Returning to Gustafsson, though: it seems as though Lalonde wrongly considers him in need of sheltering with cushy zone usage. It's not the worst idea, since he's especially good at defending the OZ blueline. I guess I don't quite follow the logic all the way through. - ThreadSky

hockeyviz.com • 113 days ago

Returning to Gustafsson, though: it seems as though Lalonde wrongly considers him in need of sheltering with cushy zone usage. It's not the worst idea, since he's especially good at defending the OZ blueline. I guess I don't quite follow the logic all the way through.

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afriendlylemur.bsky.social•113 days ago

Gustafson has been really poor this season, perhaps in ways analytics aren't really showing right now? He's flunking the eye test about as hard as one can.

hockeyviz.com•113 days ago

Such an established record of strong impact on team results from him, though; hard to imagine that he's just fallen apart.

hazylikeswayzee.bsky.social•113 days ago

I think the biggest slight against him this season has been that he is loose in possession. Hockey Reference has him down for 21 giveaways and 2 takeaways on the year, and from watching those giveaways generally occur in the D zone or on the breakout resulting in chances the other way.

hazylikeswayzee.bsky.social•113 days ago

Which to be fair, the “good” players on the wings also have a high number of giveaways, but they tend to happen on the cycle or off the rush where the team struggles to generate and the consequences are much less severe.

hockeyviz.com•113 days ago

The severity of the consequences of not making a play usually match up with the quality of the gains from making that play. There's no transition free lunch.

hazylikeswayzee.bsky.social•113 days ago

Sure, but a bad pass in the O-zone typically doesn’t result in a high danger chance against. You go back on defense but you have the opportunity to actually defend. Turnovers on the breakout don’t give you that. Whether that’s on the system or the player is up for debate but it’s the reality for DET

stark38.bsky.social•113 days ago

Gustafsson had some REAL BAD games to start the season. Like, Chiarot-esque object permanence issues with regards to missing coverage. He's been in the deployment doghouse ever seince.

hockeyviz.com•113 days ago

It will take several seasons worth of that kind of thing for him to have a track record that matches chiarot.

hockeyviz.com•113 days ago

It's hard to fault the coach too much on this score, though, since the central problem (the inability to generate 5v5 offence) seems to be unsolvable, since the roster as a whole is ill-equipped to move the puck up the ice. Should've claimed Brännström when he was on waivers for a DZ->OZ specialist.

calebwiim.bsky.social•113 days ago

Nice thread. Will casually point out Detroit is a 50.3% xG team at 5v5 when Chiarot is not on the ice. Zone exits in particularly feel *rough* with him out there.

hockeyviz.com•113 days ago

Chiarot is extremely weak generally, if the relevant people were brave enough to replace him with a call-up or waiver wire pickup it would likely do the team some favours.

calebwiim.bsky.social•113 days ago

They paid to unload the wrong left handed Dman unfortunately.

theoleonetousi.bsky.social•113 days ago

I dunno @hockeyviz.com , he has not been himself so far this year.

In the first few games he was lost in the Dzone, blew at least 3 coverages that led directly to goals. Plus he was REALLY struggling to find outlet passes and was turning over the puck a lot while trying to exit the zone

theoleonetousi.bsky.social•113 days ago

Granted every Detroit defenseman right now can't exit the zone, so maybe that's not a knock on him.

He has just regularly looked out of position and/or flat footed...whether that's just on him or a bad overall defense is a legit question, but he has definitely not inspired any confidence so far

hockeyviz.com•113 days ago

Even if he were playing at his very best and the coach trusted him fully, it would only solve a fraction of the teams's problems.

theoleonetousi.bsky.social•113 days ago

Oh yeah, there are much larger roster issues here. Band-aid over a bullet hole.

Letting go of Walman and Ghost were both head scratchers...

I see the vision with what Stevie is trying to build with the Youths, but all of non-goalie signings have really got me thinking

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