Should you use a star player on Penalty Killing?

[OzSome]

I've been noticing in the past few seasons that most coaches are not using their star player(s) on PK situations. Then last night I noticed Anaheim are using their best players in Getzlaf and Perry killing penalties and seems to work great for them. In The Rangers-Pens game, Sidney Crosby sat on the bench while watching his team kill penalties. It just like the Pens are getting punished more than once by trying to kill the penalty and at the same time their best player is not playing.

If you are the head coach, would you consider using your best player for PK the way Anaheim does with Getzlaf and Perry? Also what other teams uses their star player(s) on PK? I thought TB was using Stamkos and Detroit using Datszuk.

[PeteMoss]

I think in a lot of cases coaches use it to rest the big guns so they can play even strength and power play more often.

Anaheim scored 9 short handed goals this year and Calgary 6 (in terms of percentage its closer since the Flames took less penalties). I'd rather have Hudler/Gaudreau out there 5 on 5 then potentially adding one more goal short handed.

[EldrickOnIce]

Pacioretti kills some for the Habs. 3 shorties on the year.
Way less common than it used to be though

[GranteedEV]

Depends on the score. If you're up or tied, yes, absolutely. It builds a good culture and I remember that's how it used to be when Iginla was a PKer for us.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by OzSome

If you are the head coach, would you consider using your best player for PK the way Anaheim does with Getzlaf and Perry?

I assume by "best player" you mean top scorer. And I wouldn't, putting them on the PK effectively takes away even-strength minutes and I want my top scorers put into the higher goal opportunity situations.

That's not to say there wouldn't be exceptions but a top scorers aptitude for PK'ing would have to be insanely high for me to think the pro's outweigh the cons.

[Coach]

If your best player is also your best penalty killer, yes.

The icetime is a concern, which is why you generally want PK specialists, but if they do it better than others, you have to use them. Don't think it has anything to do with SHGs, just about using who's best.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I assume by "best player" you mean top scorer. And I wouldn't, putting them on the PK effectively takes away even-strength minutes and I want my top scorers put into the higher goal opportunity situations.

Alternatively if they aren't able to kill penalties it can lead to situations where you best player doesn't play for a long period of time.

Like where Crosby only played 3:47 in the first period last night due to multiple PKs.

[CSharp]

Yes, but don't have the star player block shots!

[GioforPM]

Gio played the PK

[jar_e]

I think it matters what type of "star" player they are. If they're a finesse, offensive driven forward, doesn't make much sense to have them in a defensive situation.

[Locke]

It depends on the player, but I love seeing star players killing penalties.

Is it the right decision? It depends.

[thefoss1957]

For my 'Hawks, Q uses Toews/Hossa on the 2nd rotation, and Hossa/Saad on the 4th...All the odd rotations have 4th liners Kruger/Nordstrom (was Smith until he got traded)...almost always, then the 1st full strength forward line after the penalty will be a composite line of Kane/Toews/Sharp...

By having usable 4th line guys to take the bulk of the PK, Q can set up a good post PIM rotation, and not overuse Toews or Hossa, who takes a shift off with the composite line taking the 1st post PIM shift.

[ForeverFlameFan]

If your star players excels at PKing, sure, use him.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Lots of factors to consider such as how often your team is on the PK, how your top scorer performs with additional ice time (does it make him worse / better), obviously is your top scorer also one of your best PKers and who are you throwing out there instead, if you don't put your top scorer on the PK?

Using Chicago as an example, Hossa is such a fantastic player defensively, I'd definitely use him.

[Philly06Cup]

Damn, nhl.com used to keep track of all the Ice Time stats in various situations. They recently dumbed down their stats section a lot. =(

I find it weird to have a top scorer in your primary PK shift. PK skills seem pretty teachable. Have a system, play sound positioning, be hard on the boards, block shots, clear pucks. These skills should be teachable to your scrub bottom liners. Now you save EV/PP ice time for your skilled forwards -- the skills that are not so easily taught.

[Heavy Jack]

If he is responsible and able to take on the harder minutes that PK's produce then by all means yes he should. Toews has been Chicago's best PK center for years and Hartley has given Monahan a lot of PK minutes this year and probably going forward. If the player makes sense then definitely IMO, it shouldn't matter if he is a star offensive player at that point.

[FAN]

I think it depends on the system. Are forwards used mainly to guard against point shot? Or are they collapsing down and protecting the net? If it's the latter, I say the risk of injury from blocking shots is not worth it.

[edslunch]

I thought Iginla was a more effective overall player when he PKed too

[JohnnySkittles]

If they're good at it, obviously yes.