Quoting: Isles777
I don't think wahlstrom is struggling at all and the numbers back that up. He did very well against Bergeron's line last night. Teams like Tampa Bay and Carolina use xgf when acquiring players, it's an important metric and shows that the player is generating quality scoring chances. So I wouldn't say it means nothing. The goals will come for wahlstrom, it's more important that he's generating on his own. NYR rookie Kaapo Kakko was one of the worst players in the league in terms of XGF, so for wahlstrom at 20 YO to lead all isles forwards in xgf is impressive. He's definitely earned more ice time.
Nelson was brutal in terms of XGF before eberle joined him. Nelson has played much better with Eberle and hes just snake bitten right now.
That "2nd line" of MDC-Nelson-Eberle is actually the 1st line. They have been getting the tougher matchups - yesterday Barzal's line was somewhat sheltered. The reason why eberle is scoring more is because he has the puck more. Barzal is the primary puck carrier when he's on barzal's line so he plays a different game, he was still very effective but now eberle is able to drive his own line, which he has been doing. Eberle is a high end 2nd liner, average 1st line winger.
If Wahlstrom isn't scoring it's the very definition of struggling especially for a guy touted as incredibly gifted offensive player and what numbers? The numbers that say 1 goal on the score sheet or the guessed numbers like xGF? If he isn't scoring against the weaker checkers in the league. It's pretty much guaranteed he'll have a tougher time against another teams top checkers. Sometimes I think we're watching different games, the Cizikas line was out against the Bergeron line most of the night at least it's the match up Trotz wanted, but with the huge amounts of icing calls last night lines got stuck out there, so there was a chance the Pageau line saw them on more than one occasion.
I'm not trying to discourage your beliefs, if xGF makes you feel better good on you, but to me it's guess work. Anyone can shoot the puck on net, it doesn't mean they'll score X amount of times. Hell Komorov could do it. Does it mean he's a potential 50 goal scorer? Of course it doesn't. All "expected" means is that they feel it should happen, not that it will happen. So it's a guess. It's like saying my arthritis is acting up today so I expect it to snow, it might, it might not, it's not guaranteed because I'm just guessing it'll snow.
I doubt Nelson has played better because of Eberle, it was just a matter time before he started to get in the groove. He had his moments with Bailey on early this season as well and he hasn't found the net with either of them. Maybe when Beau comes back things will be different who knows? And Eberle being able to drive his own line is because teams aren't checking him as hard, it doesn't matter if Barzal carries the puck more. He gets just as many scoring opportunities. He just struggles against another teams top checkers, which is why he should be on the 2nd line, at least he's scoring there.
I know you're a Eberle fan and that's fine, but in my opinion. He's a 2nd line winger, and emergency 1st line winger, or until Lou actually does something about it, their first line winger. It's the one missing piece that'll put this team over the top.