Quoting: Tintin
This isn't really true, at all.
Despite being pretty good at winning faceoffs, McLeod is on average responsible for giving up a higher number of scoring chances against.
He got caved in constantly last season mainly due to this inability to keep possession, transition the puck up the ice and generate pressure.
McLeod has done absolutely nothing to show that he's good NHLer up to this point and I see no reason why Boqvist shouldn't be in the lineup ahead of him.
McLeod's game has evolved considerably in last couple of years. When he first came up, he would often try to stick-handle through guys. His speed allowed him to get away with it in juniors, but at NHL level, he is a terrible puck-handler (more of a puck pusher). Over the last two seasons, and last year especially, he has adopted more 4C mentality. Dump, chase, hit, cycle, repeat. I want to see another year in that role, especially with a healthy Wood back.
Plus you need a good face-off guy in bottom of lineup. I know a lot of people don't subscribe to face-offs as meaningful statistically...but when you narrow to certain situations (ie, late in game, ahead by goal, draw in d-zone....they can decide games). (this is one area where the fancy stat folks are using the wrong stats).
Also, McLeod is much more physical than Boqvist and our lineup isn't exactly overflowing with physicality.
Quoting: pretzelcoatl
Player roles are a myth. A skilled fourth line is no worse than a gritty one
This is where analytics has it completely wrong. When you take large sets of data, and measure them against a mean, You get these one-size-fits-all type remedies that completely ignore narrow, specific situations. If this were even close to true, why have positions? Just put five players on ice. Why put a right-handed winger on LW for possession line and RW for speed attack? Why play RHD at RD and LHD at LD? It wouldn't matter who goes where...why not ice 18 speedy skilled forwards?
Quoting: FireShero
Wow, I am the exact opposite. I think player roles are very important. Which is why I was happy the Devils got Haula. Haula/ Mcleod are both good defensively, win faceoffs, pk, and hit. Good 3C/ 4C that allow Hischier and Hughes to focus only scoring and less on defense.
Recent history seems to favour one line + defense with grit: COL (Helm, Manson, Johnson, Kubel) TBL 2x (Maroon, Coburn, Paquette, Cernak, Schenn, Coleman) WSH ( Wilson, Niskanen, Orpik, Beagle)
Agree...they are important. I don't think that have to fit a certain formula of skill, skill, defense, grit. As long as there is a good mix of players with chemistry...ie, some skilled perimeter guys, some interior quick hands guys, some physicality, etc. Sometimes speed wins, sometimes size wins, sometimes skill wins...best to have some diversification.
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