Rangers Analysis: Should Gaborik see less PK time?
by Joe Fortunato on Nov 2, 2009 1:12 PM EST
in New York Rangers Analysis
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PrintWell Ranger fans you just got over your first (and hopefully only) Marian Gaborik injury. His absence revealed a few major flaws in this Rangers team and lead some Ranger fans (and yes I am looking at some of you, you know who you are) to the ledge.
With Gaborik in the line-up the Rangers are quite obviously a different team. When Gaborik is on the ice the power play seems more lethal, the other teams defenses don't seem as comfortable and the Rangers overall are a more dangerous team offensively.
There have been some pleasant offensive surprises such as Valclav Prospal (4g 14a), Ales Kotalik (5g 7a), Michael Del Zotto (4g 8a) and Enver Lisin (4g 4a) just to name a few. But there have also been some offensive disappointments (meaning their offensive numbers not their overall play) including Chris Drury (2g 3a), Ryan Callahan (2g 3a) and especially Chris Higgins (0g 2a).
With Gaborik in the line-up the Rangers are 9-3-1, without him they are 0-2. Gaborik's 11 goals are first on this team by a mile, the next closest player is Kotalik with 5 goals and then Prospal and Del Zotto with 4. Secondary scoringhas been a problem for this team with Callahan and Drury onlynotching two goals each so far and Higgins with no goals. Gaborik's play has covered their tracks so far, but as we saw during his two game injury other people need to start scoring in order for this team to reach the next level.
Join me after the jump.
Let's be honest here. You don't need me to tell you how vital Marian Gaborik is to this team. So here is my question: Should John Tortorella not use Gaborik on the penalty kill in order to keep him fresh and injury free?
As a team the Rangers have taken 69 penalties in their 15 games this season, which works out to 4.6 penalties a game (or roughly 9 minutes of penalties a game). John Tortorella does not try to hide his penalty kill strategy, which is to use his top guys to kill penalties in hopes for short handed offensive opportunities. So it should be no surprise that Marian Gaborik is currently averaging 1:56 minutes a game, which means he is killing about 20% of the penalties the Rangers take each game.
Now while two extra penalty kill minutes might not seem like a lot take this into account. Gaborik is currently 4th on the team in shifts per game, with 26.2 shits per every game played, and is first among forwards. And when it comes to Tortorella's up-tempo system every shift is grueling and filled with sprint skating up and down the ice to join offensive rushes and help with defensive responsibilities.
Killing penalties can be just as grueling, especially if you are covering the point--which is where Gaborik plays defense on the penalty kill where he looks for wayward passes to take into the offensive zone. Covering the point requires Gaborik to skate from point to point, head to the corners if there is a scrum and even skating the puck into the offensive zone if he sees an opening.
So you be the judge on this one. Do you think that Tortorella should lessen Gaboriks penalty kill burden altogether. Or should Tortorella save Gaborik's penalty killing time for when the Rangers are down in a big game or need a spark to turn momentum? What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
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I like that Torts uses Gaborik on the PK. I think it puts a little added pressure on the point guys for the opposing PP unit. They don’t want Gaborik to get a breakaway chance.
You want your best player on the ice in all situations. Plain and simple. I agree that this team needs to start supporting Lundqvist and Gaborik. They have the personnel to put up more goals, they just need to step up.
Rule #1. Cardio. Rule #2 Double Tap.
the point isnt that he should be on the pk
because he is very effective there. But should he be given time off in order to limit his injuries.
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by Joe Fortunato on Nov 2, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
Are you saying that playing on the PK has more potential for him to get injured?
I think that Marian is young enough and conditioned well enough to play the extra time that Torts is giving him on the PK. I m also sure that he wants as much ice time as possible.
As far as the injuries go, I don’t think playing on the PK increases his chances of getting injured. So I say let him play…
no
i’m ASKING if Gaborik should see less PK time to keep him fresher for the long season.
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by Joe Fortunato on Nov 2, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions
Joe, you asked if he should be given more time off (by not playing PK) to limit his injuries and to keep him fresh. For the reasons stated in my previous post the answer is no.
I understood the point
I think we are getting too worried about the injury. He should stay out on the PK. I think he’s just as likely to get hurt in other situations. In fact he did get hurt on during even strength. Let him play as many minutes as he’s comfortable playing.
Rule #1. Cardio. Rule #2 Double Tap.
seems like everyone doesnt mind seeing him play the pk. The only thing i would worry about is a shot hitting him in the foot and hurting him. thats the only threat for a player like him.
Drury gives up his body time after time and we have seen him take some nasty shots to hands legs body, which is very appreciated, but if i saw Gaborik doing that i would have a heart attack.
the rangers PK is doing ok isnt it?
but i do agree with trying to find ways to keep gaboriks legs from getting fatigued. when i players body is more fatigued they are more likely to injure it.
I don't think so.
He makes them a scoring threat even on the PK when he’s there.
I really don’t see this last injury as one that is any different than a normal bump…meaning Gabby could have sustained this injury if he had one 30 second shift the entire game.
He’s the most dynamic player the Rangers have (ever???) and the more ice time…the better.
I think its no, he should not be taken OFF. But yes, maybe a few less PK shifts (well…a few less PK’s…less Penalties is a good thing, I don’t care how good they are on the PK) would be a good idea.
Gaborik is simply too much of a threat on the PK to score, even opening up opps for the rest of the guys out there.
So no, you don’t take him off completely. Maybe relegate him to 3rd period PK..or maybe the PK inside 4 minute of the period, or something like that.
Definitely needs to see PK time. I was surprised he’s even on the PK in the first place (I admittingly didn’t pay much attention to the Wild..I knew Gabby was an excellent player, but his total excellence, not aware of till now), but he definitely makes the Rangers PK a scoring threat, somthing it really hasn’t been in forever.
DO WHAT JERRY HAIRSTON DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gabby is one of our best pk'ers
He is the one person on this team who can make people miss…did you see that one pk last game where he alone took
30-40s off the clock…I say keep gabby playing…I feel like sometimes we wanna treat this guy as if he’s 40 something…he’s getting paid the big bucks he should want to be on the ice a whole lot
by nutz_35 on Nov 2, 2009 6:33 PM EST via mobile reply actions
im with joe on this one
gabby should be on the pk unit, just less. when chara or ovechkin are rearing back to slam one home and gabby gets in front, we risk it all. so he should be on the unit but cally, drury, duby and higgins are very capable pk guys for regular use. im sure it wont make that big of a difference guys come on.
by louielounz1 on Nov 2, 2009 8:09 PM EST via mobile reply actions
i knew i liked you louie lol
That’s my point use him on the pk but only when its needed
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by Joe Fortunato on Nov 2, 2009 9:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You forgot someone
Boyle has been super-effective thus far.
Fun fact – no PP has scored against us while Boyle is on the ice thus far. And he’s not getting much less time than Gabby.
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by George E. Ays on Nov 2, 2009 10:02 PM EST up reply actions
Good find Smurf!
I had the feeling that Boyle was doing the job on the PK – I just didn’t realize that stat.
And he’s been very good on the limited number of face-offs he’s been involved in.
Indeed
Highest SH faceoff% on the team @ 47.1%
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Nov 3, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
Gaborik on the PK
If the Rangers secondary scoring gets going, you don’t have to worry about Gaborik’s icetime as much. Six games into the season I felt that w/out Gabby we’d still be okay. I clearly don’t feel that way now, but the potential is there, if Cally, Duby, Drury, and Higgins start filling the net. If they don’t, and Gabby goes down again, then we aren’t going to be okay, because as much as I love Prospal’s effort, he’s really only a support player. Kotalik also. They need Gaborik as the finisher on that team, unless that secondary scoring kicks in.
on gaborik
first: hi out there to everyone. i am quite new at the banter, but i am following the discussions for about two months.
my thoughts on gaborik:
his groins and his hip seem to be ok. the last “injury” was a little bruise, that occured after a collission, what can happen to any player.
i don’t get the point why you should rest a player in early november. if he’s that injury prone you have to, he will get hurt in the first hard hitting playoff game anyway, and won’t be a factor in the long run.
so let him play as much as he deserves (and that looks to be a lot right now) and see if he can stay healthy and be a factor in the playoffs.
greetings from the austrian alpes, where it has just started to snow….
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