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We are nearing the end of the Senators Report Cards, with a couple today and then the final one tomorrow. Up today are a couple of pivots heading in different directions, Mika Zibanejad and David Legwand.
MIKA ZIBANEJAD
PRE-SEASON EXPECTATION
Heading into the season, Zibanejad was expected to make strides towards becoming a legitimate top 6 forward, and closer to fulfilling the teams' expectation of becoming a dominant centre.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
It was a learning season for Zibanejad, who set career highs in games played, goals, assists and points. There were times where he and his line were dominant, and there were times when he was all but invisible.
THE HARD STATS
THE FANCY STATS
Still a ways to go for Mika to get in with the top young centres in the division, his possession numbers must increase.
THE "KEY" STATS
He has almost twice as many points (30 in 41 GP) at home than he did on the road (16 in 39 GP).
FUTURE OUTLOOK
He is still very young at 22 years of age, but the team seems committed to keeping him in the middle and letting him grow into his potential. Bryan Murray stated before the season (actually when Jason Spezza was traded last summer that he felt Zibanejad could develop into a legitimate #1C. That still remains to be seen but he seems to have the skillset to do it, whether he has the desire and hockey sense to get there is the question.
He is also a talent that could be used as trade bait in a package to bring in an upgrade
GRADE: Consistency is something for a lot of young players to develop, and it is often one of the last things to come. When he played well, he was very good, when he was off his game it was tough to find him. Zibanejad gets a pretty average B .
DAVID LEGWAND
PRE-SEASON EXPECTATION
Legwand was brought in to be a bit of insurance in case Zibanejad didn't develop into a top 2 centre. A veteran who could fill a lot of roles and chip in offensively.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
I am not sure Legwand ever found a fit in the lineup. He shuffled around between lines, and his primary production was on the power play. He was tied for first on the club with 6 power play goals and was 6th with 12 PP points. That was more out of opportunity, and many would argue that someone else put in that situation would have produced more.
His role diminished as the season went on, and he even found himself sitting in the press box as a healthy scratch in the playoffs.
THE HARD STATS
THE FANCY STATS
Legwand, even when compared to other veterans in the division, leaves a lot to be desired. THE "KEY" STATS
Legwand averaged over 17 minutes in October, and by April he was just over 11:30.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
Legwand has a year left on his deal, and if they could find a trading partner to take the salary off their hands the Senators would likely jump on it for little or no return. Moving him would allow for younger legs in the lineup, such as a Puempel or a Prince.
GRADE: Legwand's play was much maligned among the fan base, and while I don't think it was as bad as many portrayed, it still wasn't very good. If he is a Senator next season, he could be keeping a press box seat warm a little more often. D.
There is one more report card left (and I will let you figure it out by process of elimination), and then I will focus on the future - draft, free agency and potential trades - and what will and should happen starting next week.
If you missed them, check out prior Report Cards: