Who adds what?
Joined: Jul. 2017
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This is a good example of why turning Burakovsky into a top prospect with no cap hit makes it easier to rent an 18 minute defensive defenseman. You look at a guy like Pysyk who has no offense, plays #5 minutes, and is paid like a #4, and there just shouldn't be a bidding war, even though he's right handed. Create a little cap space, and avoid worrying about who else wants the cheap guys. Good work.
Surprisingly Smith-Pelly, at 9-9, is second to Stephenson on the Caps in defensive zone faceoff winning percentage. Add in his clutch scoring, and I'm not sure I'd trade him for Bellemare, who does play a little more PK than DSP, but has fewer playoff points. Bellemare is oddly only 45% on defensive zone draws this year. Nate Thompson has won 56% of his DZ draws, with over 200 attempts. DSP catches flak for his PK work because he's arguably the slowest skater on the 2nd PK unit, but Jaskin can't crack that 2nd unit, doesn't take faceoffs, and doesn't score goals. Trading Jaskin for Thompson, which LA fans have said is fine in the past, creates depth on faceoffs and PK, without giving up goal scoring.
Stephenson and DSP have combined for 35 defensive zone faceoff attempts this year, which I would attribute to the Caps' old school coaches not yet reading some of their players' more obscure stats this season. Kuznetsov has won 46% of his 165 defensive zone faceoffs. I guess when you just need a goal you put out the guys who can get it, wherever you are, but Stephenson and Smith-Pelly deserve more chances to keep improving their faceoff skills.