PK Unit

[Tom Backyard]

Last season, out of the top 10 skaters in SH time, 5 were forwards.

 

 

SH TOI/Season

Myers 215:42

Grier 198:30

Leopold 182:53

Gaustad 163:56

Montador 151:38

Pominville 142:57

Sekera 138:35

Hecht 129:23

Connolly 117:20

 

Link to Stats

 

With Connolly, Grier (presumably), and Niedermeyer (12th on the team with 50:58) gone, which forwards pick up that PK time?

 

Roy will be back, and he is certainly on the PK (50:58 in 35 games).

Leino logged a total of 44 seconds in Shorthanded time last season, so he is no answer.

 

Someone is going to have to step up.

 

Any thoughts on who it might be?

[biodork]

I'm thinking Gerbe could be a nice surprise here. Kid plays with a lot of heart and since he'll likely be on the 3rd line for a while, also a good way to get him some more ice time and confidence.

[SabresFan526]

Stafford will move into this role as we saw him killing a bunch of penalties in the playoffs. I imagine the 8 PK forwards would likely be (assuming said guy is not injured or in the box at that time): Roy, Pominville, Hecht, Gaustad, Stafford, Kaleta, any 2 of the following: Vanek, Gerbe, Leino. I don't see McCormick, Boyes, or Ennis being involved on the PK. That would be my guess for now.

[drnkirishone]

Leino might get a chance at it. philly was stacked at forward so might be he just never got the chance to show what he could do on the pk.

 

But I agree roy, pommer, hecht, gaustad, and stafford are gonna be the primary guys. Others I think will get time will be Vanek and Gerbe.

 

Vanek stepped his game up last half of the season and last time he did that Ruff gave him a chance to pk at the start of the next season and Gerbe played himself into the final minute shifts and if that don't qualify ya for killing penalties I don't know what does

[Taro T]

Stafford will move into this role as we saw him killing a bunch of penalties in the playoffs. I imagine the 8 PK forwards would likely be (assuming said guy is not injured or in the box at that time): Roy, Pominville, Hecht, Gaustad, Stafford, Kaleta, any 2 of the following: Vanek, Gerbe, Leino. I don't see McCormick, Boyes, or Ennis being involved on the PK. That would be my guess for now.

When there's a couple of injuries, I could see Boyes sliding into the 8th slot; but when healthy, I think you've got it nailed and my guess is that Gerbe would be the odd man out when all are healthy. So they'd run w/ the 6 you listed, and Vanek & Leino would get the odd shift here or there. Gerbe'd be the 1st injury 'call up' and Boyes the 2nd.