Yesterday we checked back in with longtime Penguin Brooks Orpik. Today we will take a closer look at the man who was originally known as the throw-in to the James Neal deal, Matt Niskanen.
Niskanen had a splendid season in his last year with the Penguins. He led all Penguins defenders with a 5v5 Fenwick For percentage of 53.1%. He also led all Penguin defenders with an even strength points per 60 of 1.21.
The way in which Niskanen is being deployed at even strength has not changed all that much. His rel QoC and rel QoT remain similar. One difference is that he is getting more offensive zone starts in Washington. However, his numbers have slipped this season.
Areas in which he led the Penguins in last year, he now ranks on the lower end of Capitals defenders. He has a 5v5 Fenwick For percentage of 49.1%, which isn't bad by any stretch but it is ranked sixth out of six among Capitals defenders who have played at least 300 minutes this year.
His terrific 1.21 points/60 from last year has now plummeted to .63. To put that into perspective Brooks Orpik has a points/60 of .52.
The amount of power play time Niskanen receives per game went from 2:59 per game with Pittsburgh in 2013-14 to a much lower 1:21 in Washington this year.
Thus far Niskanen has not lived up to his new contract. He needs to produce more offense for it to be valuable. Last year he had 27 points at even strength. This year he is on pace for only 14.
The biggest difference between last year's Pittsburgh version of Matt Niskanen and this year's Washington version has been the fact his sky high PDO has come back to Earth. He led all regular Penguins skaters last year in PDO. He had a lot of things go his way. This year not as many of those things are happening.
Matt Niskanen is not a bad player in Washington. He just isn't the beneficiary of the same luck he had in his career year. It was wise for the Penguins to pass on committing big term and big money to him.
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