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SuperMatt18 · 02-15-2023, 11:17 AM

It's tough to say. I think he needs to have higher engagement and compete level - but no doubt guys like Lucic specifically have gotten a way longer leash.

Ruzicka had 20 points in his first 25 games played and looked good in a top 9 role. We can use his time W and W/O Lewis as a proxy for top 9 vs 4th line.

Ruzicka + Lewis:
TOI: 145 Minutes
GF: 6
GA: 7
Corsi For: 54.4%
xGF: 50.9%

Ruzicka w/o Lewis:
TOI: 235 Minutes
GF: 11
GA: 8
Corsi For: 57.8%
xGF: 57.6%

From the start of the season to Christmas he only had played 25 games, but had 14 5V5 points which was third on the team behind Lindholm and Dube only, and led the team in points per 60. Then he had a couple softer games, was demoted to the 4th line and his confidence was gone.

In those 25 games before Christmas he got 204 minutes at 5v5 in the top 6, and only 52 minutes on the 4th line. In that time he had 20 points (14 at 5v5). In the 14 games he's played since Christmas he's had 6:16 in the top 6, and 117 minutes on the 4th line. In that time he has 0 points.

He's just a guy who has a skillset not really suited to playing with Milan Lucic and Trevor Lewis on the 4th line and probably didn't deserve his demotion.

He actually did well in top 9 minutes but I would say that Lucic for sure, and maybe even Pelletier to this point have received a longer leash than what Ruzicka got in that role.

02-15-2023, 11:17 AM	#8
SuperMatt18 Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Calgary, AB Exp:	It's tough to say. I think he needs to have higher engagement and compete level - but no doubt guys like Lucic specifically have gotten a way longer leash. Ruzicka had 20 points in his first 25 games played and looked good in a top 9 role. We can use his time W and W/O Lewis as a proxy for top 9 vs 4th line. Ruzicka + Lewis: TOI: 145 Minutes GF: 6 GA: 7 Corsi For: 54.4% xGF: 50.9% Ruzicka w/o Lewis: TOI: 235 Minutes GF: 11 GA: 8 Corsi For: 57.8% xGF: 57.6% From the start of the season to Christmas he only had played 25 games, but had 14 5V5 points which was third on the team behind Lindholm and Dube only, and led the team in points per 60. Then he had a couple softer games, was demoted to the 4th line and his confidence was gone. In those 25 games before Christmas he got 204 minutes at 5v5 in the top 6, and only 52 minutes on the 4th line. In that time he had 20 points (14 at 5v5). In the 14 games he's played since Christmas he's had 6:16 in the top 6, and 117 minutes on the 4th line. In that time he has 0 points. He's just a guy who has a skillset not really suited to playing with Milan Lucic and Trevor Lewis on the 4th line and probably didn't deserve his demotion. He actually did well in top 9 minutes but I would say that Lucic for sure, and maybe even Pelletier to this point have received a longer leash than what Ruzicka got in that role. Last edited by SuperMatt18; 02-15-2023 at 11:25 AM.