Player Discussion: Ehlers

[surixon]

Well, one plays with one of the best passing and scoring centers in the NHL and the other plays with Namestnikov. G

I'm a big supporter of Ehlers but I was very disappointed with his performance the past two games. Those games were pivotal to the Division race and Ehlers was really underwhelming. Maybe he's battling an injury, but I had hoped he would step up in those games. Luckily, the top line came through vs. Dallas and Perfetti and Samberg had big games vs. the Kraken.

The issue that I'm starting to notice with him is that he doesn't really alter his game as teams clamp up heading into the playoffs. He's still trying his largely individualist puck rushing/dangling game and there isn't as much room our there. He's also still volume shooting from largely outside and it's harder to score from there when teams are tighter defensively.

Contrast that with Perfetti who's upped his grit and is going even more to those high danger areas around the net and along the boards. He's getting rewarded for playing a hard game in the hard areas. Ehlers needs to be a bit more willing to pay the price in these areas.

 

[voyageur]

Well, one plays with one of the best passing and scoring centers in the NHL and the other plays with Namestnikov. G

I'm a big supporter of Ehlers but I was very disappointed with his performance the past two games. Those games were pivotal to the Division race and Ehlers was really underwhelming. Maybe he's battling an injury, but I had hoped he would step up in those games. Luckily, the top line came through vs. Dallas and Perfetti and Samberg had big games vs. the Kraken.

I think Namestnikov deserves full credit for his forward leading +21.

1st goal Jets score last night doesn't happen without him in a good support position to win the puck, with Perfetti engaged in battle. Last goal he is the guy who leads rush with speed and then has the wherewithal to set a pick to create space.

It's true Scheifele creates more scoring chances for Connor. He's harder on the puck with more skill. But KC also goes to dangerous scoring areas. We all know that Ehlers would have curled up in a 1 on 1 like last night instead of going to the net hard.

Even on partial breaks he'll shoot before he'll get into the prime scoring areas.

His strength is puck handling getting though the neutral zone but you have to give Namestnikov some credit for how well he handles the puck through the neutral zone with speed. You see it game in game out and he defends well to boot. Constantly skating. Ehlers still loves to stop at the top of the circles and play from the safe area. Give him credit he did make a hit last night.

But his game is not tailored for scoring without space created and Namestnikov with Perfetti are usually the guys working to create that space, in a different way than Scheif and Vilardi, without the physical domination.

 

[10Ducky10]

We're debating these two again?
Put it tis way, if you ask the other 31 GMs which player they would have if they could only have one, 31 GMs take KFC.
Having said that, I think Ehlers re-signs.

 

[DRW204]

Ehlers does it more than he should, and often extravagantly. But Connor does it more than is noticed, usually because he loses the puck while puckhandling or with small area passes that don't work.

Both need to be a bit more secure.

The sum total of their on ice results are very different in terms of shots and goals against.

connor plays way more minutes, so it is unsurprising have more total shots or goals against. that's why people standardize in per 60.

connor has probably been all-around better than ehlers this year or atleast much closer. for years, folks have been clamoring for this type of 2-way play or engagement to help the top-line actually be dominant, and it's showing now. it is further evidenced by the Jets' rate of limiting chances against (xGA), goal-differential/5v5 +/- (GF-GA) with Connor on the ice, while he still maintains a strong individual production (pts/60)

And goals for, with Connor having 28 more points.

yeah connor will have more points.... more minutes playing w/ scheifele+vilardi vs perfetti+namestnikov, do you expect ehlers to outscore connor?

namestnikov and perfetti are closer to mason appleton than scheifele and vilardi.

 

[Adam da bomb]

Well, one plays with one of the best passing and scoring centers in the NHL and the other plays with Namestnikov. G

I'm a big supporter of Ehlers but I was very disappointed with his performance the past two games. Those games were pivotal to the Division race and Ehlers was really underwhelming. Maybe he's battling an injury, but I had hoped he would step up in those games. Luckily, the top line came through vs. Dallas and Perfetti and Samberg had big games vs. the Kraken.

Don’t know if linemates make up the 28 pt difference especially when Connor has 10 more points.

Also, how come only linemates gets used with Connor. I’d argue names and Perfetti are much better defensively than Villardi and Schief.

 

[surixon]

Don’t know if linemates make up the 28 pt difference especially when Connor has 10 more points.

Also, how come only linemates gets used with Connor. I’d argue names and Perfetti are much better defensively than Villardi and Schief.

It is part of the puzzle as is the fact the top line gets a lot more minutes. This is shown in the gf/60 numbers. Top line scores .8 goals more per 60 then line 2 but on the flip side line 2 allows 1 ga less per 60 then the top line. I prefer to look at it that the top line has much more of a license to score whereas the second line is trusted to be more balanced in their responsibilities.

That said I think Conner the superior player in the offensive zone. He is a more dangerous shooter and gets to the danger areas more.

Fly is the better transition player.

 

[Adam da bomb]

It is part of the puzzle as is the fact the top line gets a lot more minutes. This is shown in the gf/60 numbers. Top line scores .8 goals more per 60 then line 2 but on the flip side line 2 allows 1 ga less per 60 then the top line. I prefer to look at it that the top line has much more of a license to score whereas the second line is trusted to be more balanced in their responsibilities.

That said I think Conner the superior player in the offensive zone. He is a more dangerous shooter and gets to the danger areas more.

Fly is the better transition player.

Ps I know it’s not related ,!but, enjoying your more thorough post game break downs.

 

[Buffdog]

It is part of the puzzle as is the fact the top line gets a lot more minutes. This is shown in the gf/60 numbers. Top line scores .8 goals more per 60 then line 2 but on the flip side line 2 allows 1 ga less per 60 then the top line. I prefer to look at it that the top line has much more of a license to score whereas the second line is trusted to be more balanced in their responsibilities.

That said I think Conner the superior player in the offensive zone. He is a more dangerous shooter and gets to the danger areas more.

Fly is the better transition player.

Line 1 also gets tougher matchups though. Give them line 2's QoC and see what happens to that 5v5 GF/60

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

I think Namestnikov deserves full credit for his forward leading +21.

1st goal Jets score last night doesn't happen without him in a good support position to win the puck, with Perfetti engaged in battle. Last goal he is the guy who leads rush with speed and then has the wherewithal to set a pick to create space.

It's true Scheifele creates more scoring chances for Connor. He's harder on the puck with more skill. But KC also goes to dangerous scoring areas. We all know that Ehlers would have curled up in a 1 on 1 like last night instead of going to the net hard.

Even on partial breaks he'll shoot before he'll get into the prime scoring areas.

His strength is puck handling getting though the neutral zone but you have to give Namestnikov some credit for how well he handles the puck through the neutral zone with speed. You see it game in game out and he defends well to boot. Constantly skating. Ehlers still loves to stop at the top of the circles and play from the safe area. Give him credit he did make a hit last night.

But his game is not tailored for scoring without space created and Namestnikov with Perfetti are usually the guys working to create that space, in a different way than Scheif and Vilardi, without the physical domination.

But he did apologize to JT Miller for too much rough housing. So that’s a good sign he’ll be physical in the playoffs. Right?….right?!!…..

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Well, one plays with one of the best passing and scoring centers in the NHL and the other plays with Namestnikov. G

I'm a big supporter of Ehlers but I was very disappointed with his performance the past two games. Those games were pivotal to the Division race and Ehlers was really underwhelming. Maybe he's battling an injury, but I had hoped he would step up in those games. Luckily, the top line came through vs. Dallas and Perfetti and Samberg had big games vs. the Kraken.

I love Ehlers too.

He has positives and negatives, and those peaks and valleys may be higher. But I’d take that over a lot of other play styles.

I think we can definitely say he’s not 100% and is dealing with injury. He didn’t miss 2 practices last week to watch soccer……although some of that time may have been spent sending out apology letters to players he bumped too hard.

 

[Buffdog]

I love Ehlers too.

He has positives and negatives, and those peaks and valleys may be higher. But I’d take that over a lot of other play styles.

I think we can definitely say he’s not 100% and is dealing with injury. He didn’t miss 2 practices last week to watch soccer……although some of that time may have been spent sending out apology letters to players he bumped too hard.

Yeah, Ehlers is dinged up for sure. Hopefully we put a little more distance between us and the Stars and Arniel can start resting some guys down the stretch to make sure they're 100% (or as close as possible) for the start of the playoffs

 

[Jets 31]

I hope we re-sign Ehlers but if he does nothing in this years playoffs maybe it is time to move on from him. I hope he plays well , we win the Cup and he signs a nice team friendly deal though, not much to ask really.

 

[10Ducky10]

If we win the cup I don't care if he re-signs or not.

 

[Buffdog]

I hope we re-sign Ehlers but if he does nothing in this years playoffs maybe it is time to move on from him. I hope he plays well , we win the Cup and he signs a nice team friendly deal though, not much to ask really.

I think him and Helle both probably know that they have the most to prove this year in the playoffs

My personal opinion is that Ehlers' (and to a greater extent, Helle's) struggles in the postseason are overstated. Anyone can go cold for a few games, and it's possible that it has just been a coincidence Nik's streaks have just been in the playoffs

This year, expectations are obviously higher for everyone (and that's echoed by the players themselves). It will be interesting to see what happens