Player Discussion Brady Tkachuk (LW) - Part XI

[UglyPuckling]

If Brady is traded, they need to hit a home run with the trade return. If not, the job has become harder and the path to success will be longer.

Of all the offseason moves, the Jensen one looks good & the other ones not so much.

 

[Micklebot]

If Brady is traded, they need to hit a home run with the trade return. If not, the job has become harder and the path to success will be longer.

Of all the offseason moves, the Jensen one looks good & the other ones not so much.

Who would have thought Chychrun for Jensen would be a win, and Korpsalo for Ullmark would be a loss...

 

[HSF]

So what is Brady Tkachuk responsible for as team captain then?

He shouldn't need to motivate others, he shouldn't need to play a 200 foot game, he shouldn't need to create opportunities for his teammates.

He should be wish.com Ovechkin? Is that it? And you think that's winning hockey? Really?

That's what the Anaheim game looked like to me. wish.com Ovechkin.

Brady brings energy, elite goal scoring and one of the few players who is actually producing on a consistent basis. He fights, he hits, he wins board battles, he wins face offs, brings intensity and one of the few players who goes to the net

He brings a ton to the table. Hes on pace for over 90 points on a team that is weak offensively. I mean isn't it obvious?

His job isn't to get Pinto and Norris going. Norris is paid handsomely to do that himself

 

[DackellDuck]

So Brady was just taking his cues from a good example, would you prefer he emulate captains like olli Jokinen instead?

There’s a guy in his division who he could try to emulate. Look at how Brad Marchand acted when he got called out by Jim Montgomery on the bench and then after the coach got fired. Took responsibility, called out himself and his team.

There’s also a guy standing behind Brady on the bench who was always brutally honest about how own play, and his entire teams. Win or lose.

Brady brings energy, elite goal scoring and one of the few players who is actually producing on a consistent basis. He fights, he hits, he wins board battles, he wins face offs, brings intensity and one of the few players who goes to the net

He brings a ton to the table. Hes on pace for over 90 points on a team that is weak offensively. I mean isn't it obvious?

His job isn't to get Pinto and Norris going. Norris is paid handsomely to do that himself

I agree that that’s what he is, and it makes him a really good player.

But not a good captain.

 

[DylanSensFan]

Who would have thought Chychrun for Jensen would be a win, and Korpsalo for Ullmark would be a loss...

Ullmark has been fine. He does need to improve a little bit, but this team also needs to stop making mistakes in the neutral zone that leads to grade A chances in the D-zone. They are literally letting off the gas with ten seconds left in a period.

 

[TheNewEra]

Player Season Totals - Natural Stat Trick

Thanks appreciate it

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

"Look, we understand the a Brady Tkachuk trade will be hard to swallow, that's why we saved the exciting news for last. Cory Conacher has signed on as the assistant coach of the Belleville Senators."

 

[Golden_Jet]

Ullmark has been fine. He does need to improve a little bit, but this team also needs to stop making mistakes in the neutral zone that leads to grade A chances in the D-zone. They are literally letting off the gas with ten seconds left in a period.

He’s 58th in GSAA, Forsberg 52nd
For a team ranking of 31st in league

 

[Micklebot]

Ullmark has been fine. He does need to improve a little bit, but this team also needs to stop making mistakes in the neutral zone that leads to grade A chances in the D-zone. They are literally letting off the gas with ten seconds left in a period.

There have been times where we give up chances we shouldn't, no disagreement there, but to suggest Ullmark has been fine when his performance has been significantly worse than Forsberg, I can't buy into that.

He was great his last two starts (that third goal against Ana goal aside). If he keeps that up, I think he's more than fine, but:

.890 5v5 Sv% (52nd out of 59 with 300+ mins)
-3.4 Goals saved above expected (58th in the league)
.888 all situation sv% (40th in the league)

None of that is fine, especially not for a guy brought in to be the long term solution to our crease, and certainly not for a guy slated to make 8.25 mil next year

 

[Knave]

Brady brings energy, elite goal scoring and one of the few players who is actually producing on a consistent basis. He fights, he hits, he wins board battles, he wins face offs, brings intensity and one of the few players who goes to the net

He brings a ton to the table. Hes on pace for over 90 points on a team that is weak offensively. I mean isn't it obvious?

His job isn't to get Pinto and Norris going. Norris is paid handsomely to do that himself

I agree he brings a lot of energy for sure. I won't question that Brady Tkachuk cares or claim he doesn't try hard or that he doesn't skate. But you're talking about it like most teams talk about their third and fourth line or the plug with some talent they put on their top line (Bertuzzi and now Domi for Toronto). Forechecking hard. Throwing hits. Giving the team energy. Fighting if they need to. Putting up some scrappy goals.

In terms of his production - since some of us like numbers:

Tkachuk is tied for 62nd with dozens of other players for even strength goals at 6 (100 players have 6 or more even strength goals).
He's tied for 2nd in goals on the powerplay with 7.

Compare that to Stutzle - tied for 16th with 14 other players for even strength goals at 9. 1 powerplay goal so far.

He's good to have on the powerplay but he doesn't drive much play by himself. He tips in shots mostly from Stutzle who creates the lane and the scoring opportunity to be tipped in by Tkachuk.

There is nothing wrong with being that guy who benefits from others. But I wouldn't describe him as an elite goal scorer.

I'm glad he's on pace for over 90 points but that's a bad sign for this team. We're relying on him to be something he's not for yet another year of missed playoffs.

 

[bicboi64]

Ullmark has been fine. He does need to improve a little bit, but this team also needs to stop making mistakes in the neutral zone that leads to grade A chances in the D-zone. They are literally letting off the gas with ten seconds left in a period.

Mate Ullmark has not met the threshold for being fine.

I think the rest of the roster has a lot of work to do because they've been awful in various aspects of their game, like Brady being ass defensively despite him scoring at a good pace, but Ullmark with his .888 save percentage is probably the most underperforming senator this season

 

[Micklebot]

Mate Ullmark has not met the threshold for being fine.

I think the rest of the roster has a lot of work to do because they've been awful in various aspects of their game, like Brady being ass defensively despite him scoring at a good pace, but Ullmark with his .888 save percentage is probably the most underperforming senator this season

Yeah, hard to argue that.

Sanderson has been nowhere near as dominant as we expected, and Pinto went from a 60 pts pace over half a season last year to what, a 15 pts pace, less if you account for the fact he will only play 74 games max?

And yet, somehow, Ullmark is still the top of the list in underperformers...

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Ullmark has been fine. He does need to improve a little bit, but this team also needs to stop making mistakes in the neutral zone that leads to grade A chances in the D-zone. They are literally letting off the gas with ten seconds left in a period.

I propped up that trade and signing probably more than anyone here and even I have to admit he's lost numerous games for the team this year. If he was even just average early on and in a few specific games, imo the team would be humming right now. Momentum killer just like Korpisalo last year, but at least we know he has the ability to be consistent year to year hidden in there unlike Korpse, so all hope is not lost.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

lo brady has to be 0/50

 

[DueDiligence]

Ullmark has been fine. He does need to improve a little bit, but this team also needs to stop making mistakes in the neutral zone that leads to grade A chances in the D-zone. They are literally letting off the gas with ten seconds left in a period.

Ullmark cost the team 2 wins. He has been better lately but needs to play consistently well for the team to get on a winning streak

 

[DylanSensFan]

Ullmark cost the team 2 wins. He has been better lately but needs to play consistently well for the team to get on a winning streak

He's played well enough recently that we should win every game he's in. This team needs to stop using everything as an excuse and start actually playing properly. I am tired of watching them shit the bed and then try to blame everyone and everything else but themselves. This isn't about bad bounces like DJ used to say. It's about not skating by opposing players in the neutral zone. There needs to be engagements with the opposition player who is carryng the puck, whether physical via a hit or through stealing the puck.

I propped up that trade and signing probably more than anyone here and even I have to admit he's lost numerous games for the team this year. If he was even just average early on and in a few specific games, imo the team would be humming right now. Momentum killer just like Korpisalo last year, but at least we know he has the ability to be consistent year to year hidden in there unlike Korpse, so all hope is not lost.

He lost us the Philly game. The fact that this team is fragile, made them stop playing like they had been playing and the reason they've lost so many is on their play all over the ice, not that of Ullmark. Ullmark could be used ask excuse at the beginning of the season and now he can no longer be used as one.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

He lost us the Philly game. The fact that this team is fragile, made them stop playing like they had been playing and the reason they've lost so many is on their play all over the ice, not that of Ullmark. Ullmark could be used ask excuse at the beginning of the season and now he can no longer be used as one.

He specifically gave that one away yes, but he wasn't good and a handicap for a lot of other games either. Lots of softies. The team was surviving it, and then the rails came off a bit.

I was saying all summer this guy is the key to everything. A home run acquisition while ridding of the biggest problem in the same trade. To finally get a competent tender, that it would allow the team to find its footing this year as they worked out the kinks. Unfortunately, he was basically performing as Korpisalo was last year. I do think that's changing and he's trended up, but I don't think it's an excuse for how things have gone, it's just a fact.

 

[DackellDuck]

Yeah, hard to argue that.

Sanderson has been nowhere near as dominant as we expected, and Pinto went from a 60 pts pace over half a season last year to what, a 15 pts pace, less if you account for the fact he will only play 74 games max?

And yet, somehow, Ullmark is still the top of the list in underperformers...

Ullmark stands out because his position is so much more important than 3rd line C. But even with his struggles, he has had a number of good games where you think “this is the guy we traded for”. He won those games against Florida and San Jose, for example.

On an individual basis, I think Pinto has been the most disappointing. He hasn’t even shown a flash. Game in and game out, just plain bad.

After the injuries and suspensions, I thought he’d come in gangbusters to really prove himself. But it looks like he got a contract and then didn’t bother to skate at all in the summer.

 

[Micklebot]

Ullmark stands out because his position is so much more important than 3rd line C. But even with his struggles, he has had a number of good games where you think “this is the guy we traded for”. He won those games against Florida and San Jose, for example.

On an individual basis, I think Pinto has been the most disappointing. He hasn’t even shown a flash. Game in and game out, just plain bad.

After the injuries and suspensions, I thought he’d come in gangbusters to really prove himself. But it looks like he got a contract and then didn’t bother to skate at all in the summer.

Pinto looked good before getting hurt, even if he didn't put up many points (3 in 6 games isn't bad, it's just a pt off his pace last year). Since coming back though he's been a shell of his former self, which leads me to believe it's health related, though he showed some of what we were expecting after getting hit by Gudas the other night.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Congrats to Brady on making 4 nations.

Not surprising, Sanderson didn’t make it, with his year.

 

[DackellDuck]

Pinto looked good before getting hurt, even if he didn't put up many points (3 in 6 games isn't bad, it's just a pt off his pace last year). Since coming back though he's been a shell of his former self, which leads me to believe it's health related, though he showed some of what we were expecting after getting hit by Gudas the other night.

Even at the start of the season (and through pre-season), I don’t think he’s looked all that engaged. He certainly never “forced” himself to be considered in Norris’ spot in the top 6, which I thought he would.

I wouldn’t use Ullmark’s injury to excuse his play, so I’m not going to do it for Pinto either. If you’re in the lineup, play well.

 

[Micklebot]

Even at the start of the season (and through pre-season), I don’t think he’s looked all that engaged. He certainly never “forced” himself to be considered in Norris’ spot in the top 6, which I thought he would.

Agree to disagree I guess

I wouldn’t use Ullmark’s injury to excuse his play, so I’m not going to do it for Pinto either. If you’re in the lineup, play well.

This attitude just serves to deny reality. Players play injured all the time and pretending it can't impact their performance is just delusional. It's possible Pinto's issues aren't health related, but it is also very possible it is. Only he and the team likely know for sure.

 

[Answer]

I agree he brings a lot of energy for sure. I won't question that Brady Tkachuk cares or claim he doesn't try hard or that he doesn't skate. But you're talking about it like most teams talk about their third and fourth line or the plug with some talent they put on their top line (Bertuzzi and now Domi for Toronto). Forechecking hard. Throwing hits. Giving the team energy. Fighting if they need to. Putting up some scrappy goals.

In terms of his production - since some of us like numbers:

Tkachuk is tied for 62nd with dozens of other players for even strength goals at 6 (100 players have 6 or more even strength goals).
He's tied for 2nd in goals on the powerplay with 7.

Compare that to Stutzle - tied for 16th with 14 other players for even strength goals at 9. 1 powerplay goal so far.

He's good to have on the powerplay but he doesn't drive much play by himself. He tips in shots mostly from Stutzle who creates the lane and the scoring opportunity to be tipped in by Tkachuk.

There is nothing wrong with being that guy who benefits from others. But I wouldn't describe him as an elite goal scorer.

I'm glad he's on pace for over 90 points but that's a bad sign for this team. We're relying on him to be something he's not for yet another year of missed playoffs.

Great post!

 

[DackellDuck]

Agree to disagree I guess

This attitude just serves to deny reality. Players play injured all the time and pretending it can't impact their performance is just delusional. It's possible Pinto's issues aren't health related, but it is also very possible it is. Only he and the team likely know for sure.

Jason York called out his play on his podcast, specifically his engagement and carelessness in the neutral zone. As a former player, if he thought it was injury related, I doubt he’d have singled him out.

If a player struggles with the velocity on their shot or something, maybe you can chalk that up to injury. But not moving your feet in the neutral zone and straight leg coasting on line changes? Don’t think that’s the result of an upper body injury from a few weeks ago.

The guy needs to be better. Just like Ullmark. And many others.

No excuses for plain as day lazy play.