IMO they have to really commit to trying AM on the PK this season. His puck retrieval to transition game is one of the best in the league. He seems to want to do it, and I think he’d be really good at it.
by whippitywhine
@Toronto Maple Leafs
4 Comments
He might be good at it, but I donāt think itās worth the injury risk. Remember that game against Vancouver, took a clapbomb to the knee and collapsed to the ice. Our season was almost over right there. Heās already got so many lingering health issues and it seems like he gets a new one every year. He already blocks a lot of shots, most in the league for a forward last season. Id rather he tone it down, reduce injury risk, and save his minutes for EV and PP
I don’t see him playing the entire PK like Kampf does or ROR did, but I could definitely see him playing within the last 15ish seconds of the PK in order to try and get a breakout into the offensive zone with the man coming out of the box.
Like let’s say we got Domi or Bert in the box because they pissed off the refs or got under someone’s skin and were pulled into a fight and there’s 10 or so seconds left on the timer. Instead of having Kampf take the draw instead we get 34 to take it and then try to push it through our blue line to hopefully a moving Domi or Bert for the scoring opportunity, while using his speed to catch up to the play in case there’s a rebound or to hold the puck at the blueline for offensive zone possession
Risk management, and workload are the only two things that can really be a dealbreaker here. Sure, heās phenomenal defensively and could have a selke look, but at what cost?
You realize right before that play you clipped that Ottawa had two blatant open nets they didnāt bury? Just saying..