Then again, about how many NHL-teams you can say "they have a lot of potential"? 15? 20? 25?
5 i'd say.. Avs, Oilers, Sabres, Minnesota and Carolina maybe. I define "potential" as teams that are not yet great, but have the potential to be. So that takes out Boston, Chicago, Detroit(maybe),LA, Ranger, Philly, Penguins, Sharks, St.louis, Vancouver. The rest of the league is either in the decline, still a looong shot from even being about to say " have a lot of potential" (Columbus, Calgary,Islanders,Toronto) Or in a sticky situation ( Anaheim, Dallas, Nashville, New Jersey) There are a lot of things teams in the league can be said about them, but few can say " we have a lot of potential"
5 i'd say.. Avs, Oilers, Sabres, Minnesota and Carolina maybe. I define "potential" as teams that are not yet great, but have the potential to be. So that takes out Boston, Chicago, Detroit(maybe),LA, Ranger, Philly, Penguins, Sharks, St.louis, Vancouver. The rest of the league is either in the decline, still a looong shot from even being about to say " have a lot of potential" (Columbus, Calgary,Islanders,Toronto) Or in a sticky situation ( Anaheim, Dallas, Nashville, New Jersey) There are a lot of things teams in the league can be said about them, but few can say " we have a lot of potential"
I think you can't limit potential by saying some team is already great. Ask Kings fans that do they think their team has a lot of potential. I bet quite rare says "Nah, not really."
But none of those scorers are deadly snipers. They're pretty much 'crash-the-net and get the garbage goal' guys. Duke used to be a deadly sniper, but not so much now.
On the other hand, that seems to be the direction the NHL is going. Most goals any more (at least vs a decent goalie) are the garbage goal variety.
Is that a serious question? Or are you just drunk?
I think the better, more proper statement is look at the Kings D this year, was it much more proven than the Avs D?
Up to this season, the Kings D had proven nothing. Everyone knew Doughty was a top end talent, but he had yet to really take a step forward, outside of one really strong Norris worthy season, and had a crappy regular season. Beyond him they had one vet in Orpik who had been to the big time and a bunch of young guys and journeymen.
Not saying Doughty/Johnson is a perfect comparison, but the Avs are similar in that they also have that one potental superstar, Johnson, the vet, Hejda, a few journeymen, Wilson/O'Brien/O'Byrne/Hunwick/Zanon, and a few young guys in Barrie/Elliott,Gaunce,ext that could step it up. Not saying it WILL happen, just that it could.
But none of those scorers are deadly snipers. They're pretty much 'crash-the-net and get the garbage goal' guys. Duke used to be a deadly sniper, but not so much now.
On the other hand, that seems to be the direction the NHL is going. Most goals any more (at least vs a decent goalie) are the garbage goal variety.
*Duchene excluded
The NHL just needs to drill big holes in D mens legs so that they can't block shots as much.....
But seriously, as much as it might increase the risk of foot and leg injuries, the NHL needs to put some limits on the type of body armor that players can use on their feet and legs. There is a reason that so many players are willing to block shots these days, and its not because players are braver than in the past. When Adam Foote used to go down to block a shot, you knew he was risking his health to do it. Nowadays, unless the puck finds your face, odds are you are wearing padding that will make it feel like a cotton ball hitting you more than a puck. (or at least not like you got hit by a frozen puck going 100 mph)
Put a bit more fear/risk back into shot blocking and snipers and big shot guys will get more room.
I think the better, more proper statement is look at the Kings D this year, was it much more proven than the Avs D?
Up to this season, the Kings D had proven nothing. Everyone knew Doughty was a top end talent, but he had yet to really take a step forward, outside of one really strong Norris worthy season, and had a crappy regular season. Beyond him they had one vet in Orpik who had been to the big time and a bunch of young guys and journeymen.
Not saying Doughty/Johnson is a perfect comparison, but the Avs are similar in that they also have that one potental superstar, Johnson, the vet, Hejda, a few journeymen, Wilson/O'Brien/O'Byrne/Hunwick/Zanon, and a few young guys in Barrie/Elliott,Gaunce,ext that could step it up. Not saying it WILL happen, just that it could.
No they didn't. They had Scuderi (who was fantastic during Pens Cup run) and Mitchell who was always considered to be a great defensive player before his concussion and this season he finally returned to his full form.
Jones and Landeskog are probably the only ones who can hit 25+.
Look at his junior totals though
69G 37A before being drafted by Brampton
30G 20A in his rookie year in Brampton
5G 3A for Canada in the WJ under18
31G 48A in his last season in Brampton (14G 12A in the playoffs)
4G 3A for Canada in the WC
OHL totals: 61G 68A (15G 13A in the playoffs)
NHL totals: 65G 85A
I wouldn't consider him a playmaker. Yes he's got great passing ability, and picks up more assists due to the benefits of being a centre, but he's got the best hands on the team in terms of pure sniping and dangling, unless Hejduk can somehow magically find his touch again.
Jones and Lando are probably our surest bets due to their high shooting frequency and knack for cleaning up rebounds, but in terms of pure offensive skill I think Duchene wins hands down.
With confidence, Duchene can be a consistent 30+ goal player. The tool set is obviously there. I think Parenteau will do most of the playmaking there, dude has sweet hands when it comes to dishing. Dutchy will receive the puck in high percentage scoring areas and hopefully capitalize.
No they didn't. They had Scuderi (who was fantastic during Pens Cup run) and Mitchell who was always considered to be a great defensive player before his concussion and this season he finally returned to his full form.
I think the better, more proper statement is look at the Kings D this year, was it much more proven than the Avs D?
That would be a resounding yes. The only defenseman the Avs have that are in the same class as Scuderi, Mitchell and Doughty is Johnson and maybe Hejda on his best days. Doughty, Mitchell and Scuderi have all played major roles on winning teams in the past. Scuderi won a cup in Pittsburgh and Mitchell has been a shut-down defenseman everywhere he has been. Doughty has been in the top three in Norris voting. The Avs don't have anyone that can compete with that. Maybe Johnson in the future, but outside of that there is no one.
31G 48A in his last season in Brampton (14G 12A in the playoffs)
4G 3A for Canada in the WC
OHL totals: 61G 68A (15G 13A in the playoffs)
NHL totals: 65G 85A
I wouldn't consider him a playmaker. Yes he's got great passing ability, and picks up more assists due to the benefits of being a centre, but he's got the best hands on the team in terms of pure sniping and dangling, unless Hejduk can somehow magically find his touch again.
Another thing to remember is that assists are approximately twice as easy to collect as goals (sure, not every goal has two assists, but it's way more common to get "accidentally" an assists than a goal - although that happens occasionally too). So if your assists per goal ratio is about 2, you are "even" and difference from there makes you either "more goalscorer" or "more playmaker". If your numbers are 61 to 68, you're definitely not primarily a playmaker.
But none of those scorers are deadly snipers. They're pretty much 'crash-the-net and get the garbage goal' guys. Duke used to be a deadly sniper, but not so much now.
On the other hand, that seems to be the direction the NHL is going. Most goals any more (at least vs a decent goalie) are the garbage goal variety.
*Duchene excluded
Landeskog, Jones and McGinn can shoot well enough. They're also big and fast which is really important to NHL players. I think Stastny is the type of goal scorer you're thinking about, scoring mostly garbage in tight goals. Landeskog, Jones, and McGinn can score and can score single effort goals. They aren't gonna be scoring Stamkos-esque goals but not many can.
