Quote:
Originally Posted by NickyFotiu
Where is it written that half of a teams forwards have to be low skilled players who only grind? Where is it written that it is better to have 6 players that are little threat to score go against other teams tops lines? MZA played a lot of 3rd line and 4th line. He was never a minus player so obviously he was on the ice for more Rangers goals than the opposition goals. That does not even take in to effect the added PP benefit.
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In 52 NHL games with us Zucc had 8 goals and 26 points. In 2010-11 he got avg. ice time of 14.10 per game including average pwp time of 2.32 per game which resulted in 0 goals 9 assists. A creative player--these are okay numbers--not spectacular. As for even strength ice time that year his average is only higher than two other regulars that year both of whom (Avery, Christensen) the coach really did have major issues with.
Last year Zucc was injured off and on. In his 10 NHL games he scored 2 goals 1 assist and averaged just under 10 minutes ice time a game though his average of 3 minutes per game pwp time is quite high. He produced a goal and an assist on the pwp in those 10 games. That goal and assist made a huge impression on some apparently--a lot more of an impression than his less than 7 minutes per game even strength time. Basically he couldn't crack the top 6 and the coach wasn't sure how to use him effectively in the bottom 6. He became a pwp specialist with limited even strength time to give the rest of the forwards a bit of a breather or to be more blunt about it Tortorella didn't trust him all that much at even strength.
It's frustrating to some that the Rangers offense quite often seems anemic. Tortorella is in the business of winning games anemic offense or not. The Rangers team during his tenure has been built around defense and disciplined play not free lancing. MZA is a very talented guy--but his game is built more around his ability to free lance. Tortorella expects his bottom line forwards to live and die by his philosophy of defense and discipline. Yeah--skate and grind is a major part of it. It's been successful the last couple years. At least as far as my hockey team goes when it wins a lot more than it loses I don't argue about it--I tend to accept it as a good thing.