Mackenzie to Florida

[Double-Shift Lasse]

If you are given under four minutes a night (Jerry D'Amigo at times on Toronto last season) on a sudden call-up that's not very much of a optimal chance to prove your ability. Every player needs confidence boost also to perform to their best ability.

Chaput didn't earn more than that last season but with this off-season who knows... wouldn't be the first 22-year-old player to improve.

The process then already starts with training camps and having flexibility on the roster to begin with so you could say that roster management is quite important part of what makes that chance. Jack Skille surely proved his ability last season yet NHL didn't reward him with NHL job until injuries kicked in...

Chaput, Hjalmarsson and D'Amigo showed enough in AHL or Swedish top league to be in the mix for this season when you start giving out NHL roles.

"In the mix" I'm fine with. (And, I admit, Boll complicates things a bit.) I'm uncomfortable with the idea that people are penciling them in for 2/3 of the fourth line and suggesting it's no big deal because it's the fourth line.

 

[Crede777]

There are plenty of 4th line players on the market we can look into if Chaput/Collins isn't the answer

Better idea - we go into the season with an established answer already in place.

I hate the idea of throwing kids in before we are absolutely sure that they're ready. It potentially hurts the roster and it potentially hurts their development.

In the end, I feel you should ice the best roster you can regardless of age. If a 34 year old is slightly better than a 21 year old, the 34 year old should play. Yeah MacKenzie may not be able to play the 3rd year of his contract but so what? It's only $1.3 million dollars which is nothing in the grand scheme of funding an NHL franchise. If you can't take that kind of risk as a GM or owner, or are unwilling to do so, there's little chance of success in your future.

 

[BluejacketNut]

Putting unproven kids in 3rd or 4th line duty would get eaten up with line matches on the road

 

[blahblah]

If you are given under four minutes a night (Jerry D'Amigo at times on Toronto last season) on a sudden call-up that's not very much of a optimal chance to prove your ability. Every player needs confidence boost also to perform to their best ability.

Chaput didn't earn more than that last season but with this off-season who knows... wouldn't be the first 22-year-old player to improve.

Are you talking Chaput or D'Amigo? Chaput never got less than six minutes in a game, he even had 4 games over 10 minutes.

The offensive ability that he showed in the AHL didn't translate, last season, to the NHL at all.

Chaput got a chance that he needed to seize. He didn't. Once assist over that 14 games isn't going to cut it. He's going to have to do better on his next opportunity because he pulled a Picard.

 

[db2011]

Better idea - we go into the season with an established answer already in place.

I hate the idea of throwing kids in before we are absolutely sure that they're ready. It potentially hurts the roster and it potentially hurts their development.

In the end, I feel you should ice the best roster you can regardless of age. If a 34 year old is slightly better than a 21 year old, the 34 year old should play. Yeah MacKenzie may not be able to play the 3rd year of his contract but so what? It's only $1.3 million dollars which is nothing in the grand scheme of funding an NHL franchise. If you can't take that kind of risk as a GM or owner, or are unwilling to do so, there's little chance of success in your future.

Yeah, that's what gets me about this. Jarmo should have matched. 1.3 mill in 3 years is worth the risk. And it should be noted, DMac's body hasn't started "breaking down" yet, to address that aspect of this discussion. I think Mac's got at least 2 more years in him at this level.

The biggest problem for me in letting him go to FLA is that there were times last season when the 4th line could be depended upon to establish a forecheck and sustain it, and there were plenty of times when lines transitioned through that forecheck. Until Umby or Cam lost possession, anyway.

DMac, beyond any discussion about his points per minute, was instrumental in that forecheck. Will D'Amigo and Hjalmaarson, who are both intriguing, be able to contribute to keeping the puck in the O-zone for long minutes? That's enormously important skill to have and it's what the 4th line is for.

 

[Crede777]

What's getting me at the moment is face-offs. Both Mackenzie and Letestu were instrumental in winning key defensive zone or PK face-offs.

Chaput on the other hand wasn't very good at face-offs, especially when up in Columbus where he he was sub-50%.

 

[blahblah]

Yeah, that's what gets me about this. Jarmo should have matched. 1.3 mill in 3 years is worth the risk. And it should be noted, DMac's body hasn't started "breaking down" yet, to address that aspect of this discussion. I think Mac's got at least 2 more years in him at this level.

The biggest problem for me in letting him go to FLA is that there were times last season when the 4th line could be depended upon to establish a forecheck and sustain it, and there were plenty of times when lines transitioned through that forecheck. Until Umby or Cam lost possession, anyway.

DMac, beyond any discussion about his points per minute, was instrumental in that forecheck. Will D'Amigo and Hjalmaarson, who are both intriguing, be able to contribute to keeping the puck in the O-zone for long minutes? That's enormously important skill to have and it's what the 4th line is for.

I tend to agree with everything you posted here.

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

What's getting me at the moment is face-offs. Both Mackenzie and Letestu were instrumental in winning key defensive zone or PK face-offs.

Chaput on the other hand wasn't very good at face-offs, especially when up in Columbus where he he was sub-50%.

Letestu is still on the team, last time I checked

 

[Xoggz22]

Yeah, that's what gets me about this. Jarmo should have matched. 1.3 mill in 3 years is worth the risk. And it should be noted, DMac's body hasn't started "breaking down" yet, to address that aspect of this discussion. I think Mac's got at least 2 more years in him at this level.

The biggest problem for me in letting him go to FLA is that there were times last season when the 4th line could be depended upon to establish a forecheck and sustain it, and there were plenty of times when lines transitioned through that forecheck. Until Umby or Cam lost possession, anyway.

DMac, beyond any discussion about his points per minute, was instrumental in that forecheck. Will D'Amigo and Hjalmaarson, who are both intriguing, be able to contribute to keeping the puck in the O-zone for long minutes? That's enormously important skill to have and it's what the 4th line is for.

Good post. I too thought our 4th line was a line that changed the fortunes of games last year and DMac was a key part of that. We'll see how this team takes shape and I'm sure we'll revisit all of these topics after the first shift in the opener.

 

[DarkandStormy]

Letestu is still on the team, last time I checked

I think he meant they could play on the same line, should one get bumped out of the circle. They were a pretty good PK duo as well.

 

[FlaggerX]

DMac, I shall miss you. I wish you would have played your entire career in Columbus, but an extra half million a year means a lot for a guy like you. Good luck.

 

[Crede777]

Letestu is still on the team, last time I checked

Oh yeah great idea let's have Letestu take every face off. If he gets kicked out of the circle he can just skate around and come back, hoping the ref doesn't notice.

You want 2 face-off guys on your 4th line because that line takes a high number of defensive and PK draws.

 

[sc37]

Oh yeah great idea let's have Letestu take every face off. If he gets kicked out of the circle he can just skate around and come back, hoping the ref doesn't notice.

You want 2 face-off guys on your 4th line because that line takes a high number of defensive and PK draws.

Based on the percentages...Johansen and Dubinsky were better than DMac on the draw.

Letestu took couple hundred more faceoffs than DMac...Anisimov doubled the number of draws DMac had as well.

 

[EspenK]

Based on the percentages...Johansen and Dubinsky were better than DMac on the draw.

Letestu took couple hundred more faceoffs than DMac...Anisimov doubled the number of draws DMac had as well.

Another example of :

Q What time is it?

A Thursday.

When Dubi, Joey or Arty is out there on the 4th line with Letestu, your response will be relevant. Otherwise we might as well add that a whole bunch of guys scored more goals than D-Mac to the discussion.

 

[HockeyGuy1964]

Letestu's back will be pretty sore this season having to haul Boll's ass around every game.

 

[DarkandStormy]

Letestu's back will be pretty sore this season having to haul Boll's ass around every game.

Number of games until a big-time injury for Blol? Over/under is at 7.

 

[Hipster Letestu]

http://darkbluejacket.blogspot.com/2014/07/this-is-just-tribute.html

Dark Blue Jacket blog posted about DMac's departure. Surprised to see so much concern over the 4th line center hole, but I guess that's better than worrying about bigger holes. Personally I hate losing DMac, but I don't blame Jarmo for not wanting to match a three year contract.

 

[DarkandStormy]

^Test Tube is the 4th line center. What's the big deal? Hopefully Chaput/new signing can be that secondary center behind him. Don't forget Boone can slide in to the pivot on a line if needed.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Interesting stat involving Dmac.

http://www.behindthenet.ca/nhl_stat...+RW&f5=CBJ&f7=50-&c=0+1+3+5+4+6+7+17+18+19+20

Dmac scored 0.64 goals per 60 minutes of even strength time last year. That placed him above Dubinski (0.53), Calvert (0.59), Umberger (0.58), Tropp (0.26), Letestu (0.40) and Comeau (0.43).

Combined with his other tools, Dmac was hardly any, old 4rth liner. Jarmo signs Boll for 3 years @ $5.7 million and can't stomach Dmac for 3 years at $3.9 million

 

[WannabeFinn]

Interesting stat involving Dmac.

http://www.behindthenet.ca/nhl_stat...+RW&f5=CBJ&f7=50-&c=0+1+3+5+4+6+7+17+18+19+20

Dmac scored 0.64 goals per 60 minutes of even strength time last year. That placed him above Dubinski (0.53), Calvert (0.59), Umberger (0.58), Tropp (0.26), Letestu (0.40) and Comeau (0.43).

Combined with his other tools, Dmac was hardly any, old 4rth liner. Jarmo signs Boll for 3 years @ $5.7 million and can't stomach Dmac for 3 years at $3.9 million

Boll's deal is 5.1, not 5.7

like it's been pointed out before, the conflict was probably over the term for DMac, not the $

 

[blahblah]

like it's been pointed out before, the conflict was probably over the term for DMac, not the $

And that is a bit frustrating. A 3 year deal wasn't a problem for the Jackets.

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

Interesting stat involving Dmac.

http://www.behindthenet.ca/nhl_stat...+RW&f5=CBJ&f7=50-&c=0+1+3+5+4+6+7+17+18+19+20

Dmac scored 0.64 goals per 60 minutes of even strength time last year. That placed him above Dubinski (0.53), Calvert (0.59), Umberger (0.58), Tropp (0.26), Letestu (0.40) and Comeau (0.43).

Combined with his other tools, Dmac was hardly any, old 4rth liner. Jarmo signs Boll for 3 years @ $5.7 million and can't stomach Dmac for 3 years at $3.9 million

But what was his WOWY?

 

[Samkow]

Interesting stat involving Dmac.

http://www.behindthenet.ca/nhl_stat...+RW&f5=CBJ&f7=50-&c=0+1+3+5+4+6+7+17+18+19+20

Dmac scored 0.64 goals per 60 minutes of even strength time last year. That placed him above Dubinski (0.53), Calvert (0.59), Umberger (0.58), Tropp (0.26), Letestu (0.40) and Comeau (0.43).

Combined with his other tools, Dmac was hardly any, old 4rth liner. Jarmo signs Boll for 3 years @ $5.7 million and can't stomach Dmac for 3 years at $3.9 million

Out of curiosity, what's his CORSI numbers. Surely an irreplaceable guy who does everything right will have a high one, correct?

 

[major major]

But what was his WOWY?

Acting like goals per minute is some advanced stat makes you look like a fool. It's goals per minute, get it? It's a better indicator of goal scoring ability than goals are, for ***** sakes.

Out of curiosity, what's his CORSI numbers. Surely an irreplaceable guy who does everything right will have a high one, correct?

Nope, especially not playing on a fourth line.

 

[Mayor Bee]

Out of curiosity, what's his CORSI numbers. Surely an irreplaceable guy who does everything right will have a high one, correct?

Highest on the team was Blake Comeau.

That's all that needs to be said.