The point isn't just that he's more defensively responsible because of possession, that was never the argument. I brought up possession because Czech was insinuating that Kyrou’s defensive numbers only look good because of his offense. I was simply saying, possession is one of the most important things a forward line can do to limit the other team’s scoring chances. If that's what a line can do for us, why is that a bad thing that is worth jab?
Yeah, possession is huge, but Kyrou has done more than just contribute offensively. He's always contributed offensively. That hasn't kept him from being ranked below the 20th percentile in the past. He’s backchecking, he’s managing the puck better, and he’s playing a much more complete two-way game. How many times this season have we seen a forward hustle back, break up a play, or steal the puck and thought, “Wait, was that Kyrou??” For me, it’s happened more than a few times.
I don't see how Shattenkirk vs. Petro is relevant here. No one’s saying Kyrou is suddenly a great defensive forward. But what I am saying, along with others, is that he’s made significant strides compared to past seasons and is fairing far better than most of his other teammates at keeping the opposition off the scoresheet. Yet somehow, he takes way more criticism than guys who constantly get caved in defensively.
Do you want Kyrou to be Dallas Drake or do you want him to be Jordan Kyrou? I want my best scorer taking o-zone faceoffs rather than being put in positions to prove his defensive value on the other end of the ice. If he's accomplishing what he's accomplishing offensively this season, while still preventing opposing offenses from creating offensive chances at the rate he's currently is, then he's doing everything I need him to be doing. That's what this is all about. As long as he continues to play like he's played this season, and the second half of last season too, then it's time to move on from this idea that he's a highly flawed player. He's a great player for us right now, and arguably the MVP of the team this season.