Quote:
Originally Posted by HighLifeMan
Outrage isn't the right word. Confused is more apt, at least for me.
He has produced consistently when given an opportunity to do so. Those opportunities were just few and far between.
Ruzicka played over 14 minutes in a game just 15 times over the past two years combined and scored 12 points in those games. (66 point pace)
He played 29 games with over 12 minutes of icetime and recorded 19 points in those games. (54 point pace)
He played 35 games with under 10 minutes of icetime and recorded 1 point in those games. (3 point pace)
To put that in perspective Zary alone has hit the 14:00 minute mark 28 times this season alone (19 points), and has never seen less than 10 minutes of icetime at any point. That's an opportunity.
Conroy is apparentely scrounging the league for young NHL roster players who may be in need of more opportunity (similar to Sharangovich). To me we had one right under our noses.
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I find this argument similar to the chicken or the egg. What came first?
Did Ruzicka get to play over 14 mins because he was producing, or was he producing thanks to the increased ice time?
The reason Zary is getting the minutes when he isn't producing points is because of his play defensively, and because he's making (smart)plays even when he isn't scoring. I didn't see Ruzicka make enough good plays when the production dries up, and he isn't 'feeling it'.
I agree that the 4th line is getting very little minutes under Huska, so it's more difficult for them to get going, but they don't generate nearly enough momentum for the team to earn more ice time.