Welcome back, refreshed and recharged after taking an extended long weekend and ready for more off-season news!
Today I continue the Senators report cards looking at a late entry to the class but his return marked one of the major turning points of the season,
PRE-SEASON EXPECTATION
Entering the last year of his contract, Marc Methot was supposed to be the anchor to the top pairing on the blue line, and depending how contract negotiations went could have ended up being dealt sometime before the trade deadline should a deal not be reached.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Methot began the season on the shelf with the injury that kept him from participating in the world Championships a year ago after the Senators season ended. The summer didn't provide much relief and Methot spent the first 3 months of the season (save for a 2 game comeback attempt) on the IR. During his time on the shelf, the Sentors tried almost everyone but me on the top pair with Erik Karlsson, but couldn't find a suitable stabilizing presence to allow Karlsson to be at his most effective.
When Methot returned for good on Jan 8th, the Senators were 16-15-8 and 5 points out of the final wild card spot. While they would still sink lower in the standings, that was really a turning point for the team as well as Karlsson. Methot's presence and hockey IQ allowed him to be there and allow Karlsson to do what he does best knowing that the backup was there.
Methot's numbers are not staggering by any means, and on most teams he is probably not a top pairing defenseman, but the chemistry he has with Karlsson demonstrated that he was worth taking a chance on and the Senators agreed to a 4 year extension worth just under $20M.
THE HARD STATS
THE FANCY STATS
Methot won't put up the numbers of a traditional 2D, so it is hard to compare him directly with most Atlantic Division teams' #2 man. But when you combine his production with what Karlsson gives as his partner, it is a pretty effective pair at both ends of the ice. As a result Methot, whether you look at is as being the beneficiary of Karlsson or vice versa, has pretty solid possession numbers, and is deployed in a more offensive role in many instances especially 5 on 5.
THE "KEY" STATS
Not so much a stat of his own, but with his +22 rating he led the club, while Karlsson was -10 when Methot made his return, and finished with a +7 by the time the season was over.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
Hopefully the health concerns are firmly behind him, and Methot will continue to be an anchor on the Senators blue line. Whether or not Ottawa is able to find an upgrade on him in the first pair remains to be seen, but the Senators certainly seem comfortable with that duo.
He is still not quite 30 (will be in about a month) so he still has lots of prime hockey left in him.
GRADE: Methot delivered about what was expected, and in this case absence really did make the heart grow fonder, and you really didn't know what you had until it was gone. His presence helped turn Karlsson from pretty good into Norris good in a matter of a couple of months, because Karlsson wasn't in that conversation as the calendar turned to 2015. Methot doesn't get all of the credit, but certainly gets some of it. A.
Back again tomorrow with a look at one of the Senators' primary marksmen.
If you missed them, check out prior Report Cards: