The Erik Karlsson Watch

If your 1st PP unit clicks you don't really care who is on your 2nd, right? Load up the first unit with Alfie, Spezza, Kovalev, Karlsson and someone big to stand in front of the net (yes, I realize I just contradicted my earlier post by putting Alfie there with only one D-man) and they should be scoring a goal in the first minute one out of every five times. If the 2nd unit can score one in twenty then you've got yourselves a PP clicking at 24%, which should be in the top-five in the league. And if you put Heatley on the 2nd unit until he's dealt, then the second unit should be able to score more often than that.

Edit: Corrected the math a bit. If the first unit is clicking at 20%, and the second unit at 5% of the remaining 80% of the chances, the combined average is only 24%, not 25%. Still pretty good. And if the second unit gets 10% of their chances, then you most likely lead the league with 28%.

Bass Destruction wrote:

wprager wrote:

N4L wrote:

wprager wrote:OK, I finally watched that rookies game. Loved Karlsson's goal, was that Regin setting him up (sorry, I was prepping supper while my kid watched it, so I only caught bits).

Do we have anyone on the back-end right now who can take a fairly fast pass and one-time it on goal? I certainly can't think of anyone. With that on the back-end and Kovalev on the half-boards, I think we're going to have a very, very good PP.

I can't wait.

Campoli and Kuba both have pretty good shots from the back end.

If Kuba had that shot he would have scored goals. I didn't mean just the accuracy and power, but the one-time aspect of it. We've had it from Heatley from close in, but I can't remember when (if ever) we've had it from the back-end.

I can't stand Kuba on the point of the PP. He seems to hesitate taking one-timers and ops to slow things down after our other guys have sped things up to get the PK out of position. Kuba's play back there infuriates me. But only on the PP.

Kuba was golden on the 1st unit last year. He obviously passes up the chance to shoot but he still was a great PP QB last season. The power play was decent for the most part and the only time it really struggled was when Kuba was hurt.

It's frustrating watching him dish it off ALL time, I get that. He was still was a key part on a good power play. Pair him with Karlsson next season, and the threat of both those guys have cannon's on the PP and the ability to dish as well as anyone on that team... very dangerous from the blueline.

asq2 wrote:

cas wrote:

N4L wrote:

cas wrote:Kuba never (!!!) uses it...

Still not sold on Campoli.

I know, I wish he did too, but man he can dish the puck as well... perfect partner for Karlsson IMO. You will see those two together by november IMO.

So the question becomes: Who plays on the 1st PP with them?

Kovalev is a given, but who takes the other two spots?

Spezza and Foligno, perhaps?

And then the second unit (sorry Heatley) becomes

Heatley - Fisher (strictly to stand in front of the net) - Alfredsson
Campoli - Picard/Lee

Pretty nasty. Alternatively, you could try playing Heatley with Kovalev, who, like Spezza, likes to try to work the cross-creaser. But then does Spezza just stand in front of the net? That seems like a waste of his abilities. Maybe Foligno should centre the first unit and Spezza play wing across from Kovy.

On the surface it does seem to be a waste of Spezza's abilities but, on the rare occasions that he's found himself in front of the net he's made some fantastic tips into the net. He also loves picking up the loose puck at the side of the net and popping it in. With Kovalev handling the puck I wouldn't mind trying Spezza at the side of the net, waiting to skate out front and tip home a shot or pick up a loose puck at the side of the net on the PP.

mattshock wrote:They've tried Alfie on the point a few times for it, but I don't recall ever seeing Heatley back there.

He manned the point on the PP for Team Canada at one point I believe.

SpezDispenser wrote:

mattshock wrote:They've tried Alfie on the point a few times for it, but I don't recall ever seeing Heatley back there.

He manned the point on the PP for Team Canada at one point I believe.

Not in the Olympics, I'd bet. Against diluted competition at the IIHF World Cup or whatever they call it. Heatley is not exactly slow, but a forward manning the point better be faster than the penalty killers trying to block his shots or passes.

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

mattshock wrote:They've tried Alfie on the point a few times for it, but I don't recall ever seeing Heatley back there.

He manned the point on the PP for Team Canada at one point I believe.

Not in the Olympics, I'd bet. Against diluted competition at the IIHF World Cup or whatever they call it. Heatley is not exactly slow, but a forward manning the point better be faster than the penalty killers trying to block his shots or passes.

Yeah, the IIHF or whatever little tourney they play every summer.

Anyhow, the point is that in the NHL, against the top penalty killers (like Vermette, for example) I would cringe if Heatley was on the point.

wprager wrote:Anyhow, the point is that in the NHL, against the top penalty killers (like Vermette, for example) I would cringe if Heatley was on the point.

Quite true. A conundrum or will Clouston put Alfie on the point?

Truth about Alfie is that he played defence in Sweeden. He is very good on the point but he is also good on the half wall. Kovalev is probably the best half wall power play specialist in the league so if you have Alfie playing with Kovalev, might as well put Alfie on the point. He is solid enough defensively not to be a liability.

Heatley on the other hand, does not play with enough desparation on the backcheck to allow for him to man the point. This is not an option unless you have a very speedy and defensively responsible guy playing the other point. We don't have anyone with that skillset in combination.

N4L wrote:

Bass Destruction wrote:

wprager wrote:

N4L wrote:

wprager wrote:OK, I finally watched that rookies game. Loved Karlsson's goal, was that Regin setting him up (sorry, I was prepping supper while my kid watched it, so I only caught bits).

Do we have anyone on the back-end right now who can take a fairly fast pass and one-time it on goal? I certainly can't think of anyone. With that on the back-end and Kovalev on the half-boards, I think we're going to have a very, very good PP.

I can't wait.

Campoli and Kuba both have pretty good shots from the back end.

If Kuba had that shot he would have scored goals. I didn't mean just the accuracy and power, but the one-time aspect of it. We've had it from Heatley from close in, but I can't remember when (if ever) we've had it from the back-end.

I can't stand Kuba on the point of the PP. He seems to hesitate taking one-timers and ops to slow things down after our other guys have sped things up to get the PK out of position. Kuba's play back there infuriates me. But only on the PP.

Kuba was golden on the 1st unit last year. He obviously passes up the chance to shoot but he still was a great PP QB last season. The power play was decent for the most part and the only time it really struggled was when Kuba was hurt.

It's frustrating watching him dish it off ALL time, I get that. He was still was a key part on a good power play. Pair him with Karlsson next season, and the threat of both those guys have cannon's on the PP and the ability to dish as well as anyone on that team... very dangerous from the blueline.

No I can fully see what BD is talking about. Kuba sometimes takes way too long to make a decision and by the time he does, the pk has not only reset, but the ppoint defender is only inches away from him...

Its actually a combination of the two things: His reluctance to shoot combined with no legitimate passing option freezes him. Its kind of like having Redden back there (the Redden from 07-08) except without the frequent attempts at the weakest wrister in the history of hockey.

Karlsson is indeed that guy.

wprager wrote:Anyhow, the point is that in the NHL, against the top penalty killers (like Vermette, for example) I would cringe if Heatley was on the point.

or like Malkin and Staal

cas wrote:

N4L wrote:

Bass Destruction wrote:

wprager wrote:

N4L wrote:

wprager wrote:OK, I finally watched that rookies game. Loved Karlsson's goal, was that Regin setting him up (sorry, I was prepping supper while my kid watched it, so I only caught bits).

Do we have anyone on the back-end right now who can take a fairly fast pass and one-time it on goal? I certainly can't think of anyone. With that on the back-end and Kovalev on the half-boards, I think we're going to have a very, very good PP.

I can't wait.

Campoli and Kuba both have pretty good shots from the back end.

If Kuba had that shot he would have scored goals. I didn't mean just the accuracy and power, but the one-time aspect of it. We've had it from Heatley from close in, but I can't remember when (if ever) we've had it from the back-end.

I can't stand Kuba on the point of the PP. He seems to hesitate taking one-timers and ops to slow things down after our other guys have sped things up to get the PK out of position. Kuba's play back there infuriates me. But only on the PP.

Kuba was golden on the 1st unit last year. He obviously passes up the chance to shoot but he still was a great PP QB last season. The power play was decent for the most part and the only time it really struggled was when Kuba was hurt.

It's frustrating watching him dish it off ALL time, I get that. He was still was a key part on a good power play. Pair him with Karlsson next season, and the threat of both those guys have cannon's on the PP and the ability to dish as well as anyone on that team... very dangerous from the blueline.

No I can fully see what BD is talking about. Kuba sometimes takes way too long to make a decision and by the time he does, the pk has not only reset, but the ppoint defender is only inches away from him...

Its actually a combination of the two things: His reluctance to shoot combined with no legitimate passing option freezes him. Its kind of like having Redden back there (the Redden from 07-08) except without the frequent attempts at the weakest wrister in the history of hockey.

Kovalev will work well with Kuba. He is always available and in good position to handle the puck and see the ice. He was the grease in the wheels of Montreal's successful Powerplays. You will see our PP be devastating this year. Truly top 5 is my prediction.

MurderOnIce wrote:Kovalev will work well with Kuba. He is always available and in good position to handle the puck and see the ice. He was the grease in the wheels of Montreal's successful Powerplays. You will see our PP be devastating this year. Truly top 5 is my prediction.

If it's not I can see Clouston not even bothering to yell at Carvel - just firing him this time.

SpezDispenser wrote:

MurderOnIce wrote:Kovalev will work well with Kuba. He is always available and in good position to handle the puck and see the ice. He was the grease in the wheels of Montreal's successful Powerplays. You will see our PP be devastating this year. Truly top 5 is my prediction.

If it's not I can see Clouston not even bothering to yell at Carvel - just firing him this time.

I agree, although his longevity would suggest he has pictures of Murray or he is a rat.

MurderOnIce wrote:I agree, although his longevity would suggest he has pictures of Murray or he is a rat.

I know, but that has to change at some point. Clouston's the guy now, if he wants Carvel gone, I'm sure Murray would 'promote' him to an office position.

Maybe he can promote him to Randy Lee's position and demote Lee back to Strength and Conditioning coach with a raise. Can you do that?

I want to see the bike riding interviews again. When they stopped so did the wins.

MurderOnIce wrote:Maybe he can promote him to Randy Lee's position and demote Lee back to Strength and Conditioning coach with a raise. Can you do that?

I want to see the bike riding interviews again. When they stopped so did the wins.

Yes please. Teams laughed at us - Diddle you, we'll do what we feel we need to do. Everyone back on the bikes!