Quote:
Originally Posted by shadowlord
I'm not as sold on Versteeg's impact 5-on-5. When healthy, he was in the bottom-6, and as a group, their complete lack of scoring was a major issue in the first 15-20 games this season.
While the PP has had a higher efficiency when he was healthy, Versteeg only has 5 powerplay points total through 22 games played.
I'm hoping that the PP gets better upon his return, but I'm not sure he will be a magic bullet to cure it. I expect better/faster puck movement with Versteeg on the RW PP 1st unit. But his season stats don't suggest he was a massive PP scoring threat from his side.
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Versteeg's own production does not tell the whole story. For more than a month prior to his injury the Flames' power play was top-ten and running at over 23%. For the second half of last season the and in the playoffs the Flames power play was actually very, very good. Versteeg is more important for the Flames's special teams success than his own numbers would suggest,