Not Bad
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 8:34 AM PDT
28 comments
DANIEL:
All right Arthur, great things come in pairs: winners and losers, goals and saves, Kariya and Selanne, and GOATS and GOATS . . . Okay that didn't work the way I'd hoped. Recently, we each pointed a finger at the person who is most responsible for the epic failure of the Ducks' season, now it's time to applaud the person who gave the best effort and did everything in his power to save the season. So Arthur, who is your choice for the Ducks' most productive player this season?
ARTHUR:
Well, on paper, the top line has produced. Corey Perry's 74 points and 262 shots are proof enough of that. But I think the obvious answer here has always been Saku Koivu. He's fourth in points with 50, but he leads the team in plus/minus with 13 (which is six ahead of Sheldon Brookbank). He also leads the team in gamewinners (6), overtime goals (2), shooting percentage on 100 shots or more (15.7%) and faceoff percentage on 300 draws or more (51.4%). He's only played 18:35 per game in 70 games, but he also leads all forwards in shifts per game (25.4), showing that he's a go-to guy about as much as anyone else on this team.
But going beyond the statistics, beyond the fact that he hustles and creates scoring chances every time he's on the ice, beyond the fact that he battles for the puck despite being my size, he's also done it under tremendously challenging circumstances. This was a completely new system in a conference he'd never played in before, just months after the team he captained for a decade told him he could no longer contribute. Yes, he got to play with Selanne, but he was also saddled with Carlyle's attempt to foist combinations like Lupul/Selanne on him, not to mention the orange armband heat that was Evgeny Artyukhin. And he (with Lupul) was also put in charge of the experimental (read disastrous) penalty killing unit that the Ducks employed to start the year. Basically, until Carlyle put Koivu on a traditional line with a skilled speedster (Sexton) and banger (Ryan), no one was really trying to help him adjust.
But he did. And Koivu was hot when the team needed him to be. The Ducks' built winning streaks on his production, whereas they seemed to find losing streaks despite the production of the top line. If anyone did his best to stop this ship from sinking, and could maybe be credited with keeping the ship afloat and trying to inspire his teammates (at least with his play) despite being completely unfamiliar with these waters, it was Saku Koivu.
DANIEL:
I agree that Saku Koivu is the most obvious choice, but I have another forward in mind: Matt Beleskey. He's done everything we've asked of him. The kid drops the gloves, forechecks hard and when he was on the top line, he was putting the puck in the net. Yes, a rookie should be expected to move up and down the depth chart. However, Beleskey performed that task flawlessly. He played Ducks hockey, something not a lot of people can say this year. He also made an appearance when a few people, myself included (but not you, obviously), were beginning to doubt what the Ducks were keeping in the cupboard. Especially after we drafted Peter Holland in the first round. Beleskey was a breath of fresh air, and he didn't have to stay in the Top 6 to be effective like Dan Sexton.
I appreciated Beleskey's effort this year. There were flashes of brilliance, and that wrist shot is going to get downright scary. I'm excited to see what he brings in the coming years, and I applaud his effort to this point. Honorable mention goes to Sheldon Brookbank; he got batted around a bit, but still became a productive part of a struggling, if not tattered, defensive corps.
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I agree with Arthur.. Corey Perry really impressed me this year. He wasn’t the Corey Perry that I am screaming at usually for going offsides and taking penalties in the offensive zone. He also played every game this season. Yes hes a different player with getz in or out of the lineup but he showed that he well deserved the contract he signed. But he gets number 2 in my book.. Koivu just was the most consistent all around player game in and game out. He brought leadership to the young guys like Bobby and Sexton. Plays a great two way game. This guy MUST be signed. I think Getz is the future captain of the team but he still can learn a lot from Koivu and the leadership style he brings. And it seems like Koivu is more open to sharing that kind of stuff than Scotty. Until Getz gets his emotions in check and rise when the game is on the line, which I think Koivu can teach, then he can receive the C. So resign Koivu and if Scotty leaves give Koivu the interim C.
Oh, I chose Koivu. I just mentioned Perry in the opening paragraph. Sorry if that threw you off ;-)
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Koivu Koivu Koivu. He’s cap next year if Scotty retires.
I could see why Perry and Belesky might be honorable mentions. I think when Perry is on, he’s great. But that’s just it. He and Getzlaf don’t show the consistency they should. I can recall a few nights where I thought to myself “where the fuck is our first line?”. That shouldn’t happen to guys who play the most minutes than any other forwards on the team. These two play when they want to. We saw Getzlaf prove that in the last game before the Olympics.
Belesky reminds me of Kunitz in that he does everything that is asked of him and he does it to the best of his ability every night. That and he has a fucking laser of a wrister that he needs to find a way to put on net. He worked hard on a consistent basis and I think he’s versatile enough to throw out on the first line or even the third line. He will be a great asset for us next season for sure.
all right that's two misreads in a row
I didn’t mean to honorable mention Perry. I was just pointing to the fact that there was production from the top line, but I mentioned later that Koivu’s production was actually tied to winning, whereas the top line’s streak was tied to losing. No honorable mention for Perry! Well, not from me anyways.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Seriously, my statistical argument for why Koivu trumps Perry's team lead in points
[Koivu]‘s fourth in points with 50, but he leads the team in plus/minus with 13 (which is six ahead of Sheldon Brookbank). He also leads the team in gamewinners (6), overtime goals (2), shooting percentage on 100 shots or more (15.7%) and faceoff percentage on 300 draws or more (51.4%). He’s only played 18:35 per game in 70 games, but he also leads all forwards in shifts per game (25.4), showing that he’s a go-to guy about as much as anyone else on this team.
- pasted from article above
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 3:23 PM PDT reply actions
I think Daniel’s question used the word “productive,” and I couldn’t just act like the top line didn’t exist, as they are 1-2-3 in points. BUT the only “consistently productive” player was Koivu.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t think I misread you. I was under no impression that Perry was your choice. Anyone who doesn’t say Koivu obviously wasn’t paying attention this season. You said the first line was productive did you not? I don’t think you’d find anyone who would disagree. I was merely pointing out that he (Perry) and Getzlaf had consistency issues and that’s why neither got the nod from me.
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I didn’t highlight or bold
on paper
but I feel i emphasized it enough. The top line produced on paper. That can’t be denied, but then I said, “But I think the obvious answer here has always been Saku Koivu” And by that, I mean that even when the top line had scoring streaks, Koivu was the most consistent player.
It’s probably a clarity issue, since CUnitSoldier also thought I was praising Perry. It’s my job as editor to see to it that that doesn’t happen again.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re overlooking the margin of error based on the intelligence of the people commenting (myself included). I get what you mean though, sadly toward the tail-end of his point streak I would’ve said Perry for this thread and wouldn’t even have thought of mentioning Koivu. Oh the beauty of a long season
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that kind of thing is fixed with one line, usually. I do it with what daniel sends me all the time. We operate on a word limit, so we try not to repeat ourselves, but occasionally, you should.
I’ve praised Koivu throughout the season. He had some trouble in the faceoff dot after the Olympics and the penalty killing unit he headed for Farrish at the beginning of the year was spotty, but from game to game, no one was more consistent for this team than Koivu. When the top line was streaking, and he was on a line with Lupul and Selanne, HE became the banger, working the 6’3" guys in the corner and trying to get the puck back. There’s really nothing more I could have asked or expected of Koivu this season, especially with the degree of adjustment we were asking him to make. I can’t say that about any other Duck.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Couldn’t agree more. That’s why it’s all the more important to get him back next season. I’d be surprised if he didn’t sign an extension though.
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I don’t know if we can offer him the contender status. I know he loves being out of the spotlight, but I don’t know if we can make him a playoff team offer. And if we can’t, and we don’t have Teemu, I don’t expect him to take less than 4M. He’s proven Montreal wrong, that he’s still got healthy years in him, and that he can play in the western conference. He can get what we pay him on any playoff team, and he can get more on any non-playoff team. It’s nice to be out of the spotlight, but as Niedermayer pointed out, he wasn’t exactly in the spotlight in Jersey. There are plenty of playoff markets that are quieter than pretty much anywhere in Canada.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions
True, but I think you might be overlooking the personal factor. Saku has stated on a number of occasions how much he LOVES playing here. It’s sunny southern California for Christ’s sake, not boring fucking Nashville. Koivu stays, but the point you made about salary is a good one. I’m not sure he’d sign for as little he did again.
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Los Angeles is just as sunny. San Jose is nice. There are playoff teams not that far away. And when players like Teemu, Saku and even Lupul talk about playing here, the FIRST thing they mention is the anonymity. Being able to walk down the street without anyone recognizing you and not being in the papers seems to be a much bigger deal than sunshine. It’s nice to talk about how good it is to play in southern california, but Koivu has said he likes the pressure off his shoulders. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t want a Cup.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions
My argument isn’t solely based on the lifestyle of SoCal. While that is part of it, there’s also the part that you mentioned which ties in with my whole point. Anonymity + Climate Tendencies + Entertainment Value = Big Fucking Reason Why I think Koivu Will Stay. Plus, there’s enough to assume that we’re not the next Oilers. There is potential with this team and you know it. We’re not a contender by any means YET, but we’re far from being a non-playoff team (save this year, and yes I’m still scratching my head).
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yeah, but again, Los Angeles isn’t vastly different for the things you listed, and its team actually worked this year. The biggest disadvantage for the Ducks right now is that Koivu has played for this team; he’s watched them fuck up a good thing. He’s BEEN the best player on a so-called playoff roster. He can try that again on a paycut and hope for the same result, or take a trip down the freeway and play in the same environment with a team that made the playoffs. From a free agent hockey player point of view, there are just too many reasons to leave if we don’t pay him.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions
woops, hope for a different result, that is. AA reference
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Idk, do the Kings have a spot for him? I thought their lines were set. They’ve got Kopitar, Handzus, and Stoll. It seems to me Koivu wouldn’t have a spot over there unless he took Frolov’s spot on the wing, and that won’t happen. Either way this whole discussion is a wash if Teemu signs again because you KNOW Saku will be back at that point if he isn’t already
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the kings can always shift Handzus when Frolov leaves. I think, in acquiring Smyth, they showed a willingness to bring in some playoff experience to complement their young players. Koivu doesn’t bring size, but he brings speed and playmaking ability that could really complement a guy like Simmonds. You just never know when you’re talking about a guy who would be a valuable addition to most any team.
And Teemu would have to sign when free agency starts. If he takes too long to think, I think Koivu and maybe even the Ducks move on.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions
But is that enough? Koivu will again be the most coveted center on the free agent market. He simply does too much. I thunk Phoenix might be a dark horse in this race. Plenty of young talent, terrific goaltender in his prime. They’re essentially us only more successful.
I thunk there are plenty of options out there and Koivu will cost us 3.5 if we’re lucky. If Selanne doesn’t come back, that price goes up. The real question is, do we get tied up in Koivu for the 3-4 years it’ll take to keep him? Is the cap hit worth the lost ice time to youth or the money it takes away from upgrading the D, a much more pressing concern.
Just food for thought really. I love Kpivu, and I think we should keep him, but it’s also time for a clear plan moving forward. I think all the band aid decisions are going to start catching up to us if we aren’t careful.
by Daniel AC on Apr 9, 2010 5:01 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I don’t think Mike Brown gets enough credit for fighting for the puck. He will go into the corner and pretty much all the time he is going to come out with it.
Also I like how Blake fights for the puck, he doesn’t appear to know how to slow down.
Let's go Ducks.
Brown and Blake are good additions. I always liked Brown, but I’m not sure the kid had the best year. He was often scratched and didn’t play anything above 4th line minutes. With Blake, I’m not sure what will happen in the off-season. When he first came over in the JS deal, he struggled to find his spot with the team. Assuming Teemu and Koivu both come back, I’d like to see Blake reunited with that line. If Teemu retires, I think Murray would be hard-pressed not to find a new home for Blake. He’s got a huge cap hit and I think Sexton could fill his role on the second line at a much cheaper price
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Blake struggled early on, as Carlyle tried to force him off his natural wing position apparently. He’s awake now, and he’s bringing the puck to the net like he’s a foot taller. He’s playing Legion of Doom hockey.
I don’t think Brown earned his scratches, but he probably didn’t do enough with the little ice time Carlyle was giving him. I still think he did more than Bodie, but this coaching staff loves them some Troy Bodie, so Brown got squeezed out in favor of the large human.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Both Brown and Bodie can’t control the puck though. I say we don’t give them sticks and tell them to just go out there and check everyone like Brown did with Hudler and Bodie did with Whitney. It’d make for much more entertaining hockey and I’d stop finding ways to sneak into the locker room to put glue on their sticks
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Whoa, let’s not put Brown in with Bodie. That’s like future saying Bonino’s a bad skater. MayBE, but on a team with Beleskey, Parros and Bodie, no one’s going to notice. Brown may not be able to pull off any quality moves, but he can handle the puck, and he can skate with it at a nice speed. Bodie can barely receive a pass at times, and he falls down trying to bring it laterally. Bodie makes Brown look like Pavel Datsyuk out there.
Brown’s a quality skater, but he’s a little guy. Checking opportunities don’t present themselves as easily, especially when your coach is giving you five shifts a game against other checking lines.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Valid point. I still don’t know how Bodie shelved that one breakaway on Anderson. Maybe this year I just haven’t seen enough of Brown to notice his improvements, but I just remember he wasn’t too great and handling the puck. But now I do recall he’s not nearly as bad as I thought. Regardless, they’re quality players. Which would you trade if you had to?
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I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something with Bodie. If I’m not, then we could just as easily put Matt McCue in there. Bigger guy, better fighter, smarter defender, etc. Brown played well for us defensively last year, and having a quality skater to run the fourth line rushes with Carter paid off early this year. I guess I go with the better skating banger who can play effective defense, but only because I think we have upgrades from Bodie available in the cupboard.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on Apr 9, 2010 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions
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