by wprager on Mon Apr 06, 2015 2:56 pm
NEELY wrote:wprager wrote:Saying your leading goal scorer is the most replaceable player up-front is pretty ridiculous. But, whatever, I can see your point if I look past all the hyperbole.
Sill, I think it's worth trying to fix his faults rather than expect Chiasson to somehow start scoring 20+ goals. Peumpel has had a dozen games and 2 goals -- sorry, as much as I liked his game that's too small sample size. Lazar has finally shown his scoring touch -- only has he, really? Lazar is likely in Bingo to start next season. Why not try Hoffman with Pageau/Condra while Lazar is in the AHL. Who knows what might happen. At the very least his stock probably goes up as he could finish for the other two.
P.S. Pageau scoring 20 easily? Since when? He's got 7 in 47 this year playing fantastic hockey. I don't know if he can play better than he has or even keep it up for an 82 game season. He's got 11 goals in 84 career games -- think it's a bit early to anoint him a 20-goal scorer.
The future is bright but they aren't yet guaranteed the President's Trophy.
Hoffman scored a lot of goals when the pressure was off and the games (optics) didn't seem to matter. As the games got harder and more important he's kind of cooled off and hasn't done much of anything.
Spezza lead the team in points forever but they were right to get rid of him and they are a better team today and for the next decade because of it. Like I said, numbers lie and stats are not facts.
Depth, 23 guys all pulling the same way, and trust in all your players. That's what wins and I question whether Hoffman can fall into that.
I didn't want to draw this out but check the stats before you post, please.
Hoffman has 4 GWG; Turris leads with 6, Stone and Ryan have 5. Don't forget the icetime Hoffman gets, though, compared to the others. Oh, and I'm pretty sure one of Turris' ENGs (he has a whopping *5*) ended up being a GWG.
He's got one OT goal, tied for the team lead (and don't forget the icetime).
He leads the team by a wide margin in ES goals -- a stat you've used as a measuring stick in the past. Much harder to score ES than PP, right? Well, maybe not on the Sens.
He's heads and shoulders above everyone on the team in goals scored when tied, and second to Zibanejad in goals when down by 1 (4 vs. 5 for Ziba).
He's not the cat's meow and I'm not pushing for building our offense around him, but he's not nearly as useless as you are stating. He *does* need linemates who will cover up his mistakes, of course, but then so do most players making under $8M.