|
On Senators Player Deployment and Line Make-up |
|
|
|
|
|
This is really the first extended break in the Senators' schedule, and at this point in the season there is enough of a sample size to start looking at different aspects of the Senators and what type of team they are, and also what they are not.
The Senators find themselves in a dogfight with a group of teams that will eventually determine the third playoff spot in the Atlantic Division as well as the two Wild Card places in the Eastern Conference.
The fact that they are still in the hunt is due in large part to the goaltending they have received, and on nights where the netminder in question was average or worse, the Senators have had no chance. Some teams can get away with mediocre goaltending, but the Sens are not one of them.
One of the biggest complaints I have seen over the past few days and weeks has been the way the players have been used in Paul MacLean's system. I have had some of the same issues, but haven't necessarily agreed with them all, just like some haven't agreed with my assessments. The comments section are invariably filled with different line combinations that people would like to see, and they are almost always different.
So lets look at some of the issues at forward that I have heard mentioned so far this season, and possibly look for the ideal combinations, although there will never be complete agreement in this regard, because everyone looks at certain players in different ways.
1. Bobby Ryan
The hardest thing so far this season might just be finding a spot for Bobby Ryan to achieve the greatest success. Playing him with Clarke MacArthur and Kyle Turris usually makes the most sense, but putting what should be your three best offensive threats on the top line is putting all of your eggs in one basket. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. In this case I am not sure that it does, because MacArthur and Turris have such great chemistry that whoever plays with them is sometimes ignored. They seem to play at their best when playing with someone who doesn't need the puck as much but can create space for them to work their magic. Ryan doesn't fit that mold.
2. Mika Zibanejad
But Ryan hasn't fit that well with Mika Zibanejad as his centre so far, and while I have preached being patient I still feel that with 5 centres on the team, Zibanejad is probably the best fit to move to the wing. I know he has done so without much success, but I don't think they really stuck with it long enough in the past to make a really informed opinion on it. His size, speed and ability to drive the net should work well on the wing, and he seems to be trying to play set-up too much as opposed to taking the puck to the net himself when he plays centre, and on the wing he wouldn't have that problem, because his role would be as a finisher rather than playmaker.
3. David Legwand
The veteran has taken a lot of heat among the fan base for being on the first power play unit, despite having just 6 points. Legwand has had his offensive wings clipped at even strength because he has been playing with Zack Smith and Chris Neil for the most part. The fact is, aside from the road trip where they went 0-for-11, the Senators play with the man advantage has been pretty good. They were clicking at over 20% and either just inside or just outside the top 10 in the league depending on the day. Legwand provides a left-handed shooting distribution option, because so many of the skilled players on the team shoot right. MacArthur and Hoffman (and possibly Michalek, if you consider him to be in that category) are the only real offensive threats that shoot left, and none are considered to be a playmaker. You need to have some balance between distributor and shooter on the power play, and Legwand is the best option at the moment, so I would defend that alignment.
4. Ice Time For The Kid Line
Since it was assembled, the Kid Line of Curtis Lazar, Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone has been super effective, although many people have lamented the ice time they get. They have been at worst the second most effective line almost every night, with some nights having them being the most effective. If you look at the Corsi ratings for the trio, they are the only 3 regular forwards who are at 50% or higher at 5 on 5. Part of this is due to the fact that they are somewhat sheltered by offensive zone starts. The question is, if given more 5 on 5 ice time, will they be just as effective, or will that lead to tougher matchups and more potential for failure. We really haven't seen it, but I am of the opinion that it can't really hurt to try and see if they can thrive with even more responsibility. Lazar and Stone are called upon to kill penalties, even with defensive zone starts, and they have done all right against other teams top lines when given the chance. The supposed "2nd line" hasn't been effective, so upping the kid line at 5 on 5 can only be a positive, until they show that they cannot handle it, and then it is easy to throttle them back to a spot where they are comfortable with until they gain further experience.
So with the above in mind, here is how I would deploy my forward lines if I were making the lineup:
First line: MacArthur - Turris - Chiasson
Second Line: Hoffman - Lazar - Stone
Third Line: Zibanejad - Legwand - Ryan
Fourth Line: Michalek - Smith - Neil/Condra
PP1: MacArthur- Legwand - Ryan - Turris - Karlsson
PP2: Chiasson - Lazar - Stone - Hoffman - Ceci
I know playing Ryan on the third line might not be the ideal place for him, but it gives him 2 potentially offensive forwards to play with and creates a pretty good potential for balance. Legwand is a grizzled veteran who should not be playing in a 4th line shutdown role being dragged down by Smith and Neil. He still has some game left and can help Zibanejad and Ryan find their games. Legwand being a left handed centre also makes Ryan, as the right winger, the first natural target for passing, something that does make a difference. Michalek is the odd man out in my alignment, but hasn't shown much offensive form thus far, and his skating ability and defensive awareness would be a nice fit on the shutdown line in limited minutes. He can also fill in on any line as needed, and allows for the coach to have some leverage over ice time should the need to send a message arise.
In a normal game, assuming around 48 minutes of 5 on 5 play, I would play the first line for about 16 minutes, the second line about 14, the third line about 12 and the fourth line for the other 6 (give or take a minute or two here or there).
This is a team that needs balanced scoring, because loading the first line up with Ryan - Turris - MacArthur isn't dominant enough to carry a team like the line of Alfredsson-Spezza-Heatley were able to in the heyday. If your first line can' be absolutely dominant, then you need to spread out the scoring. This alignment should provide three lines that can chip in offensively on any given night, and a fourth line that you can sprinkle in in certain spots.
IS HELP ON THE WAY?
I know some people are thinking that a deal is coming to bring in someone like Mike Richards and they are going to get him for Greening, a prospect and a pick...or some other trade such as that. While the rumors are out there that the Sens are interested in the Kings' centre, It's simply not going to happen in that type of deal. And although I love the way Mike Richards plays, I don't think he is the savior to this Senators team. If the Sens need anything, it is more team speed and that isn't readily available, and is not something that would be considered Richards' strong points. He also carries a large contract and his style of game means he has hard miles on him already.
Ottawa Senators Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»