winger in their line to be then more of a real puckbattle winning pest that can still play with at least ok skill. I mean Scheifele and Stastny would be practically morons to not want to play with a scoring winger like Laine, but I’m pretty sure that they would be happier to have a player like Wheeler of Perreault on their other wing, if their other winger is either Laine or Ehlers, than to have both Laine and Ehlers as their wingers.
And honestly Laine’s and Ehlers’s biggest problem is in fact not their defensive play when they play together, but it is in fact that they don’t connect very well in the offence. To me it looks very clearly like they just don’t think about playing offence too much in the same way. Well, both are for sure more shooters than passers, but they think still differently about how to play passing plays and where to find open space in the offensive zone.
They can be both already excellent players if they are supported with the right kind of players. And they can be much more effective for the Jets with those kind of linemates. They can for sure still learn to be better in battles and more physical situations, but they don’t need to be put in to the situations where they can’t use their strengths optimally to help the team, while learning to become better with the areas that are not their strength. They are not stupid kids, so I think it’s wrong to think that if they have one great grinder helping them get better the puck will make them somehow not do work themselves. I believe they would in fact learn better in the way that they would be constantly playing with players whom have strengths that exactly cover for their weaker areas.
No special talent in hockey has been a real allaround elite player. Every player has their stronger areas and weaker areas and no one can ever make all players as good as some others in all areas. That is why you need the right roles and combinations to have optimal lines and a very well working team. The Jets have mostly the right players for doing it, but unfortunately they don’t have the coach whom knows how to do the optimizing.
I'll agree with you on your first point (in bold) and leave it at that. I know where you stand on both these players and you know where I stand. Typing it out again (only in longer form) doesn't really change anything so I'll keep my reply short.
