Since Cronin made changes to the system about 10 games ago, it is the defense that has been green lit to be aggressive offensively. Cronin isn't suppressing the blueline's offense. Here is the proof.
- Blueline production splits: Game set 1-13 and Game set 14-23.
- Blueline First 13 games: 4g + 9a = 13pts (1.00 ppg) and -7 rating
- Minty: 12 games, 2g + 0a = 2pts (0.16 ppg) and -4 rating
- Blueline Last 10 games: 7g + 17a = 24 pts (2.40 ppg) and +13 rating
- Minty: 10 games, 1g + 3a = 4pts (0.40 ppg) and -2 rating
On the ice play, Minty is pinching down often. Many of his scoring and scoring chances are because he's pinching down low. I say your eyes are biased and your proposed thought that Cronin is purposely suppressing Minty's offense is agenda driven. Putting Minty in a top-4/top-pairing role is not purposely suppressing a young player's offense. He is facing the opposing team's stronger or strongest forward lines in a non-sheltered pairing situation. Not all pairing competitions are equal and that's the missing context from your comment. You are missing many layers in your thoughts that lends itself to be agenda driven.
The eyes and that data match production for Minty, which spans from last year to this season.
- In a bottom-pairing role, Minty's offensive output is higher (Highest = 0.57 ppg)... because he is in a sheltered role.
- In a top-4/top-pairing role, Minty's offense dips (Lowest = 0.16 ppg)... due to higher levels of competition.
- Recent system change has green lit Blueline to be more aggressive offensively... Minty's production goes up.
Do you want Minty to become a top-pairing D-man or keep him as a sheltered D-man via a favorable OZ start%? It's odd and inconsistent that you keep defaulting to the "eye test" and lambast using stats, but then you fall back upon stats to try to support your thoughts. ::: shrugs :::
