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On Jared McCann- to make some proclamation that there's not enough evidence to say he'll be a good 3C is a bit off. Frankly, I don't think anyone- GMJR, HCMS, or McCann himself know what his best position is.
He hasn't got a full run in any one position since he got here (1/?)
He hasn't got a full run in any one position since he got here (1/?)
The longest stretch at 3C this year came in the first month and a half of the season, which I talked about here: https://thesportsdaily.com/2019/11/19/jared-mccanns-impressive-start-p1b1/
He was *awesome*. I would argue that sample size should outweigh the 3 playoff games, but that's a different story for a different day (2/?)
He was *awesome*. I would argue that sample size should outweigh the 3 playoff games, but that's a different story for a different day (2/?)
At 5v5 this year, he saw 83+ and 81+ minutes with Hornqvist/Kahun and Hornqvist/Simon, respectively.
He saw 78+ with Malkin/Rust and 73+ with Crosby/Simon (3/?)
He saw 78+ with Malkin/Rust and 73+ with Crosby/Simon (3/?)
For a younger guy like him, even if he has been in the league for 5 season, you almost need to play him consistently in one position, even if he is a Swiss Army Knife. Playing him on 3 different lines in 2 different positions with 9 different players isn't helpful (4/?)
Consider:
3C w/ Kahun/Hornqvist - 60.26% xGF share
3C w/ Simon/Hornqvist - 53.65% xGF share
2LW w/ Rust/Malkin - 60.44% xGF share
1LW w/ Simon/Crosby - 47.41% xGF
Small samples and whatnot, there's a case to be made that he was better at C than LW (5/?) https://twitter.com/G_Off817/status/1293541957071966208
3C w/ Kahun/Hornqvist - 60.26% xGF share
3C w/ Simon/Hornqvist - 53.65% xGF share
2LW w/ Rust/Malkin - 60.44% xGF share
1LW w/ Simon/Crosby - 47.41% xGF
Small samples and whatnot, there's a case to be made that he was better at C than LW (5/?) https://twitter.com/G_Off817/status/1293541957071966208
Instead of acting on 3 games, maybe give him a bridge deal, then just play him at C for a full year. You don't need him at LW with Guentzel and Zucker now. Let him learn. Let him go through the growing pains. But stick with him at C and see what you have before ejecting (6/?)
The other option is giving up on yet another what looks like a really good, young player and watching him go thrive somewhere else. Personally, I prefer option 1 (7/7)
Addendum: McCann's 35.56% xGF share with Hornqvist/Marleau in almost 17 mins. of 5v5 play this "postseason" is so far away from anything he's done at any other point in his career that making any generalization or decision based on that should ring an air raid siren.
