Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
I'm not sure those stats have validity without context.
Backlund away from Tkachuk, last year, was playing wing with Monahan and Gaudreau. He was totally out of his element with two players who struggle defensively as it is.
Tkachuk away from Backlund last year, was still playing with Mangiapane and Lindholm, still two of our best 200 foot forwards.
Tkachuk is strong defensively, but I do not think he's our best defensive forward.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
Perhaps it’s more fit on the line as opposed to “good defensively”. Because there’s different aspects to good defence. Once set up in their own zone, Tkachuk is perfectly fine defensively. I’m not sure he’s the guy to make up for Monahan’s lack of speed on a backcheck (frankly I think Monahan is decent enough defensively once they are back in formation) or Gaudreau’s overall defensive game. I think they need someone with a bit more speed and maybe who plays defence more like a centre (like Lindholm).
So it’s not so much that Tkachuk isn’t a very good 2 way guy or even that he isn’t good defensively (I accept I am wrong there according to stats). I just don’t like the thought of him playing the Lindholm role. Especially from the RW.
Of course I thought Backlund could play the Lindholm role and I was way off.
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Let me preface this by saying I'm not one of the people who love the idea of Tkachuk being with Gaudreau and Monahan.
Let's look at it this way and compare how Tkachuk has fared with Gaudreau and Monahan vs how Backlund has fared over the last 3 seasons (to give us a decent enough sample size).
Tkachuk with Monahan & Gaudreau (132:26 total TOI):
CA/60 Rel: -2.48
FA/60 Rel: -1.12
SA/60 Rel: 0.5
xGA/60 Rel: 0.2
SCA/60 Rel: 2.54
HDCA/60 Rel: -1.97
Backlund with Monahan & Gaudreau (174:37 total TOI):
CA/60 Rel: 5.5
FA/60 Rel: 5.4
SA/60 Rel: 4.78
xGA/60 Rel: 0.37
SCA/60 Rel: 8.42
HDCA/60 Rel: -0.16
Tkachuk with Monahan & Gaudreau has had good defensive impacts and has overall been a dominant line together.
Backlund with Monahan & Gaudreau has, in every sense of the word, been a complete disaster when put together.