Really, did the coaches call you and tell you this?
Couture was a beast of a two-way player last year and all the NHL press took notice of it during the Calder discussion. This year he seems to have dropped off a little bit, likely due to nagging injuries. In a 5-on-5 situation, he's much more aggressive defensively than Patty, who, while improved from the awful years past, still relies solely on his speed rather than any real physical play.
And the reason Marleau gets PK time has a lot more to do with his speed and the shorthanded scoring threat he poses, than his amazing defensive skills.
TM has commented on it after the fact in post-game interviews with regards line matching.
Patty has a very active stick on PK. It isn't just the threat, it is that he is turning over the puck and getting it out. On PK, his lack of physical engagement allows him to jump the puck more easily. I have always wondered why he was so effective and focused on the good things, especially this year.
I know you have followed hockey a long time. You might learn a thing or two by focusing on the good things someone is doing when their general play doesn't meet standard criteria.
TM has commented on it after the fact in post-game interviews with regards line matching.
Patty has a very active stick on PK. It isn't just the threat, it is that he is turning over the puck and getting it out. On PK, his lack of physical engagement allows him to jump the puck more easily. I have always wondered why he was so effective and focused on the good things, especially this year.
I know you have followed hockey a long time. You might learn a thing or two by focusing on the good things someone is doing when their general play doesn't meet standard criteria.
I'm not saying Marleau is bad defensively. I'm saying Couture is just as good, and both the numbers and visual observation support it. And Couture has 2 shorthanded goals compared to Marleau's zero and he's done it with 25 percent less ice time on the PK. Accross the board, Couture's stats this year are equal to or better than Marleau's in every category, while getting 10 percent less ice time.
You mean like he was fine last year against LA. It happens to most teams as most follow the practice of "ride hard and put away wet". But, if you go back over recent history, the fewer games the better. A lot of the winners were blessed with fewer games because of injury, but others like Boston planned it that way.
If I were a GM, I would put an absolute limit on the coach of 60 games for the starter if I were interested in the cup. That would include an extended (5-10) game stretch in the last 20 games although that stretch would not include the last 4 or 5 games.
well like i said before the Sharks don't have a choice. Ideally that would be a good plan but it doesn't happen with this team.
I'm not saying Marleau is bad defensively. I'm saying Couture is just as good, and both the numbers and visual observation support it. And Couture has 2 shorthanded goals compared to Marleau's zero and he's done it with 25 percent less ice time on the PK. Accross the board, Couture's stats this year are equal to or better than Marleau's in every category, while getting 10 percent less ice time.
Not across the board, qualcomp.
They also went extremely quick shifts on PK which cut shorties this year. They have recently extended which has helped Patty to 2 shorty chances lately. The passive box has also not helped shorty chances. On top of that, I would take Couture over Marleau or Pavs at this point for finishing chances.
No dislike of Couture on my part, I just think he has to improve a bit. The observation I have is that Patty still gets Couture on zone entries, but not by a lot. I'll take Couture over all others for anticipating opponents through the neutral zone.
Do you use behindthenet at all? This gets back to the thread where some of the stuff that most of us like is showing up on Wingels. Sharks coaches are using some similar stats, because their promotions/demotions tend to follow possession stats. They are also doing some advanced faceoff stuff.
Apparently Wingels is a big supporter of You Can Play, Brandon Burke's LGBT in sports organization. Good for him, sports in general needs more acceptance.
To counter the Sedins and Kostitsyns of the world DW has come up with long lost cousins Wingels and Winnik. Not exactly to specifications but close enough.
Really, did the coaches call you and tell you this?
