Ice Time Distribution - Forwards

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

This seems about right for a group of 4th liners.

Not sure I agree.

I think it's fine if you think you have the best fourth line in hockey, which I don't think is the case at all.

Lucic and Lewis are about 30 seconds higher than the NHL average. Those 30-40 seconds would go a long way if it was up the roster.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Not sure I agree.

I think it's fine if you think you have the best fourth line in hockey, which I don't think is the case at all.

Lucic and Lewis are about 30 seconds higher than the NHL average. Those 30-40 seconds would go a long way if it was up the roster.

between 8 and 11 minutes is close to average in the NHL ( based on a glance through teams on Hockey Reference).

Yeah, Lucic could play 1 to 2 shifts less in a game.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

It's evident based solely on one piece of data, but in the absence of context and on-ice performance it's not evident at all.

To me, I think Sutter hasn't been thrilled with the performance of that line so far, and thus they get less ice time overall. I'm sure if you compared this year to last year you would see the Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk line closer to the norm of the black line.

Huberdeau has struggled for much of the year. Lindholm was pretty ice cold for awhile too. Toffoli has been productive, but lacks in the defensive and skating aspects enough to warrant a lot more ice time.

I wouldn't assume a fault of the coach here.

You watched Huberdeau what is your take on him playing less here. Looks like about 3 minutes less a game no penalty killing either which he said helped his game.

3 minutes amounts to 6-8 less shifts a game.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Draug

It's not that crazy though, is it? 80 seconds average is 2 shifts across an entire game.

Can 2 shifts really make a huge impact on Wins and Losses? Backlund is a bit better than the average 3rd line C across the league, so it seems reasonable our "3rd line" would take a few seconds from Lindholm's line, especially given Toffoli is a bit worse than the average 1st Line RW, no?

Over the course of a season, it's an extra 110 minutes of 5v5 for the top line, thats substantial.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

You watched Huberdeau what is your take on him playing less here. Looks like about 3 minutes less a game no penalty killing either which he said helped his game.

3 minutes amounts to 6-8 less shifts a game.

My take is that it's directly proportional to his performance to date. He's trying, but he isn't very effective so far. As a result, Sutter is playing the guys that he feels are more effective, especially in the roles they have. It's pure meritocracy.

The penalty kill minutes are probably due to the fact that we already have so many good and experienced PK guys:

Backlund, Lindholm, Lewis, Coleman, Dube, Mangiapane.

That's our rotation of 6 forwards who kill penalties and do so pretty well. Sutter also thinks that you should save your key offensive players from PK duty so they can attack right after a PK.

I'm also of the mindset that if Huberdeau adapts to Sutter's style of play he might end up being one of the absolute best players in the game. He was getting better at the defensive game near the end of his time in Florida, and was becoming much more physical, especially in the attacking zone retrieving pucks. I'm of the mind that he actually isn't that far off from being a Sutter-type player already, he just needs to get used to a very different system (man on man vs. zone) which changes how he plans his attacks.

I am very, very confident he will get there. He's far too talented and intelligent to not be able to adapt and succeed here.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

You watched Huberdeau what is your take on him playing less here. Looks like about 3 minutes less a game no penalty killing either which he said helped his game.

3 minutes amounts to 6-8 less shifts a game.

Thought I saw him penalty killing in the Tuesday game...although I know he does not do that regularly.

[camm13]

Originally Posted by redforever

Thought I saw him penalty killing in the Tuesday game...although I know he does not do that regularly.

When he does, its usually at the end of the powerplay to get the next shift started.


I wish Sutter would ride the top 6 harder with more minutes. there have been games when they are just playing 14-16. Other teams play their top forwards 18-20 mins. Maurice is usually playing Tkachuk the most minutes, I've seen between 18-22 mins. Hard to get the top guys going if there's no ice team, or perks of line matching when you're at home. Thats the most baffling part, is that Sutter can but does not line match.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

My take is that it's directly proportional to his performance to date. He's trying, but he isn't very effective so far. As a result, Sutter is playing the guys that he feels are more effective, especially in the roles they have. It's pure meritocracy.

The penalty kill minutes are probably due to the fact that we already have so many good and experienced PK guys:

Backlund, Lindholm, Lewis, Coleman, Dube, Mangiapane.

That's our rotation of 6 forwards who kill penalties and do so pretty well. Sutter also thinks that you should save your key offensive players from PK duty so they can attack right after a PK.

I'm also of the mindset that if Huberdeau adapts to Sutter's style of play he might end up being one of the absolute best players in the game. He was getting better at the defensive game near the end of his time in Florida, and was becoming much more physical, especially in the attacking zone retrieving pucks. I'm of the mind that he actually isn't that far off from being a Sutter-type player already, he just needs to get used to a very different system (man on man vs. zone) which changes how he plans his attacks.

I am very, very confident he will get there. He's far too talented and intelligent to not be able to adapt and succeed here.

So, the uproar over one of the most talented passers in the game has been overblown?

If we don't have Covid he is probably a back-to-back 100-point player.