Yes Nikitin has a better shot. Its quite clear a lot of you don't (cant?) watch the games that closely. Say 1 guy shoots 10 outta 20 on net from the point. Another goes 30 outta 100, who's better?
Your example makes it pretty obvious. Unfortunately, your example has absolutely nothing to do with a Nikitin-Wisniewski comparison, because Nikitin does not have that kind of shot accuracy. (Heck, neither does Wiz, for that matter - but his is still demonstrably better.)
Wiz could be absolutely terrible all game, giving pucks up left and right, getting beat CLEAN wide, leaving guys open out front, or stand next to them while they tip pucks in. People will blame 1 of Prout, Savard or Murray.
Actually, no. People do attribute that to Wiz. As some of us are fond of saying, he's very good at producing offense on both sides of the ice.
We also recognize, however, that there are certain tradeoffs we're willing to live with, and Wisniewski's proven ability on the PP makes him well worth keeping.
And believe me this has nothing to do with the playoffs. I've wanted Wiz and Umberger off the team since mid last year, if not longer.
Honestly, that makes me
less willing to consider your opinion, not more. That suggests that this isn't about what he's actually producing so much as it is a crusade against a player for whom the decision was made ages ago without regard to any other information. It puts me on my guard.
There's 2 things that Nikitin is below average in when it comes to NHL hockey. Reading and covering a fast moving cycle around the net and just pure foot speed and agility.
That's three things, not two.
And I wouldn't characterize Nikitin as bad at reading the cycle; he's just not nimble enough to keep up.
You know who's still worse at both of those qualities? That's Right!! James Wisniewski!! Nikitin has a better shot AND better skating than Wisniewski.
Uh. No. Wisniewski's shot is still more accurate - just check the numbers. He's also considerably more agile. He's not quite as good at decision making as Nikitin, but when Nikitin flubs it, it's damn near impossible for him to recover, whereas Wisniewski can at least get a wild attempt at a desperate stick check half the time. Neither is ideal (particularly since such things shouldn't be happening in the first place!), but we can't have a roster stocked entirely with perfect players.
I think how bad Wiz was in the playoffs has actually clouded your memories of how bad Wiz was during the regular season.
I think your assessment of him as "bad" in the regular season is based largely on two things:
1) a misinterpretation of how special teams work, especially as compared to even strength play, and
2) more confirmation bias per capita than the average 9/11 truther debate.
