TJ Oshie may have been the best trade acquisition in the team's history. His two seasons in Washington represented his two best goal scoring seasons, and this year's .82 points per game were well above his .699 with the Blues. Having scored on 18% of his shots with the Capitals, Oshie consistently found a way to get in behind the defense and into the high percentage scoring areas. This is important.
First, to suggest that Oshie suddenly, at age 28, became a high percentage shooter, increasing from a career mark of 11.8% with the Blues to 14.1% and 23% over his two seasons in Washington, is shortsighted at best. While some of the increase can be attributable to maturity on the ice, that stark of an increase is likely due to other reasons. Namely, Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
Second, the NHL is a league of mimicry, and especially given the Penguins success over the past two seasons, there has been a particular premium placed on speed. However, Oshie is not exactly fleet of foot. Since he excels in front of the net, it is advantageous for someone else to be doing most of the shooting. Ovechkin is in a class of his own when it comes to getting rubber on the net. In fact, since entering the league, our beloved Alex has produced the top 7, and 9 of the top 11 seasons in terms of shots on goal. He has 45% more shots on goal during that time span than second place (Eric Staal). Oshie can take advantage of the attention Ovechkin naturally draws and position himself either in the soft spot for a one-timer, or in front of the net for a tip-in or rebound. He has done a phenomenal job of both thus far, and he would be well served to recognize this unique opportunity.
Oshie may very well be the perfect right wing companion for Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin has drawn defenders to him for most of his career in a way unseen since Mario Lemieux was in his prime. For an offense that likes to control the puck and cycle, the defense cheating leaves room somewhere on the ice; Oshie was able to exploit this and weasel his way into high percentage scoring areas. Oshie is a very good hockey player, but without an elite goal scorer next to him, he will draw more attention from the defense, and his effectiveness will suffer. As far as complementary scorers go, Oshie is in a class of his own.
Few centers make the game look as easy as Nicklas Backstrom does. His smooth skating, strong two-way play, and soft but crisp passing have been critical to this team's relative success. Since joining the league, only Joe Thornton and Henrik Sedin have more assists than Backstrom's 540. No one even comes close to his 247 power play assists; Thornton's 211 (in 40 more games) come closest, and no one else sniffs 200. Someone as good on the power play as Oshie would have to be a fool to walk away from that.
Since his heroics in the Olympics, TJ Oshie has endeared himself appropriately to most hockey fans. Having led the league in shooting percentage, he will have no shortage of suitors for his services. He is well deserving of a pay raise, and will most assuredly receive a sizable one at that. However, for his sake, and for that of the Capitals, he should remain where he is, in front of the net, banging home gifts from Ovechkin and Backstrom.
First, to suggest that Oshie suddenly, at age 28, became a high percentage shooter, increasing from a career mark of 11.8% with the Blues to 14.1% and 23% over his two seasons in Washington, is shortsighted at best. While some of the increase can be attributable to maturity on the ice, that stark of an increase is likely due to other reasons. Namely, Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
Second, the NHL is a league of mimicry, and especially given the Penguins success over the past two seasons, there has been a particular premium placed on speed. However, Oshie is not exactly fleet of foot. Since he excels in front of the net, it is advantageous for someone else to be doing most of the shooting. Ovechkin is in a class of his own when it comes to getting rubber on the net. In fact, since entering the league, our beloved Alex has produced the top 7, and 9 of the top 11 seasons in terms of shots on goal. He has 45% more shots on goal during that time span than second place (Eric Staal). Oshie can take advantage of the attention Ovechkin naturally draws and position himself either in the soft spot for a one-timer, or in front of the net for a tip-in or rebound. He has done a phenomenal job of both thus far, and he would be well served to recognize this unique opportunity.
Oshie may very well be the perfect right wing companion for Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin has drawn defenders to him for most of his career in a way unseen since Mario Lemieux was in his prime. For an offense that likes to control the puck and cycle, the defense cheating leaves room somewhere on the ice; Oshie was able to exploit this and weasel his way into high percentage scoring areas. Oshie is a very good hockey player, but without an elite goal scorer next to him, he will draw more attention from the defense, and his effectiveness will suffer. As far as complementary scorers go, Oshie is in a class of his own.
Few centers make the game look as easy as Nicklas Backstrom does. His smooth skating, strong two-way play, and soft but crisp passing have been critical to this team's relative success. Since joining the league, only Joe Thornton and Henrik Sedin have more assists than Backstrom's 540. No one even comes close to his 247 power play assists; Thornton's 211 (in 40 more games) come closest, and no one else sniffs 200. Someone as good on the power play as Oshie would have to be a fool to walk away from that.
Since his heroics in the Olympics, TJ Oshie has endeared himself appropriately to most hockey fans. Having led the league in shooting percentage, he will have no shortage of suitors for his services. He is well deserving of a pay raise, and will most assuredly receive a sizable one at that. However, for his sake, and for that of the Capitals, he should remain where he is, in front of the net, banging home gifts from Ovechkin and Backstrom.
No comments:
Post a Comment