Fixing the power play

[dudacek]

9 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

 

The last time we had a really good PP (if I remember correctly) we had ROR on the team. This was key. Now we can argue that "face offs don't matter" but winning that offensive zone draw and getting instantly set up will increase your PP percentages without a doubt. 

 

 

9 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

Entries and faceoff/possession at the start of the power play are the first two issues. Resolve those and they can get up to 18%.

 

 

And this is where Josh Norris comes in: 61.2% on PP faceoffs last year.

He's also effective on the PP in general: he averaged 3 minutes a game last year and his career goals per 60 on the PP is 2.83

These are the Sabres numbers from last year in that stat:

• Zucker 3.16
• Thompson 1.90
• Benson 1.70
• Peterka 1.61
• Krebs 1.46
• Tuch 0.95

 

2 hours ago, Taro T said:

Yes, they need to be willing to have more than just Zucker crashing the net.  (Meant to include that in the tome above.)  That's why Benson is my 1st choice to play the bumper.  He sees the ice well and is one of only 2-3 players that goes to the net religiously.

 

This. Or maybe Quinn.

Bumper is the most unsettled, least effective spot on the unit. it's a spot that some teams utilize to deadly effect.

You need quick hands and quick reads to make sudden plays in tight, the ability to find seams and create space, and an accurate shot.

Benson can read plays and pass in traffic better than any other forward, but he lacks separation and a killer shot.

Quinn has the hand skills, but frequently isn't sudden enough. Still he creates separation and has a deadly wrister.

I think you lean into one of those guys, hoping Benson's shot has improved, or Quinn's willingness to get to the net and make good puck decisions has returned.

Edited 2 hours ago by dudacek

[dudacek]

Another player who is surprisingly ineffective on the PP is Alex Tuch.

As in "doesn't deserve the ice time he gets"

198 NHL forwards got 100 minutes of PP time last year. Tuch's ranking:

• Goals: tied with 15 others at 146th
• Points: tied with 8 others at 124th
• Goals per 60: 160th
• Points per 60: 145th

This aren't new numbers. He's averaged 4 goals and 10 assists on the PP over the past 3 seasons despite being second in ice time over that period by a wide margin.

You could make he argument he's there for tips, entries and retrievals — which he should be good at — but he's not succeeding

[PASabreFan]

1 hour ago, That Aud Smell said:

Lame.

We may have to bag skate you to get you into regular season form.

I'll get there.

But, really, it's not our job. I do understand why some fans would look at our front office, our coaches and our roster and say, "Only I can fix it."

[Taro T]

1 minute ago, PASabreFan said:

I'll get there.

But, really, it's not our job. I do understand why some fans would look at our front office, our coaches and our roster and say, "Only I can fix it."

What, now you're accusing some of us of being Bob Woods?

Interesting.

Or are we Adam Oates?

[dudacek]

Just now, PASabreFan said:

I'll get there.

But, really, it's not our job. I do understand why some fans would look at our front office, our coaches and our roster and say, "Only I can fix it."

Speaking for myself — but I don't think it's a stretch to project onto others — of course it's not our job, it's an interest and a form of personal entertainment.

 

[PASabreFan]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

Speaking for myself — but I don't think it's a stretch to project onto others — of course it's not our job, it's an interest and a form of personal entertainment.

 

The analogies I've used over the years are many. But can you imagine being a fan of a band, and you enhance your enjoyment of being a fan of that band by rewriting all of their songs so they don't suck?

[dudacek]

13 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

The analogies I've used over the years are many. But can you imagine being a fan of a band, and you enhance your enjoyment of being a fan of that band by rewriting all of their songs so they don't suck?

I don’t have to imagine, there are song edits and album rearrangements and mashups all over the internet.

You don’t know people who say “great book/show/movie, but I hated what they did with the character…”

Or walk into a house or garden and say “what a beautiful spot, you know what would make it even better…”

It might not be your thing but it’s just a common manifestation of the creative aspect of human nature.

Edited 28 minutes ago by dudacek