GDT: Bruins @ Sabres, 6:00 pm EDT

[Doug Prishpreed]

But he didn’t do it the way I want him to or something

He has the best stats on the entire defense since Lindy started playing him on the third even strength pairing, against easier competition. His relative expected goals and on ice expected goal differential are the best on the team (by far) since Byram was taken away from Dahlin.

Having Byram handle the 2nd pairing ES minutes has allowed Power to maximize his game, leading to the best results in Power's career. If you get rid of Byram, that likely reverts back.

 

[joshjull]

He has the best stats on the entire defense since Lindy started playing him on the third even strength pairing, against easier competition. His relative expected goals and on ice expected goal differential are the best on the team (by far) since Byram was taken away from Dahlin.

Having Byram handle the 2nd pairing ES minutes has allowed Power to maximize his game, leading to the best results in Power's career. If you get rid of Byram, that likely reverts back.

Power isn’t playing bottom pairing minutes. In the last 9gms he’s averaged 16-17mins a night at 5v5.

His frequent partner has been JBD, maybe thats where you're getting the idea Power is a bottom pairing dman. Since he is definitely a bottom pairing. But he averages roughly 2-3mins a night less than Power at 5v5. He’s also been 6th among dmen in ice time in 7 of those 9gms (5th+3rd in the other two).

 

[Chainshot]

Power isn’t playing bottom pairing minutes. In the last 9gms he’s averaged 16-17mins a night at 5v5.

His frequent partner has been JBD, maybe thats where you're getting the idea Power is a bottom pairing dman. Since he is definitely a bottom pairing. But he averages roughly 2-3mins a night less than Power at 5v5. He’s also been 6th among dmen in ice time in 7 of those 9gms (5th+3rd in the other two).

Looking back at the last stretch of games, Power is being sheltered and his TOI overall is down:

Last night he was 4th in total TOI
Bruins game he was 3rd in total TOI
Tampa game he was 5th in total TOI
Sens game he was 4th by 4 seconds over Clifton
Caps game he was tied with Samuelsson for 4th in total TOI
Flyers game with Dahlin out he was 4th in TOI
Pens game he was 5th in TOI
Sens game on the 25th he was 5th in TOI
Jets game he was 5th and almost 5 minutes lower than #4 and that was with three different defensemen taking penalties

So his overall TOI is way down. For a guy who is their #2 PP guy, they aren't using him on the PK at all. That sounds like a specialist who isn't a complete player.

 

[joshjull]

Looking back at the last stretch of games, Power is being sheltered and his TOI overall is down:

Last night he was 4th in total TOI
Bruins game he was 3rd in total TOI
Tampa game he was 5th in total TOI
Sens game he was 4th by 4 seconds over Clifton
Caps game he was tied with Samuelsson for 4th in total TOI
Flyers game with Dahlin out he was 4th in TOI
Pens game he was 5th in TOI
Sens game on the 25th he was 5th in TOI
Jets game he was 5th and almost 5 minutes lower than #4 and that was with three different defensemen taking penalties

So his overall TOI is way down. For a guy who is their #2 PP guy, they aren't using him on the PK at all. That sounds like a specialist who isn't a complete player.

This post feels like you’re debating someone else but quoted me accidentally.

I didn’t get into his overall ice time or even his play. I talked specifically about his 5v5 ice time. The poster I quoted asserted his improved play 5v5 was due to playing on the bottom pairing. The implication being he hardly plays 5v5 (like JBD). But thats simply not the case. Power’s averaged 16 to 17 minutes a night 5v5 to JBD’s 13-14mins.

The answer for his improved play lies elsewhere as you lay out in your post. Being used how he should have been since he got here. Better late than never I guess.

 

[Chainshot]

This post feels like you’re debating someone else but quoted me accidentally.

I didn’t get into his overall ice time or even his play. I talked specifically about his 5v5 ice time. The poster I quoted asserted his improved play 5v5 was due to playing on the bottom pairing. The implication being he hardly plays 5v5 (like JBD). But thats simply not the case. Power’s averaged 16 to 17 minutes a night 5v5 to JBD’s 13-14mins.

The answer for his improved play lies elsewhere as you lay out in your post. Being used how he should have been since he got here. Better late than never I guess.

You mentioned Power isn't playing bottom pairing minutes. He recently was. It's a lot of money to pay a guy who's not PKing and 4th or 5th in TOI every night.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

This post feels like you’re debating someone else but quoted me accidentally.

I didn’t get into his overall ice time or even his play. I talked specifically about his 5v5 ice time. The poster I quoted asserted his improved play 5v5 was due to playing on the bottom pairing. The implication being he hardly plays 5v5 (like JBD). But thats simply not the case. Power’s averaged 16 to 17 minutes a night 5v5 to JBD’s 13-14mins.

The answer for his improved play lies elsewhere as you lay out in your post. Being used how he should have been since he got here. Better late than never I guess.

Yeah, he is being used as a third pairing defenseman at ES. I didn’t say he had the 5th or 6th lowest TOI, like you are saying.

Sometimes third pairing guys play more minutes at ES than top 4 guys. Happens all the time, depending on the game script and special teams minutes. But you have to be a dick as usual and make an assumption just for something to argue about.

I was talking about QoC…he’s been playing against weaker competition, and in more protected deployments, compared to earlier in the season. I call that a 3rd pairing ES role.

 

[joshjull]

You mentioned Power isn't playing bottom pairing minutes. He recently was. It's a lot of money to pay a guy who's not PKing and 4th or 5th in TOI every night.

Why are you coming at this like I’m defending the guy? I haven’t commented on his play or his contract at all. I don’t even like him as a player. All I’m doing is pointing out his 5v5 ice time.

 

[joshjull]

Yeah, he is being used as a third pairing defenseman at ES. I didn’t say he had the 5th or 6th lowest TOI, like you are saying.

Sometimes third pairing guys play more minutes at ES than top 4 guys. Happens all the time, depending on the game script and special teams minutes. But you have to be a dick as usual and make an assumption just for something to argue about.

I was talking about QoC…he’s been playing against weaker competition, and in more protected deployments, compared to earlier in the season. I call that a 3rd pairing ES role.

Saying someone’s a 3rd pairing dman is literally only referencing how many minutes they play relative to their teammates and the league. You’re using it as if it describes the totality of a player’s usage, it doesn’t and never has. Because a third pairing dman can be a wide range of things. They can average anywhere from 10mins to 14+mins a night 5v5 and be used offensively, defensively or in a balanced way. (As an aside, ES and 5v5 are not the same thing).

I wasn’t making an assumption just to argue. I was taking what 3rd pairing dman normally means (Ice time, usually 5v5) and addressing it. Nothing more.

After @Chainshot quoted me I dug deeper into the 5v5 minutes of our entire defense. What’s interesting is they completely changed how they deployed everyone. They compressed the minutes so we have essentially a “top 5” with all of them averaging between 16 to 17mins.

We came into this 9gms with 5v5 ice time alloted as such;

1) Dahlin - 18:28
2) Byram - 18:24
3) Power - 17:01
4) Sammy - 15:32
5) Clifton - 12:48

But during these 9gms;

1) Dahlin - 16:54 (roughly 1:30 less)
2)Byram - 16:46 (roughly 1:30 less)
3) Sammy - 16:40 (roughly 1min more)
4) Clifton - 16:20 (almost 4mins more)
5) Power - 16:00 (roughly 1min less)
6) JBD -14:00
*I did quick/rough math on these. May be off 10 seconds in either direction.

-Each of the top 5 guys have had at least a game or two playing top minutes in a given game.
-Clifton’s 5v5 ice time was insanely high to start this stretch. He averaged almost 18mins the first 4gms but is averaging about 15mins the last 4gms. Is he settled back down to where he should? Or could he spike up again?
-Power is going the other way with his 5v5 ice time. He’s averaged 18mins the last 3gms. But played only 11:39min and 12min in 2 of the first 3 games.


Digging deeper into Power’s situation. His 5v5 ice time has been increasing so the gap between his and JBD’s is growing. Power/JBD play roughly 10+mins per game together (63% of Power’s 5v5 ice time). The other 37% he rotates with the other “top 5” dmen.