This Week's Column Up

[calgARI '07]

Scoring By Committee

http://www.elynah.com/?articles&id=45

[KeithK]

Good column.  Schafer answered your question about the Abbotts though, as Al D posted from the IJ in the Clarkson postgame thread:
[q]"They [the Abbotts] look for each other too much 5-on-5, so 4-on-4 is the perfect opportunity for them to play together," Schafer said.[/q]

[calgARI '07]

I understand it.  He wants Chris in the defensive mode and Cam in the offensive mode and when they're out there together, the former is more intent on getting into the offense with Cam.  All the same, that Cam Abbott-Pegoraro combo has never done anything.

[Tub(a)]

[quote calgARI '07]I understand it.  He wants Chris in the defensive mode and Cam in the offensive mode and when they're out there together, the former is more intent on getting into the offense with Cam.  All the same, that Cam Abbott-Pegoraro combo has never done anything.[/quote]

I don't think it has anything to do with offensive/defensive mode, I think Schafer's concern is that they essentially ignore/underutilize the other person on the line.

[KeithK]

That's how I read it too.

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote Tub(a)]...I think Schafer's concern is that they essentially ignore/underutilize the other person on the line.[/quote]
I suspect it would have been risky business for them to have ignored Hornby. ::uhoh::

[calgARI '07]

[quote Tub(a)][quote calgARI '07]I understand it.  He wants Chris in the defensive mode and Cam in the offensive mode and when they're out there together, the former is more intent on getting into the offense with Cam.  All the same, that Cam Abbott-Pegoraro combo has never done anything.[/quote]

I don't think it has anything to do with offensive/defensive mode, I think Schafer's concern is that they essentially ignore/underutilize the other person on the line.[/quote]

To me, that's a bad reason when you see how much those two can create just on one shift together.  Even with their recent resurgence, I'm still not at all pleased with the Abbott-Pegoraro second line.  Both could do a lot more.

[Cactus12]

Pegoraro is a great passer. I'd like to see him on a line with someone who could bury the puck consistently given an open one-timer. Cam doesn't seem to find his passes.

[redhair34]

Great column...

As for the Abbott debate--lets not forget another aspect, besides the "forgoten linemate factor," which I think weighs even heavier in Schafer's decision to keep them separate, the success of the Mugford-Abbott-Sawada line. They have absolutely shut down the opposition this year and I'm willing to guess as a combined line have the highest +/- stat of any of the 4 regular lines.  But I agree with Ari about the Abbott-Pegoraro-McCutcheon line--they've underperformed 5x5 all season (exceptions: I thought abbott-pegs looked great together in Florida and even during the RIT game).

[Trotsky]

[quote Cactus12]Pegoraro is a great passer. I'd like to see him on a line with someone who could bury the puck consistently given an open one-timer.[/quote]
How about just having anybody on *any* line bury the puck consistently given an open one-timer?

[Lauren '06]

[quote calgARI '07][quote Tub(a)][quote calgARI '07]I understand it.  He wants Chris in the defensive mode and Cam in the offensive mode and when they're out there together, the former is more intent on getting into the offense with Cam.  All the same, that Cam Abbott-Pegoraro combo has never done anything.[/quote]

I don't think it has anything to do with offensive/defensive mode, I think Schafer's concern is that they essentially ignore/underutilize the other person on the line.[/quote]

To me, that's a bad reason when you see how much those two can create just on one shift together.  Even with their recent resurgence, I'm still not at all pleased with the Abbott-Pegoraro second line.  Both could do a lot more.[/quote]
In a somewhat analogous situation, Vancouver spent years shopping for a skilled RW to play in a line with the Sedins, and they've only just now gotten it right with Anson Carter.  The Sedins have always been sort of funny about their playing situation (I remember reading that it's in their contracts that you can't move one without the other, or something like that, but who knows), and their refusal/inability to play with anyone but each other seriously crippled second line scoring for the Canucks until the magic puzzle piece was found... particularly since, until this season, Daniel was a much better player.

Obviously line options in college are significantly more limited since you can't buy or trade up players, so if coach has tried every right wing variable and failed, splitting them up is the right decision.  Also, I find it kind of cool to have a recognizable, threatening 4x4 "line," though I guess one does not exclude the other.

(Man, even discounting the education aspect, trading in college would be awful.)

[RatushnyFan]

I saw an interview with Anson Carter where he described his success with the Sedins.  He said that he told the Sedins "not to worry about him" and "just do your thing".  He recognizes that they have a stronger connection together than he'll ever have with them so he focuses on going to the net and just getting garbage goals.  I haven't seen the Abbotts too much, but the Sedins are enormously effective at cycling and controlling the puck along the boards and being patient enough to eventually get a quality shot off or pass it to Carter.  Carter also gets a lot of garbage goals.  Haven't seen the Abbotts too much ('92 grad here) but could this be a solution?  Carter figured out how to not to disrupt the twins strength but fit in nicely.  His career was taking a nose dive so it's been a great move for all involved.

Huge Canucks fan here.......watch every game.  The Northwest division is the shizzle folks.

[calgARI '07]

[quote RatushnyFan]

Huge Canucks fan here.......watch every game.  The Northwest division is the shizzle folks.[/quote]

Huge Flames fan here........watch every game, including the four games the Flames have owned the Canucks.  I agree that the Northwest Division is "the shizzle" though.

[RatushnyFan]

[quote calgARI '07]
Huge Flames fan here........watch every game, including the four games the Flames have owned the Canucks.  I agree that the Northwest Division is "the shizzle" though.[/quote]
You do own us this year ...... but you're still having problems with Brendan Morrison in OT.  Did my graduate work at Michigan and got to see him win a national championship and a Hobey.  Didn't suck.  Calgary is very, very, very good.  The difference is goaltending.

[oceanst41]

I agree with the earlier posts that the fact that Abbott/Sawada/Mugford are so effectively shutting down opponents top lines is enough reason to keep Cam and Chris separated.

I think we can agree that Schafer would scarifice scoring a goal more per game for allowing a goal less per game.