Player Discussion Ryan Spooner Part V
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Sangoku Galchenyuk
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- Sep 8, 2014
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Last year's first unit
(--NET--) Eriksson (LH)
Bergeron (RH) Spooner (LH )
Krug (LH) Krejci (RH)
For much of the year, the first unit's main play was to create an opening for Bergeron to one time it in the slot. They created seems by forming triangles, little odd man positional matchups. They rotated the puck well off the half boards where Spooner's creativity, offensive IQ, and passing ability really shined. Eriksson's LH shot and offensive ability will be missed, but this is where we are hoping Vesey can step in and help. Eriksson was very good at taking the puck along along the wall from Spooner and finding Bergeron in the circle or quickly transitioning towards the net for a shot on goal or goalline chaos, which would lead to a point man being open. Krug ( who had a poor shooting year mostly attributed to an injured shoulder for most of the year ) would then have the chance to shoot with a screen ( Eriksson ) or cycle the puck back around to Krejci, who would reset the half board triangle offense by getting it quickly to Spooner.
Spooner was a huge reason why the first unit looked quicker, decisive, creative, and most importantly, productive for most of the year. They hit a slump ( I want to say ) around Feb when team were devising schemes to shut down the half wall triangle. But for 80 percent of the year, that PP unit was elite.
(--NET--) Eriksson (LH)
Bergeron (RH) Spooner (LH )
Krug (LH) Krejci (RH)
For much of the year, the first unit's main play was to create an opening for Bergeron to one time it in the slot. They created seems by forming triangles, little odd man positional matchups. They rotated the puck well off the half boards where Spooner's creativity, offensive IQ, and passing ability really shined. Eriksson's LH shot and offensive ability will be missed, but this is where we are hoping Vesey can step in and help. Eriksson was very good at taking the puck along along the wall from Spooner and finding Bergeron in the circle or quickly transitioning towards the net for a shot on goal or goalline chaos, which would lead to a point man being open. Krug ( who had a poor shooting year mostly attributed to an injured shoulder for most of the year ) would then have the chance to shoot with a screen ( Eriksson ) or cycle the puck back around to Krejci, who would reset the half board triangle offense by getting it quickly to Spooner.
Spooner was a huge reason why the first unit looked quicker, decisive, creative, and most importantly, productive for most of the year. They hit a slump ( I want to say ) around Feb when team were devising schemes to shut down the half wall triangle. But for 80 percent of the year, that PP unit was elite.
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BobbyAwe
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Burt Reynolds
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70...and then he'll be traded the year after
70 points?! I like Spooner a bunch but even I think that's unrealistic. I'd be happy if he hit 50 and played a stronger 2-way game. Maybe improve his faceoff %.
moonshot summit
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I'd accept lower point totals if he can fix his puck management at 5on5. It was embarrassingly bad. I still think he's better off as a LW. Too weak to win the battles that he needs to.
wintersej
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Weaker than Marc Savard? Spooner will never win more battles than he loses. But, in addition to losing those battles, he also seemed to be chasing the play in his own zone a lot. He can rectify that part of his game. If he can be a 50% Corsi guy with his skill set in the offensive zone, he will be a good #2C.
ODAAT
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still developing in his own zone, if this last season showed this fan, he`s more than willing to put the work in at getting better
I think his point totals will be around the same area, 60 max but likely right in that 50-60 range which, for a 3rd line C, I`ll gladly take
50-60 for a 3c is cup caliber depth, not sure any teams use three centers like that unless you talk sharks with joe, pavs and couture.
50+pts is easy second line center, if he improves his all around game it'd be a blessing.
BruinDust
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He doesn't have Savard's defensive awareness. Savard was an extremely smart player, really that was what got him to the dance. He didn't overpower guys down low but was crafty and smart along the wall in his own zone. Never got enough credit for his defensive game under Julien.
I don't see that same level of craftiness from Spooner, although the effort was there last season.
We'll see how much center Spooner plays now that Claude has Backes as an option in the middle.
BruinDust
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wintersej
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I don't think Marc Savard had Marc Savard's defensive awareness when he was 24 and playing for the Flames.
BruinDust
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Savard always had the hockey brain for it, but his commitment and effort defensively were very questionable at 24. Pretty much why it took a few stops before he made his mark in the NHL.
Anyways the Savard/Spooner comparisons need to stop, because I don't see many similarities between the two. They can both work the half-wall on the PP, that's about it.
Savard was one of the elite passers of his generation, Spooner isn't even close to his level in that regard. You talking about elite level hockey IQ vs. merely above-average at best with Spooner. Spooner does have attributes that are better (he's a far better skater than Savard was).
I'm with the crowd that believe's Spooner's defensive game is about as good as it will get, he's 24 (closer to 25) not 20 or 21, because he gives the effort, as we seen last season, but he doesn't have the chops for it.
Bmessy
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Here are Spooner's stats last year...
First 54 games - 40 pts
0.74 PPG
Last 26 games - 9 pts
0.35 PPG
Now I don't know when he got his knee injury. But no matter what happened he fell off a cliff in the last quarter. If he doesn't get hurt and learns to be more consistent I absolutely see Spooner putting up 60 pts in a secondary scoring role.
Oh ya and he averages only 15 mins TOI. Accounting for SH TOI that's still a good 1.5 mins less than the other top scorers on the team.
Please sign extend him before he busts out for ~60 pts and prices himself out of Boston!
First 54 games - 40 pts
0.74 PPG
Last 26 games - 9 pts
0.35 PPG
Now I don't know when he got his knee injury. But no matter what happened he fell off a cliff in the last quarter. If he doesn't get hurt and learns to be more consistent I absolutely see Spooner putting up 60 pts in a secondary scoring role.
Oh ya and he averages only 15 mins TOI. Accounting for SH TOI that's still a good 1.5 mins less than the other top scorers on the team.
Please sign extend him before he busts out for ~60 pts and prices himself out of Boston!
BruinDust
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His knee injury factored in no doubt, how much did playing with Belesky and Hayes (especially Hayes) factor into his decrease in numbers.
Hayes = 1 g, 1 A from Feb. 16 onward.
wintersej
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Oh I totally agree on Savard being a level above Spooner at everything but skating, where we disagree is that I think that Spooner has another level he can reach defensively now that he is putting in the effort. Him going from tire fire to below average, but good enough given his offense is reasonable in my eyes.
He spent a good amount of time there but i believe they spread the wealth moving hertl around with them as well. I know pavs played a ton with jumbo during the playoffs.
moonshot summit
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I think I totally missed the knee injury thing. Did he get surgery for it this summer, or was it something that just needed rest?
BruinDust
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PlayMakers
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Put me in the camp that thinks Spooner will improve steadily at the defensive part of the game. I just don't think he's not a finished product at 24 with just one full season in the league. I don't think he'll ever be "great" defensively but I think he can be competent and there are lots of 2nd line centers like that in the league.
While I like Spooners skill set, and I agree with you, but at age 24 he needs to be more of a finished product than not. I feel like he needs to improve defensively by a lot this year. I really want him to make Krejci expendable.
Blowfish
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I agree however Krejci will be difficult to make expendable due to hip $s age and no trade clause. Doubt he can be traded.
ODAAT
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right with you, won`t be a Selke candidate, nor be a guy Julien taps on the shoulder in dying moments trying to preserve a win but he`ll improve again this year, I have really appreciated his improvement already, wasn`t leaps and bounds over the previous year but improvement nonetheless
Jean_Jacket41
Neely = HOF
Right now, he's a PP specialist. We'll see this year if he can take the next step and become a ES guy too.
Would still deal him+ for a young top-4 tough.
Would still deal him+ for a young top-4 tough.
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