I dont think the team will expect him to carry them offensively. Im sure they are hoping for good production from vrbata, vermette and doan if hes here with better production from boedker and hanzal. korpi and torres are good for 15+ goals too.
Ray Whitney led our team in pp scoring with 20pts.
Steve Sullivan had 21.
Yep, I think he actually will be better on the PP than Whitney.
Obviously with that 21 point number though you need to look at the talent around him
I've never been overly impressed with Whitney in our PP unit. I mean he led us to 23rd and 29th ranked PP's, big whoop. It's his ES play that really sets him apart and losing that will hurt. And there is no replacement for it. It will have to be made up by the D.
It's worth noting that while Sullivan and Whitney had about the same amount of time on the powerplay last year (Whitney got about eight seconds more per game and played only three more games), Whitney played more than three full minutes more at even strength. I don't think Sullivan will play as many minutes next year as Whitney did last year, but if Sullivan can score at close to the same clip as he did last year, I'd expect Boedker's growth to offset the loss.
Which begs the question as to what our lines will be next season. It would be natural to assume that Sullivan partners with Hanzal and Vrbata given his playmaking, but those guys play a lot of 5x5 minutes, so do you split it up and partner someone like Moss or Torres with them in some of the defensive zone faceoffs (like we did in the playoffs with inserting Chip instead of Boedker late in games)?
FWIW, you'll need to put Sully with two guys who can and will forecheck. Outside of his playmaking and PP capacity last season he seemed pretty useless with the Pens. He still has a good shot that he doesn't use anywhere near enough. He was ineffective with Malkin & Neal but did very well in a 3LW (limited minutes) role with Staal, Cooke, or Kennedy. Did play a little bit with Crosby & Dupuis and seemed okay but he needs at least one pure grit/grinder type and another decent forechecker.
He can't replace Whitney but he'll probably limit the downside to no longer having Ray.
FWIW, you'll need to put Sully with two guys who can and will forecheck. Outside of his playmaking and PP capacity last season he seemed pretty useless with the Pens. He still has a good shot that he doesn't use anywhere near enough. He was ineffective with Malkin & Neal but did very well in a 3LW (limited minutes) role with Staal, Cooke, or Kennedy. Did play a little bit with Crosby & Dupuis and seemed okay but he needs at least one pure grit/grinder type and another decent forechecker.
He can't replace Whitney but he'll probably limit the downside to no longer having Ray.
Actually that sounds positive. He is expected to play on the Hanzal, Vrbata line which is exactly what you discribed. And, IMO, he will adequately replace Whitney on the ice and revitalize his career...
FWIW, you'll need to put Sully with two guys who can and will forecheck. Outside of his playmaking and PP capacity last season he seemed pretty useless with the Pens. He still has a good shot that he doesn't use anywhere near enough. He was ineffective with Malkin & Neal but did very well in a 3LW (limited minutes) role with Staal, Cooke, or Kennedy. Did play a little bit with Crosby & Dupuis and seemed okay but he needs at least one pure grit/grinder type and another decent forechecker.
He can't replace Whitney but he'll probably limit the downside to no longer having Ray.
Thanks for the input. We're likely to have him slotted in Whitney's spot on the "Prime Line" with Hanzal and Vrbata, but in the off-chance Boedker moves up there instead, the Vermette/Doan line forechecks just as much.
Thanks for the input. We're likely to have him slotted in Whitney's spot on the "Prime Line" with Hanzal and Vrbata, but in the off-chance Boedker moves up there instead, the Vermette/Doan line forechecks just as much.
Exactly. And this post is also a good reminder of how desperately we need Doan back.
