Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
The biggest difference in the offense from last year is a huge drop-off in production from the defense. It is being mostly mitigated by increased production from the top line, but all that is doing is making the overall numbers look similar.
And while the total numbers for the offense may be similar, very little about the team or the offense is actually similar from last year.
The strengths of the team are not being utilized properly. That fact is being veiled by Smith and Gaudreau.
This argument is going around in circles now, but I still haven't seen any plausible arguments as to why significant portions of the team have regressed from last year. The personnel changes don't justify it.
Taking last year's team, adding Hamonic to the D, Hart-level goaltending from Smith, and next-level play from Gaudreau, should have this team taking the next level. But it isn't. So either many parts of the team have regressed, or there is something wrong with the way it is functioning.
For me, the second choice is not only more plausible but is blatantly evident.
|
Significant parts of the roster have regressed.
This year Hamilton has 5 less points than he did this time last year, but Brodie is 4 more than last season. Giordano remarkably has the same amount of points, but 2 more goals.
So then where's the problem?
Last year this time, Versteeg had 20 points in 35 games, this year 8 points in 22 games.
Last year this time, Brouwer had 17 points in 39 games. This year 13 in 47.
Backlund has 6 less goals than this time last year.
Last year this time, Stajan had 16 points in 47 games. This year, he has 2 in 37 games.
The point is, there isn't some massive discrepancy, they've scored marginally more this year than last. The gain in offence from the top line is offset by the loss of offence from the bottom 6. This loss of offence basically comes down to player regression and replacing Wideman with Hamonic and Engelland with Stone (who appears to have even less offensive contributions than Engelland).
Lazar, Hamilton, Stajan and Hathaway have combined for 102 games this year and scored just 13 points. Chiasson scored 14 points for Calgary last year by Game 47. Stajan had 16 by game 47.
Bennett is one point off last year's pace at this time that saw him finish with 26 points. Has 3 less goals.