FAN wrote:
How is it ridiculous to discuss Garrison's goal totals in relation to his ability to play on the first unit powerplay?
I stated why in my post.
The fact that Garrison scored 16 goals with 9 being on the PP suggests he can successfully play an offensive role and be effective on the PP.
It suggests that, but it doesn't exactly guarentee that he will be an upgrade over Bieksa or Hamhuis on the first unt power play.
The point I was making in my post is that "if" he ends up being the guy who plays next to Edler on the first unit power play his ofensive numbers will most like be very good, possibly better then last year. If he isnt in that role then his numbers might not be anywhere near as good.
You can give a defenseman top 4 minutes and 1st unit power play time all you want, but if a defenseman can't handle those minutes and isn't capable of being offensively productive he won't be a top 4 Dman capable of playing on the first unit powerplay.
That would be more or less what I said.
The fact that Garrison scored 16 goals including 9 goals on the PP is strong evidence of potential. It's silly to suggests that this strong showing of ability does not matter.
The 16 goals suggests he's got a very good shot and that he got fairly lucky.
The goal total does not however mean that he is going to end up on our first power play unit and that will have a drastic impact on his goal and point total next season. That was the point I was making in my post.
It is silly to speculate on Garrisons point totals moving forward with out knowing what role he will play in.
The first PP unit with the Sedins has been absolute money for defenseman the past few seasons, if he is there he will post great numbers, probably better then last year. If he doesn't play with that group he probably wont.
When Gillis signed Hamhuis he saw some offensive upside because Hamhuis showed an ability to put up points in the past and his even strength point totals were equal to that of Weber and Suter in Hamhuis' last year as a Pred. If it's all about projection and statistics are irrelevant, then someone like Rob Schremp would still be in the NHL given 1st line and 1st unit PP time.
You basically just agreed with me.
Hamhuis wasn't used in an offensive role his last year with the Preds and it had an effect on his point totals.
Dan is a good but not elite offensive defenseman and guys like that will have big swings in their offensive totals because of luck and their role on the team.
Garrison, Hamhuis, Ballard, and Bieksa, are all in the same boat, their point totals next year will most certainly depend on how they are used.
That is why it is pointless to predict how how many points Garrison will get next year. It just depends on fit, role, and to a lesser extent luck.