Like The Beatles racking up #1 singles, the Calgary Flames' first powerplay unit has spent the last three months collecting goal after goal.
From Monahan to Tkachuk? "From Me To You."
Gaudreau across to Lindholm? "I Feel Fine."
Indeed, like the Fab Four themselves, the Flames' forward foursome of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk, and Elias Lindholm has combined for 26 goals on the man-advantage this season.
Meanwhile, Mark Giordano, the Flames' lone defensive presence on the top unit, has run the show in the fashion of "The Fifth Beatle." In the same way that George Martin produced all of the Beatles' big hits, Giordano, with his 13 powerplay assists, has done quite a bit of producing himself.
Clearly, this unit is really "Something" -- and their penchant for providing key goals has done wonders to propel the Flames to the top of the Western Conference.
But what about when those guys can't do it? For every "Yesterday," the Beatles came out with an "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da."
Enter the PP2. The Flames' second powerplay unit has remained largely the same since the beginning of the season, but it has yet to see any sort of consistent production.
After a month-and-a-half of absolutely nothing, Derek Ryan scored the unit's first goal of the season against the Edmonton Oilers on November 17th. Sam Bennett doubled the tally in the team's next game, against Vegas on November 19th. Noah Hanifin made it three against the Coyotes on November 25th, and Ryan scored his second powerplay marker of the year against Chicago on December 2nd.
Since then? Nothing. The Flames' second powerplay unit has been stuck at four goals four over a month, and all four of those goals came within a two-week span. To put it briefly, it is the 2016-17 Brian Elliott of powerplay units.
Heck, even the ne'er-seen "PP3" has chipped in more recently than its big brother. Alan Quine swatted in a goal during the dying seconds of a blowout win over St. Louis on December 16th, and while it hardly had an impact on the outcome of the game... it was
something.
Clearly, something is wrong with PP2. How can they get the "Help!" that they so desperately need?
A first-rate first unit: what makes PP1 so good?
Under the tutelage of Dave Cameron last season, even the Flames' top powerplay unit had great difficulty scoring goals. However, when considering the merits of Johnny Gaudreau against those of a comparatively undecorated coach in Cameron, it would be foolish to assume that the personnel was the issue.
Clearly, Flames GM Brad Treliving agreed, as he extended a notice of termination to Cameron, along with the rest of the coaching staff, last April.
This season, the answer seems less clear. New powerplay coach Geoff Ward has his top unit clicking at a lethal rate. Considered alone, without the contributions of PP2 (or PP3, for that matter), the Flames' PP1 unit has as many or more goals as 21 of the league's other 30 teams.
The first unit seems confident and has shown the ability to employ creative set-plays. When the opening faceoff is on the left side of the offensive zone, the powerplay has recently made a habit of giving Mark Giordano the puck on the left boards and seeing him find a retreating Matthew Tkachuk to his right for a one-timer from distance. This has been a relatively new introduction to the system, but it showed up a couple times in the Boston game on Thursday.
Other set plays involve Elias Lindholm creeping towards the goal from his right-flank position whenever Johnny Gaudreau receives the puck from Mark Giordano along the boards, opening himself up for a pass and, subsequently, a quick shot.
And then there's the classic, their signature song, their "Love Me Do":
Notice one consistent thing from those videos? The Flames had managed to get set up in the opposing team's zone. They were actively looking for the best opportunity to strike. Some of those goals came even after the puck had already been cleared by the opposing team, but thanks to Johnny Gaudreau's serpentine ability to break into the offensive zone, the Flames were quickly able to regain structure and calm down the rate of play.
And when the first unit has time to set up... watch out.
The second unit: "We Can Work It Out"?
No such option like Gaudreau exists on this roster to help the second powerplay unit enter the zone consistently and effectively. Currently, the Flames have delegated the vast majority of the break-in responsibilities on that unit to Derek Ryan.
With all due respect to Ryan, he is not an ideal option to use in that scenario. But even then, who is? Mikael Backlund has more of a track-record of powerplay success, but does he have the footspeed? James Neal
certainly doesn't have the necessary footspeed needed to consistently enter the zone successfully, and judging by his recent play, he also lacks the hands. Sam Bennett? Maybe. Noah Hanifin? Well, as a defenseman, he's supposed to be the last man back!
As the team's
de facto fourth-line centre, Ryan's consistent inclusion on the powerplay has raised more than a few eyebrows. Surely, you may ask, the coaching staff can find someone more offensively-minded? Nobody is questioning Ryan's defensive acumen, nor is anyone contesting his skill in the faceoff dot. But is a player with a career-high of 38 points really the Flames' best option to lead the charge on the powerplay?
Well, let's see. Let's take a look at each of PP2's current five players and debate the merits of their inclusion on the unit -- beginning with the Flames' #10 himself.
Derek Ryan
Powerplay statistics: 2 goals, 2 assists in 73 minutes
Taking a passing glance through a Calgarypuck game-thread, Derek Ryan clearly does not pass the forum's collective "eye test." And despite his penchant for making some weirdly inopportune passes at times, Ryan has functioned as one of the Flames' better players on the second powerplay unit -- that is, on the stat-sheet.
As the main zone-enterer on the unit, Ryan has only three giveaways on the man-advantage all season. Johnny Gaudreau has eight, in twice the ice-time. Ryan is also the only member of the unit with multiple goals and is the only forward with more than two points.
However, Ryan has some glaring holes in his powerplay game. While, to many, his greatest deficiency is in his passes, his greatest weakness is actually in his shooting. Ryan has only managed
five total shots on the powerplay this season, despite operating from a prime shooting location. Mind, he's been opportunistic thus far, capitalizing on 40% of his attempts. In addition, Ryan hasn't been excellent on faceoffs during the Flames' powerplays, winning an even 50% of them.
Compared to the player on the first unit who operates in his position, though, Ryan leaves a lot to be desired. Elias Lindholm has taken 29 shots this season and has been a much more dangerous presence from that spot. Lindholm has also won 51% of his draws -- ever-so-slightly-better.
The deciding factor for Ryan's inclusion on the powerplay is that he shoots right, and for a forward on the Flames, that is an all-too-rare quality. Is Austin Czarnik really a preferable option to Ryan? Few players on the Flames have less of a track-record than "Doc," but Czarnik, with his zero career powerplay goals, is one of them.
At the moment, it seems that the Flames' best bet for addressing an upgrade at Ryan's position would be to do so externally. The Flames have historically insisted upon keeping a right-handed shot on their powerplay units -- Dougie Hamilton and Kris Versteeg manned that spot during the last two years, albeit under a different coach. However, considering that Ryan was just added by the Flames this summer, he may be afforded more of a leash.
James Neal
Powerplay statistics: 0 goals, 2 assists in 92 minutes
Thousands of words have been written about James Neal's heretofore disastrous tenure with the Calgary Flames, and I have no intention of repeating any more of them than I have to.
But... yeah, there isn't a lot to like. If James Neal were a Beatles song, he'd be "The Long and Winding Road" -- an overproduced disappointment that cost way too much and goes on for way too long. But I digress.
By all measures, James Neal has statistically been the worst member of the second powerplay unit. He's averaging 5.21 giveaways for every 60 minutes of powerplay time, over two giveaways more than anyone else on PP2. He has yet to score a goal, and he's having a heck of a time even getting open. Sure, he has the most shots of anyone on the second unit, with 15 attempts, but from his position, few have looked dangerous.
It's all very curious for a player with such a decorated past. Once a 40-goal scorer, Neal is on pace for eight in his début effort as a Flame. Yes, while he isn't riding shotgun with Evgeni Malkin here in Calgary, a lack of skill on his line can't explain his seeming unwillingness to move his feet or get into position. What, do they need to bring a former Penguin to skate behind Neal and give him a push every shift?
Anyway, there's not a lot more that needs to be said. The second unit needs a player to play Neal's position who can assert himself physically and create open space. A prime candidate for that spot?
Mark Jankowski.
During penalty kills and forechecks, Jankowski has shown himself to be capable of muscling aside players surrounding him. With his long reach, he's great at corralling pucks and he can easily pick up rebounds. A big body, he can do the dirty work behind the net when the Flames lose possession that Neal simply isn't good at right now. And, like Neal, he's a left-handed shot.
Of all the guys on PP2, Neal is doing the least. It's worth trying someone else in his slot.
Mikael Backlund
Powerplay statistics: 0 goals, 0 assists in 74 minutes
Backlund hasn't done anything tangible on the powerplay this season. Operating in the spot occupied by Johnny Gaudreau on PP1, he has yet to record a single point on the man-advantage. Compared even to the likes of James Neal, that's not ideal.
However, unlike Neal, Backlund has been pulling his weight during other situations. He's on pace for a 42-point season, and his 54.9 CF% is sparkling in comparison to most of his teammates. Outside of the powerplay, he's been undeniably effective.
So, while Backlund is indisputably a valuable player, do the attributes that power his effectiveness translate into powerplay success? His counterpart on PP1, Johnny Gaudreau, is widely-known as one of the NHL's most dynamic and exciting players. Nobody would ever confuse Backlund for Gaudreau. While the Flames' #11 came from a higher draft pedigree, he has made his mark on the league in a different way.
While he isn't especially fast or shifty, Backlund plays a north-south game that coaches love. He has a good and quick shot, and can be a good passer. Perhaps deflating his point totals is that his #1 distribution target on the powerplay has been James Neal, who currently couldn't hit a barn with an asteroid.
However, Backlund is quickly approaching the feared age-30 plateau. He's had powerplay success before, notably notching 18 points during his age-27 2016-17 season, but he's not getting any faster. But the Flames' brass clearly has a great deal of trust for their Swedish centre. He's on the first year of his lengthy contract extension, and as long as it's in effect, he'll have a big role on the Flames.
His first step towards increasing his production should be to shoot more. Backlund has only managed five shots on the powerplay over the course of the entire season, and that just won't cut it. The good news is that Backlund isn't ceding possession very easily, with just two 5v4 giveaways on the season. But if he wants to see his "PPP" column no longer come up zeroes, he may want to consider putting more pucks towards the net in favour of looking to the $5.75 million in the slot.
Sam Bennett
Powerplay statistics: 1 goal, 1 assist in 61 minutes
Look, asking Sam Bennett to score more is like asking a clown to make a child laugh. Oh, he'll try, but he probably won't have much luck.
A fourth-overall pick in 2014, Bennett has received his fair share of criticism in the years since for failing to consistently put the puck in the net. After two consecutive seasons of just 26 points, many fear that he may have hit a point of stagnation.
However, new coach Bill Peters seems to have a great deal of trust for Bennett. No longer saddled at even-strength with veterans like Troy Brouwer, Bennett has also seen a considerable uptick in his powerplay utilization this season.
Bennett is 22. Unlike his fellow PP2 forwards, he has never really carved out a defined role in the NHL. That includes on the powerplay, where he has failed to consistently impress on the scoresheet in the past. With just three points on the man-advantage last year and four the year before, he is actually trending for a relatively impressive offensive season in that situation, by his standards.
But, as Mikael Backlund would surely tell you, player development is neither uniform nor linear. Bill Peters' main focus with Bennett right now appears to be trying to get him to play with a more consistent impact, including on the defensive side of the puck. His frequent even-strength deployments with Matthew Tkachuk and Backlund are no accident. However, further to that, Bennett has become a trusted forechecker, one who can wreak havoc physically à la "Maxwell's Silver Hammer."
Those tools are very useful on the powerplay, where possession is key. For the first time since his rookie season, Bennett has been a positive relative Corsi player this year. And for a player designated by Geoff Ward to play down-low and around the net on the powerplay, Bennett's willingness to dig deep and throw his weight around is a huge plus.
While Bennett's shot leaves quite a bit to be desired, he's a decent-enough distributor to make up for that—plus, as Elias Lindholm has shown this year, a purportedly-"weak" shot can be improved. Bennett has all the tools to make for a good powerplay asset, but the question remains if he can ever find the right fit on a unit.
As long as Bennett is on the right side of 25, his pedigree as a top-five pick will remain useful for determining his potential. As Flames GM Brad Treliving might put it, "he has a lot of runway." He has elicited comparisons to ex-Flame Micheal Ferland, who turned from a thundering physical presence to a decent complementary player with that same spark to a consistent 20-goal scorer, with the last step coming once he was in his mid-twenties. Bennett, currently 22, has four years to catch up with Ferland, 26.
Until then, Bennett can settle for having every third goal taken away by the officials and contributing mostly off-the-scoresheet. Even if his game doesn't progress any further, a 30-point depth winger with bite is a positive for any contending team. He just has to find consistency and chemistry.
Noah Hanifin
Powerplay statistics: 1 goal, 3 assists in 78 minutes
Of all the players on the Flames' second powerplay unit, Noah Hanifin is both the youngest and the one whose play elicits the fewest qualms. He's just 21, which is pretty incredible for a player nearing the 300-game plateau.
Hanifin has a number of positives going for him. He has lots of poise and confidence on the back-end and can skate with most anyone in the league (he participated in the fastest skater competition at last year's All-Star Weekend). He's tied with Derek Ryan for the most points of anybody on the second powerplay unit. His shot is nothing exceptional, but it's perfectly fine.
Above all, however, what makes Hanifin's presence on PP2 so reassuring is that, unlike so many others on the unit, he seems like a natural fit. Fans might question the inclusions of players like Derek Ryan—isn't he the fourth-line centre?—and James Neal—can he really keep up anymore?—but Hanifin has the pedigree, the history, and the
look of a powerplay mainstay. Hanifin has recorded consecutive seasons of 7+ powerplay points, which, as a defenseman, is no small feat. The fifth-overall pick in 2015, Hanifin was drafted as a future #1 defenseman who could contribute in all situations, powerplay included. And moreso than anyone else on his unit, Hanifin passes the eye test.
Because, really, if not Hanifin, who else? Historically, the Flames have opted for a left-handed defenseman to man their powerplay units. While T.J. Brodie shoots left, he's been tried on the powerplay for long periods of time before with mixed results. In particular, Brodie's shot is rather weak in comparison to other defensemen on the team. Meanwhile, if Hanifin's youth is of any concern, well, replacing him with Oliver Kylington or Jusso Välimäki would hardly constitute an "upgrade" in that regard.
No, Hanifin will continue to be a mainstay on PP2, and rightfully so. The team gave up a lot to acquire him, and they clearly value him dearly. He directs a lot of shots to the net. Bill Peters knows him well. Of all the players on the unit, Hanifin is probably the best fit.
At the end of the day...
What is the Flames' biggest problem? As long as Mike Smith is on the roster, it probably isn't the second powerplay unit. Even still, the five men on PP2 make a combined $21.12 million, and the Flames have yet to get their money's worth in their current arrangement. That can't continue.
Geoff Ward has done a good job in rejuvenating the top unit. There shouldn't be any rush to break up that tandem. Taking away from PP1 to "fix" PP2 could backfire very quickly. Instead, the Flames should try some entirely new faces. Mark Jankowski seems tailor-made for an expanded role. Michael Frolík's agent has made some very public declarations in favour of an expanded role for his client, and only four players have more goals than the Czech winger. Heck, even Dillon Dubé and the right-shooting Austin Czarnik could be considered.
However, if Brad Treliving wants to really make a splash in the weeks approaching the trade deadline, he could do worse than to add another fast and dynamic offensive weapon for the second powerplay unit. Lofty as these aspirations may be, but to add a player like Matt Duchene or Gustav Nyquist to the second unit could do wonders towards giving the Flames a more balanced special-teams attack.
In any case, a problem that has lasted this long won't be easily combated. Whatever path that the Flames' management chooses to embark upon, there is no guarantee that their chosen fix will work.
But if it
does work, then a fixed second unit would go a long way towards helping everything truly "Come Together."
Taking a peek at the powerplay: what makes PP1 so good & what's fuelling PP2's blues
