I typically hate the heat map charts... but this one was pretty damn simple and straightforward.


Only question... why did he focus on Malkin and 1 Dman, and not a pairing?
- Guile

The full pairing would definitely add more context but this was obviously to show the vast difference for Malkin with JJ vs Petts

The full pairing would definitely add more context but this was obviously to show the vast difference for Malkin with JJ vs Petts
- Feds91Stammer

Can we get JJ vs my grandmother for a comparison?

I'm curious who is better... note, grandma been dead for 9 years.


Also up for JJ vs the cardboard cutout of Brooks Orpik.

Micah is great. He’s been doing Viz’s for as long as I can remember. When bringing stuff to the comments section I always try to keep it with linked images so people don’t have to leave the board since not everyone has Twitter. Twitter was always a pain the Richard to get images from too, like your can’t get the actual link to the images to use the tags on HB. Gotta screenshot and re upload and poop.
- j.boyd919

I rarely get on here not on my mobile 🤷🏼‍♂️

The full pairing would definitely add more context but this was obviously to show the vast difference for Malkin with JJ vs Petts
- Feds91Stammer

TOI likely being another factor as well. My guess is adding another variable narrows the sample size further, which is a pretty safe assumption

TOI likely being another factor as well. My guess is adding another variable narrows the sample size further, which is a pretty safe assumption
- WSCTeton17

This for sure.

So Dad has been hired by the Pens in a player development role. Nice.

I typically hate the heat map charts... but this one was pretty damn simple and straightforward.


Only question... why did he focus on Malkin and 1 Dman, and not a pairing?
- Guile

Because he wanted to make it sound like the whole problem was JJ and guys like Maatta, Shultz, and Kessel weren't also contributing factors.

I've been saying all off-season swapping JJ for Pettersson is one of the most obvious moves to help Malkin. But it won't magically solve everything if Schultz doesn't play better and Galchenyuk is the possession hole he's been his whole career.

Because he wanted to make it sound like the whole problem was JJ and guys like Maatta, Shultz, and Kessel weren't also contributing factors.

I've been saying all off-season swapping JJ for Pettersson is one of the most obvious moves to help Malkin. But it won't magically solve everything if Schultz doesn't play better and Galchenyuk is the possession hole he's been his whole career.
- Tojo.

Schultz is in a contract year, has now had lots of time to really recoup from the nasty knee injury and should be having a good summer then training camp. I'm not worried about him.

What the (frank) happened on page 1?

Considering Pettersson played mostly with JJ or Gudbranson, I'd imagine if you used that tool for Malkin and Gudbranson the numbers would be great as well...

I liked this blog, but I still maintain just looking at JJ over-simplifies the problem. He's a big part of it, but not all of it.

Since we have 23 on the roster right now, that means we have to move out a contract before the season starts if we sign Petts, right? (ignoring salary cap implications).
- Hockey66

Pettersson makes 9 defensemen, so they'll subtract 1 or 2 from there to get to 22 or 23. Trotman for sure. Question is can move JJ or are willing to try to sneak one of Ruhwedel or Riikola through waivers.

When players, even superstars, play with better players, their offensive output usually increases.

Jack Johnson sucks

/end

What the (frank) happened on page 1?
- jmatchett383

Probably some of those posts got flagged and deleted.

Because he wanted to make it sound like the whole problem was JJ and guys like Maatta, Shultz, and Kessel weren't also contributing factors.

I've been saying all off-season swapping JJ for Pettersson is one of the most obvious moves to help Malkin. But it won't magically solve everything if Schultz doesn't play better and Galchenyuk is the possession hole he's been his whole career.
- Tojo.

Well, Gally and Phil both arent great 2 way players so that change shouldnt be a drastic adjustment.

The main issue with making the 2nd pairing Petterson Schultz... is we now have JJ Gudds in the 3rd pair. And that (frank)ing horrifies me.

Schultz is in a contract year, has now had lots of time to really recoup from the nasty knee injury and should be having a good summer then training camp. I'm not worried about him.
- MattStrat

I see him bouncing back some from last year too, but he wasn't that great the year before either. Frankly, he's a guy who needs help getting the puck back on defense, but is good on offense. That's useful, but you need to help him get back on offense.

I rarely get on here not on my mobile 🤷🏼‍♂️
- WSCTeton17

Yeah nowadays I’m that way. At my last job I wouldn’t give a poop hahah not as free at this job.

Well, Gally and Phil both arent great 2 way players so that change shouldnt be a drastic adjustment.

The main issue with making the 2nd pairing Petterson Schultz... is we now have JJ Gudds in the 3rd pair. And that (frank)ing horrifies me.
- Guile

Yeah, Galchenyuk will hurt possession just as much as Phil did, but he won't finish the chances he gets as much as Phil did either so that's a loss.

Go into the season with JJ v Riikola I guess and hope something can get along the way and that Gudbranson's good play here was a sign he isn't quite as bad as in Vancouver.

Well, Gally and Phil both arent great 2 way players so that change shouldnt be a drastic adjustment.

The main issue with making the 2nd pairing Petterson Schultz... is we now have JJ Gudds in the 3rd pair. And that (frank)ing horrifies me.
- Guile

By deploying them with the 3rd and 4th line, which both appear to be very strong defensively, we might be a break even. Limited scoring aid, but solid defensive work. Especially if they continue to use the third line of Simon Bjugs and Hornqvist.

Given all the talk of Pettersson getting a longer deal and the need to trade someone, one of JJ and Gudbranson has to be on their way out.

So Malkin and JJ it is.

Trotman or whoever gets waived
- Feds91Stammer

That was my thought, too, but can you waive a player before the season starts or before the deadline to have rosters set?

As it relates to the salary cap, dumping Trotman or a similar contract won't create enough space to sign Petts, which leads me to think that if neither Guds nor JJ gets moved, Rust will be moved, and the closer it gets to the season starting, the less the return (maybe just giving him away for a late draft pick).

That was my thought, too, but can you waive a player before the season starts or before the deadline to have rosters set?

As it relates to the salary cap, dumping Trotman or a similar contract won't create enough space to sign Petts, which leads me to think that if neither Guds nor JJ gets moved, Rust will be moved, and the closer it gets to the season starting, the less the return (maybe just giving him away for a late draft pick).
- Hockey66

Yes, guys can and will be waived before it's official, roster size doesn't matter right now.

And yes, they will need to shed salary after signing Pettersson, at least before the season starts. Lot of teams in the same boat making it harder.

What the (frank) happened on page 1?
- jmatchett383

Nothing... nothing at all

What the (frank) happened on page 1?
- jmatchett383

We don’t talk about page 1

We don’t talk about page 1
- Rinosaur

Yeah, Galchenyuk will hurt possession just as much as Phil did, but he won't finish the chances he gets as much as Phil did either so that's a loss.

Go into the season with JJ v Riikola I guess and hope something can get along the way and that Gudbranson's good play here was a sign he isn't quite as bad as in Vancouver.
- Tojo.

He will never be Phil, but I am really hoping that something fits with Malkin and they click. I have a weird feeling that by December he is with Bjugstad on the third line and Geno is flanked by McCann and Kahun/Rust/Simon.