In this edition of the hotstove we share our thoughts on the most underutilized forwards in the Eastern Conference.
Todd Cordell
…‹A lot of good players don't get the minutes they deserve but I don't think any case is as extreme as Pavel Buchnevich's.
…‹He led the Rangers in 5v5 points per 60 minutes last season, and is leading the Rangers in 5v5 scoring entirely this year, yet 10 forwards on the roster average more ice time per game during that game state.
Buchnevich's underlying numbers are spectacular and, in terms of raw skill, he has to be up there with pretty much anyone in the league. He should be getting all the ice he can handle and instead he's left to rot in the middle of the bench on a nightly basis. Insanity.
James Tanner The one that really jumps out for me is Pavel Buchnevich, he's 11th on the Rangers in TOI per game, and yet, other than Zibinejad, he's their best possession player, relative to his team.
Fast, Kreider, Jasper and Vesey all get more minutes, and Buchnevich has been better. Buchnevich leads the Rangers in p/60 and if I'm a rival GM, I'm looking at that guy as someone being misused who I could grab on the cheap.
I also think for much of the same reason that Andre Burakovsky on the Capitals is one of the most underused players in the league.
Peter Tessier It's easy to look at Tampa and suggest they are superstar driven but behind Stamkos, Kucherov, Palat, Hedman and others there are some really good players doing some impressive work. One of those is Brayden Point.
He's 10th in the league for ES scoring and has a 52.09 CF%. His HDGF% is also 73% and he's shooting lights out. While it's easy to pick a player with that kind of supporting cast around him he still has to produce and do things on his own to be as good as he is- it's not all the stars.
Is he truly underused as the player with the 4th highest ice time on the team- probably not in that measurement but there's probably more to give as he's only 7th in PP time while being a key guy on the PK unit at 4th most TOI.
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