Ryan Wilson: The Letang Effect Kris Letang has a profound effect on the top line.

Interesting Hopefully the coaching staff becomes aware about this.

Better yet, if Letang can see this and improve his game to better suit the other lines.

Another great article!

I wonder if Letang's agent had a copy of this when he sat down with Ray to negotiate.

Pretty good evidence as to why the Pens struggle offensively when Letang is out....

Good read, and congrats on the gig btw!

I like Letang, I've said it many times before but I think when either 87,71,or 58 are out, the team misses 58 more than anyone. I hate all these huge contracts, but I think keeping Letang is a no brainer. Hopefully the cap will keep going up again, although I read an atrical a week ago about NJ not being able to pay their players by the end of the season, so another lockout is probaly in the future.

Will there be a scouting report on the prospect camp?

Interesting Hopefully the coaching staff becomes aware about this.

Better yet, if Letang can see this and improve his game to better suit the other lines.
- Ledgermain

Interesting Hopefully the coaching staff becomes aware about this.

Better yet, if Letang can see this and improve his game to better suit the other lines.
- Ledgermain

Scuderi will no doubt be a huge help with Letang in being a nice safety blanket.

- Ryan_Wilson

Always a good day when the reading rainbow references start getting tossed around.

You my friend are king of the stats. I'm more of an eyeball guy. Interesting stats. You would think with 87/71 getting around 20 minutes of ice time the majority of Letangs games would be able to be played with those 2. However I also think it might be a double edged sword. Of course your production should be great playing with the 2 best players in the world at all times. Just ask Duper and Neal and Kunitz. I think the bottom 6 are so defensive minded when they see him entering the zone their first reaction is to cover up instead of to take advantage of the opportunity he may create.

You my friend are king of the stats. I'm more of an eyeball guy. Interesting stats. You would think with 87/71 getting around 20 minutes of ice time the majority of Letangs games would be able to be played with those 2. However I also think it might be a double edged sword. Of course your production should be great playing with the 2 best players in the world at all times. Just ask Duper and Neal and Kunitz. I think the bottom 6 are so defensive minded when they see him entering the zone their first reaction is to cover up instead of to take advantage of the opportunity he may create.
- dbell646

That last sentence is exactly what I was thinking as well.

You my friend are king of the stats. I'm more of an eyeball guy. Interesting stats. You would think with 87/71 getting around 20 minutes of ice time the majority of Letangs games would be able to be played with those 2. However I also think it might be a double edged sword. Of course your production should be great playing with the 2 best players in the world at all times. Just ask Duper and Neal and Kunitz. I think the bottom 6 are so defensive minded when they see him entering the zone their first reaction is to cover up instead of to take advantage of the opportunity he may create.
- dbell646

I think I'm more of an eyeball guy too but with all the numbers and data out there about the NHL, I just think its a wonderful resource to utilize. No one thing will ever tell the whole story. The more information the better.

And I'm no king of stats, that title is more deservingly bestowed upon Mr. Travis Yost, he is a numbers wizard.

- Ryan_Wilson

Can you give us the Nisk effect? Except I would like to see the GA % when he's on the ice with guys as to when he's not... JK nice read.

Can you give us the Nisk effect? Except I would like to see the GA % when he's on the ice with guys as to when he's not... JK nice read.
- lloyd095

http://stats.hockeyanalys...ue&season=2012-13&sit=5v5

Looking at that chart, it would seem that while Crosby, Kunitz, and Dupuis definitely benefited, they also played a lot more with him than any of the other forwards. I'm willing to bet if you put Letang out on the ice with Malkin for near 200 minutes, you would see a more than a mere proportional "bump". Would it be parallel to Crosby? I don't know, but the sample sizes do leave questions. I would agree, though, that Letang benefits offensive players moreso than the bottom 6. When he joins the rush at the top of his game, he is essentially a fourth forward.

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=144&withagainst=true&season=2012-13&sit=5v5
- Ryan_Wilson

Thanks..

Sutter, Cooke, Kennedy and Neal all did better without Letang. Cookie and TK don't have to worry about that anymore

Looking at that chart, it would seem that while Crosby, Kunitz, and Dupuis definitely benefited, they also played a lot more with him than any of the other forwards. I'm willing to bet if you put Letang out on the ice with Malkin for near 200 minutes, you would see a more than a mere proportional "bump". Would it be parallel to Crosby? I don't know, but the sample sizes do leave questions. I would agree, though, that Letang benefits offensive players moreso than the bottom 6. When he joins the rush at the top of his game, he is essentially a fourth forward.
- buffalofan19

I felt it was fair to include the sample sizes. It certainly plays a role.

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=144&withagainst=true&season=2012-13&sit=5v5
- Ryan_Wilson

It would seem Fleury really benefits(GF: 48% with, 69% without and GA: 65% with, 42% without) when Nisky isnt on the ice. Shocker, I know.
I would be interested to see a comparison of Vokoun and Fleury with and without the different Dmen.

Thanks..
- lloyd095

It's safe to say Pascal Dupuis is the person who better plays with Niskanen with GF of 1.254 and GA of 0.209 while together on the ice.

- Ryan_Wilson

This off season will blow

This off season will blow
- Orpik44

At least it won't be close to 8 months long this year.

At least it won't be close to 8 months long this year.
- Ryan_Wilson

Yeah, only like 9-10 weeks until training camp, and we have the prospect camp to fill some time.

It will be nice to have a full camp and 7 preseason games to work out the roster. I know Byslma has to shoulder some blame about his use of young players, but they really didn't have a whole lot of a chance to prove themselves with the 5 day training camp and no preseason games.

He and Sid, have to get back to that off the crease clapper pass, and tip. It worked very well for them, and I did not even see them trying it in the last half and playoffs.

Yeah, only like 9-10 weeks until training camp, and we have the prospect camp to fill some time.

It will be nice to have a full camp and 7 preseason games to work out the roster. I know Byslma has to shoulder some blame about his use of young players, but they really didn't have a whole lot of a chance to prove themselves with the 5 day training camp and no preseason games.
- rival22

It was an incredibly unique regular season last year.

He and Sid, have to get back to that off the crease clapper pass, and tip. It worked very well for them, and I did not even see them trying it in the last half and playoffs.
- bixll

Stuff like that takes timing to open up the lane. Sid was out for over a month at the wrong time of the year.