I don't think Plek is THAT much better than Grabovski, but its one of those cases, were its clear that Plek is the better all around player, similar to most Bergeron vs Plek polls.
IMO Grabovski is a better goal scorer, but again Plek all around game is just too strong, even though Grabovski is decent defensively, Plek is a machine, specially on the pk.
IMO if Plek was better on face-off he would have a chance for a Selke.
I don't think Plek is THAT much better than Grabovski, but its one of those cases, were its clear that Plek is the better all around player, similar to most Bergeron vs Plek polls.
IMO Grabovski is a better goal scorer, but again Plek all around game is just too strong, even though Grabovski is decent defensively, Plek is a machine, specially on the pk.
IMO if Plek was better on face-off he would have a chance for a Selke.
Pretty much this.
However i like Grabovski offensive flare more then Pleks defensive intangibles.
Since their offensive output is roughly the same but Pleks much better at the defensive end of the game .How much PK does Grabs get?
There's no question that Pleks is easily the better all around player.
Pleks AINEC.
Plekanec. Still, the heart that Grabovski shows is something we don't have at all aside from him. I don't watch Plekanec as I can't watch the Habs, but I would assume he's the better player. Love Grabovski though.
Grabo on pace for 63 Points
Pleks on pace for 53 Points
Grabo 27
Pleks 29
The only thing Pleks has over Grabo is his defensive attributes.
Its not fair to compare them using one season's stats. There are many factors that are out of the player's control that can influence their point totals. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst. If you look at the overall pictures, theres no question Pleks is better. Is Grabo the main shutdown guy on the Leafs? Does he spend the majority of his shifts trying to shut down the Malkins of the world? Pleks spends the majority of every game doing this cutting into his ice time on the offense.
Plekanec's defense has taken a blow the last couple years but he's still living off that reputation
Plekanec was PPG and +3 after the first 20 games of the season, and then Cammalleri and Martin getting the boot, combined with Gionta's injury and reluctance to move Eller or DD into full time heavy defensive-oriented duties (what about Gomez??? lol), resulted in him babysitting the worst players on the team (in myriad combinations) while still being asked to play against the best players in the conference/league because Habs coaches/management thought it might be best to give the best wingers left with the team to DD instead (Moen-Eller-A.Kost having their own thing going on). Honestly though, were they going to give Desharnais, Eller, Gomez, or Nokelainen top checking duties so Pleks could pivot a "secondary scoring line"? Nope. Would it be nice if the player they got in exchange for Cammy (Bourque) didn't suck so bad, and was able to help T.Pleks out? Yup.
For those who like to harp on the +/- thing, add up all the partial seasons of +/- for all the plugs that Plekanec has been stuck with for wingers. I guarantee it at least equals his -20, which won't surprise many for long after seeing that list. For those who are aware of sites like hockeyreference, but are too lazy to do the work for themselves, here's the list of Plekanec's ES linemates this year after life with Mike/Max and Brian/Erik:
Bourque (-12 since joining Habs)
Darche (-4)
A.Kost (-8 while in Montreal)
Gomez (-9)
Geoffrion (0, small sample)
White (-4, small sample)
Eller (-1)
Blunden (-2)
------------------------------------------
Players he has had to play with this year = -40 aggregate (gasp! is that... -20 for each side of Plek's line, too?!?!). And probably not because Plekanec, individually, has all of a sudden became one of the worst defensive forwards in the league, lol. Plekanec has proven himself repeatedly when it comes to top level NHL 2-way play, and I think that rotation of 8 players are far from having the defensive reputations that perhaps should have been prerequisite for the duties asked of them this year (at Plekanec's expense).
Last edited by Ohashi_Jouzu: 03-06-2012 at 07:32 PM.
Playing as the forward with the most ice time on the #1 PK in the NHL is a lot more telling than +/- stats in regards to a players defensive effectiveness. Plekanec also plays more against the other teams best offensive line unlike Grabo.
And just one question: If Grabo was so good defensively, why isn't he playing on the PK of one of the worst teams in the league on PK? You would think the Leafs would definitely take the help if it was available to them...
It's very close, but edge to Grabo. His numbers would be higher if Kulie and Mac weren't struggling offensively this season. He's good defensively as well, which gets overlooked very often.
It's very close, but edge to Grabo. His numbers would be higher if Kulie and Mac weren't struggling offensively this season. He's good defensively as well, which gets overlooked very often.
Yeah pleks would be higher too if darche, geoffreon, white, bourque, Leblanc weren't struggling offensively as well!......what's your point? Pleks is equal to grabo offensively if not better career wise and pleks is a top defensive center in the league, anchoring the Habs top penalty kill in the league, while grabo gets little to no time on the PK on a team who Is 29th. Defensively, it's not close.
Yeah pleks would be higher too if darche, geoffreon, white, bourque, Leblanc weren't struggling offensively as well!......what's your point? Pleks is equal to grabo offensively if not better career wise and pleks is a top defensive center in the league, anchoring the Habs top penalty kill in the league, while grabo gets little to no time on the PK on a team who Is 29th. Defensively, it's not close.
easy to look good defensively when your goalie is Carey Price over Jonas Gustavsson
easy to look good defensively when your goalie is Carey Price over Jonas Gustavsson
Arguable. You're not gonna look
Good defensively if you have bad coverage, stick work, ect. Goaltending wouldn't change that perspective for me, even if pleks was on a team that had an awful goalie.
