Player Discussion Fabian Zetterlund traded to Ottawa

[GoodinOsgoode]

Played well. No points. So not great. Expect him to score 30 next year though.

30 points?

 

[GoodinOsgoode]

30 points?

I am actually curious to know if you meant 30 goals or 30 points?
It's a funny number to throw out there as you can make an argument either way.

When you say you expect him to score 30 next year, it would seem you are referring to goals but there is a reference to points as well.

For him to score 30 goals, it seems like a pretty big stretch right now but he did have 24 goals last year and if he did play on our first line, it is certainly possible.

After putting up just 5 points in 26 games in Ottawa, it would seem like 30 points is the reference but I think that would be a fairly big disappointment next year.

I am expecting him to get back to the numbers he had last year; somewhere between 20-25 goals and 40-45 points. Obviously depends on where he lands in the line-up.

 

[ottawagm]

By this logic, we should have handed Matthieu Joseph an $8M contract.

Zetterlund's next contract will be negotiated based on what he's done in his career and how the two sides project he'll perform over the life of his next contract. That's how it works.

Joseph was the opposite.. he went from a team where he needed to play D and struggled to a team where he didn't and could put up some extra points.

 

[Senator Stanley]

Joseph was the opposite.. he went from a team where he needed to play D and struggled to a team where he didn't and could put up some extra points.

My point is if you only take into consideration a player's short stint with a new team, you would have thought Joseph was an 80 point player.

But nobody, not even Dorion, would do that, because it makes zero sense to operate that way.

 

[SensFactor]

Sens have leverage over his next contract. He was pretty invisible in the playoffs and the regular season after coming over from SJ—anything over $3M IMO is overpay.

 

[DylanSensFan]

I think we put too much into these 2nd liner/3rd liner labels. To me, he's a top 9 forward who can be a complimentary winger on any of the top three lines. Same with guys like Perron or Amadio. What he's not is what I'll call a "top six duo guy", the way Stutzle-Tkachuk are our top line duo, Cozens-Batherson are seemingly our second line duo, and everyone else kind slots in around them.

If he wants to be paid on the low end of a top six duo guy, he and the team are in for a fight. But hopefully he's being realistic, especially with the numbers he put up down the stretch, and they can get him on a deal in that top 9 complimentary winger price range - somewhere between $2.6m and $4M, depending on term and how the rising cap effects the market.

This.

 

[Boud]

He was disappointing truly. He lacks hockey IQ and clearly just benefited from playing a top 6 role

That’s the biggest issue I see with him.

I like the way he battles and takes the body but he’s not putting himself in positions to score or to generate offense the majority of the time. If you feed him a puck in the slot he’ll rip it wide or right on the goalie. I don’t understand him at all as a player. He’s supposed to be a shooting threat on PP2 and he’s not finding pockets to be open to take a shot. It’s frustrating to watch.

We really never saw his shot in 25 games. There’s a reason for that. Smart players make things happen. See Perron. He battles, but the reason he’s good is because he’s smarter than other players. Zetterlund is all heart no brains.

Nothing wrong with that l. Many players like this in the league but you definitely should not count on this type of player to produce offense because the best teams have guys like this on their 4th line.

In some ways he reminds me a lot of Jakub Silfverberg. He had one of the best shots in the league and he just could never find enough ice to get it off because it took him an hour to shoot it. Zetterlund is a bit different in that he has the release but cant get into position or doesn’t know where to go to get the puck. When he does he can’t score.

I literally do not understand why people like this player. I loved the idea of him but in practice it’s hard to justify giving him top 9 minutes on this roster. He just doesn’t deserve it and it’s not like we are the Dallas Stars.

 

[jbeck5]

Like boud said, he skates hard and finishes his hits and drives the net, so he's a decent 3rd or 4th liner on a contender...

I just don't see the top 6 smarts when it comes to making plays or being sneaky or creative. I haven't really seen a single sweet playmaking pass in 25 games....he also doesn't seem to have the really accurate shot or know how to get open for shots...

So if he's not a great passer, and doesn't have that goal scoring instinct or ability... He doesn't really have a spot in the top 6 unless we're spreading talent across 4 lines and he's the crash and bang player with 2 more skilled players? But he's not that big for a crash and bang role. He's not small, but I would prefer a speedy 6'3-6'4 guy as my crash and bang type player. (Like what thou shall remain nameless was developing to be)

 

[Icelevel]

Flip him in a package for peterka

 

[flyingfingers]

Zetterlund was certainly snakebit here. His shooting percentage was 5% (3% at 5v5), which is the lowest of his career. In San Jose over the last two years it was 12.1% and 11.8%, and even in NJ he was at 8.3% and 7.4%.

Now, did he forget to shoot? Or was it just an unlucky stretch for a player adjusting to a brand new team?

His underlying metrics at 5v5 since the deadline were promising (ranking among our forwards):

3.71 ixG (3rd)
63 iCF (1st)
39 iSCF (1st)
19 iHDCF (1st)
50% SF% (6th)
53.39 SCF% (3rd)

In essentially every metric but finishing, he played like a top 6 winger despite the fact that he didn't get all that many opportunities actually playing in the top 6.

Now, I'm not surprised Green went with Giroux, Perron and Amadio above him in the playoffs. Those guys are our most experienced playoff players, and he was able to put 1 playoff vet per line (Cousins was the vet on L4).

But next year? After a full camp? He'll for sure be a 15-17 minute a night guy for us. He'll probably slot in at multiple spots in the top 9 since he's very versatile, but I expect him to be a 20G, 40-45P guy for us moving forward.

And that's definitely what Staios expects, otherwise he wouldn't have paid that price to get him.

Also, people are way too focused on the artificial "slotting" of top 6 vs bottom 6. Pinto is going to C our 3rd line, but he's always going to be a more important player who gets more minutes than Zetterlund. Even if Zetterlund scores 25 goals... Greig will get more minutes.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I think we put too much into these 2nd liner/3rd liner labels. To me, he's a top 9 forward who can be a complimentary winger on any of the top three lines. Same with guys like Perron or Amadio. What he's not is what I'll call a "top six duo guy", the way Stutzle-Tkachuk are our top line duo, Cozens-Batherson are seemingly our second line duo, and everyone else kind slots in around them.

If he wants to be paid on the low end of a top six duo guy, he and the team are in for a fight. But hopefully he's being realistic, especially with the numbers he put up down the stretch, and they can get him on a deal in that top 9 complimentary winger price range - somewhere between $2.6m and $4M, depending on term and how the rising cap effects the market.

I think that's part of it.. I think the org and the player have an interest on fit and slotting they have to figure out.

 

[Wallet Inspector]

I hope Green puts him with Stutzle full time next year, they did have legit chemistry.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I think Zetterlund scores 20 next year easy.

Loved the way he played. Can’t finish and finished worse here. That should even out to a plain bad finisher. Rather than a terrible finisher.

 

[Micklebot]

I think Zetterlund scores 20 next year easy.

Loved the way he played. Can’t finish and finished worse here. That should even out to a plain bad finisher. Rather than a terrible finisher.

Over his career, he's generally finished his chances in line with expectations, with two exceptions, the first 22 games with NJ after being traded at the deadline, and the 20 games with Ottawa after being traded at the deadline.

I think with a full training camp to find some chemistry and learn the system, there's a reasonable chance he finds his groove next year and is back to career norms.

 

[HSF]

I think he is the guy to play with Stuztle and Brady.

I liked what I saw for a guy who placed all over the lineup he handled it well. He was a hound in the playoffs on thge forecheck. I just see good signs with him and he seems like a guy who can compliment that top line or even as the 2nd line RW.

 

[DylanSensFan]

What we require in the offensive zone is puck possession, especially along the boards. This is exactly what Zetterlund provides. Anyone suggesting he's bottom 6 on a top team isn't really paying attention to all the attributes of a top 6 players on any team. When the playoffs come we need every player to be hard on the boards and to be able to hold onto and cycle the puck. We need a player on a line with Cozens or Stü that can keep the puck cycling in the offensive zone, so that playmakers such as Batherson, Cozens and Stü have options. Zetterlund can cycle and he can finish. These types of players are honestly rare commodities.

We also need five v five offense. Both Cozens and Zetterlund have better 5 v 5 numbers than most of the team. Yet since they've arrived it blah blah, they don't provide enough. I feel that Zetterlund will find his groove through training camp in the autumn and he'll have a career season being lined beside Stü or Cozens, or even Pinto for that matter. I believe this team takes an even bigger step in the upcoming season than they did last year.

 

[bicboi64]

I want Zetterlund on the top line with Brady and Stu. He'll score enough goals to warrant being called Zettergoat after that.

His sample size is too small to judge him as a failed try in the top 6. I'm fine with him on the 2nd line as well and have someone like Greig go into the top 6, while Perron goes to the 3rd.

 

[DJB]

I hope Green puts him with Stutzle full time next year, they did have legit chemistry.

I actually don’t mind that . Zett prefers LW and Timmy needs faster wingers

Brady has G couldn’t keep up. I’m cool with starting Z on Timmy’s line

 

[coladin]

Not only does he talk like Alfredsson, but there are traits in his play that remind me of him. I think starting camp here and getting more reps will help him score 30

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Not only does he talk like Alfredsson, but there are traits in his play that remind me of him. I think starting camp here and getting more reps will help him score 30

So friendly wager he doesn't?

 

[coladin]

So friendly wager he doesn't?

Deal! Hope he gets 29. Beer on me!

 

[KevinRedkey]

He was disappointing truly. He lacks hockey IQ and clearly just benefited from playing a top 6 role

IMO - he was snake bitten, and only looked bad if you read into his stats too much. I liked his game despite often putting up zeros.

I'd be surprised if he isn't at least near the level he was in SJS the last 2 years, next year.

 

[aragorn]

This.

Greig - Pinto are another duo who have the capacity & ability to move up when required.