It’s painful in Nashville. The local country pump has scored the seventh fewest goals in the NHL this season. Only the basement teams like Arizona, Montreal, Columbus, Anaheim and Chicago can be found behind in the number of goals. Someone could say that they have come a long way, because last season Nashville’s ranking in goals scored was 12th.
All eyes turn to the team’s most important players, who Mikael Granlund undoubtedly belongs.
Last season, two 40-goal and three 20-goal players were found in the group, in addition to which Granlund scored a nice 63 and the number one pack Roman Josi a whopping 96 points. The superiority game supported the team, but in the past season it has sounded a totally wrong note. The Predators’ 16 percent superiority on Monday was the fourth weakest in the entire series.
In the current season, there are no 40-goal players or 96-point defenders in the group.
At the same time, the team’s situation in the playoff race is getting tight. It is still participating in the rally and the Moneypuck.com site gives it a 25 percent chance to reach the climax of the spring. The screw should be able to be tightened, if it is going to redeem the probabilities.
Urheilu’s ice hockey expert Ismo Lehkonen shake up both Granlund’s and Nashville’s situation.
More is needed from Granlund
It’s particularly painful for Granlund right now.
Last season, he was the undisputed leading star of his team and the conductor of the puck game, but now the result does not want to follow. Entering the new week, the balance of Granlund’s thirteen previous matches was recorded as 2+1, and the entire season doesn’t paint a prettier picture. Last season’s 2.4 points per hour played has dropped to 1.8.
Granlund was on pace for 45 power points on Monday. The average per game (0.56) is the fourth lowest of all seasons of his NHL career.
It’s clear that Nashville needs more from its forward who enjoys the most ice time.
– It’s a clear thing and he is also the type of player who needs power and who also expects it from himself. There are no two words about this, Lehkonen begins.
Why are there no effects?
The collapse of the power play from last season is one reason. Last season, Granlund scored 6.68 power points per hour he played with superiority, this season 3.61 – more precisely, only nine points. It is difficult to get a result with five against five.
– The dominance game has rained badly and then they have started to solve it from time to time even so that Granlund is made to grind in front of the goal, Lehkonen laughs, rolling his eyes.
It is also the case that the collective’s pain with scoring has been reflected in Granlund’s column. Nashville’s shooting percentage was below nine on Monday and the third lowest in the entire league. For example, last week, Granlund created four great opportunities against Vegas, but did not produce a single hit.
On the wing as a center
Another aspect of Granlund’s game is responsibility. Although he’s been moved back to wing like he did in his Minnesota years, Granlund plays like a center forward. Granlund does not fish for power points, but always prefers to play in the lower half rather than the upper half. If there is a rush to defend, the Laser HT’s growth is likely to be the first attacker in its own area.
– When talking about power points, “Mike” has a bit of the same problem as many other Finns, that the game is played quite a lot for others. He has to fix a lot of things in the defensive direction there. There, other guys have permission to operate in a slightly different way, Lehkonen sees.
The philosophical approach to the game mentioned by Lehkonen is also the reason why Granlund plays the most of the Predators forwards. Although the points are not generated at the rate of last season, Granlund does a lot of right things for the collective in the rink. Of course, it’s also not good to forget that Gralund’s power rating of -16 is the weakest quote of the winger’s NHL career and of the Nashville team.
The situation is the same in expected goals and goalscoring statistics – Granlund is playing the weakest season of his NHL career in those respects.
Nashville has not been able to build a power chain around Granlund like last season. Granlund forged a year ago by Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene with a strong result, but in the fall the joint play did not take off – in terms of results, Johansen’s and By Nino Niederreiter with.
– I would personally move him to the middle. He is able to rhythm the game, help the defenders and be more on the puck. In the middle he wouldn’t have to twist as much near the wings. As adults, I really don’t understand why a young person Cody Glass were put to play with the number one berths. Would trust guys who have good experiences together.
Inevitable change ahead
On the other hand, what would making the playoffs change for Nashville? Water hasn’t flowed in the Cumberland River for ages, as the club has booked poorly and traded at most moderately. In the current core, there are a dozen key players over thirty, and there are not many promising young people in the organization.
Ryan McDonagh 34
Roman Josi 33
Mattias Ekholm 33
Matt Duchene 33
Ryan Johansen’s 31
Mikael Granlund 31
Nino Niederreiter 31
Colton Sissons 30
Filip Forsberg 29
Nashville has inevitably drifted into a rebuilding project. Veterans’ sales talks must be started in the near future and young blood must be brought in as well as reserve shifts.
– There, the future is certainly already being thought about, and if it is determined that there are no opportunities, that game can start quickly. There’s Forsberg, Jos and others, pretty big canines to move. They need young people in there now, other than that Juuso Pärssisen and goalie promise Yaroslav AskarovLehkonen lines up.
What about Mikael Granlund, could he change scenery this season?
– Granlund has shown that he is a player with a tough character, many GMs in that league like him for sure. We’re talking about a reliable guy with a crazy thirst for playoff success.