Season 30 Challenges Thread - Due Friday, November 27th

[John - Sharks]

You may challenge any 2 skaters for SP, SK, DF.

Also, you may challenge any newly created prospects without limit.

[Machomadness]

Tyler Motte Challenge #1

Challenging his current ratings 76SP & 76SK; Ask: 80SP & 80SK

Currently rated 65 overall

Coparables: Vrana 80ov SK/SP, Necas 80SP/79SK, miles wood 80SP, Keller 80SP

“Centre with good puckhandling skills who likes to be the puck carrier, and offensive generator. Has always been a prolific scorer at the early competition levels. Good character and competitor who is always called upon to be on the ice to bring his team back from deficits, with his speed, lateral agility, and puck skills. Plays big. As many young players, his defensive game needs more commitment, from both on-ice play, to his game analysis and reaction. Committed to the University of Michigan.


--Bill Placzek—“


Played 17 games this post season with the Canucks, while watching him play his skating and speed showed;

Talent Analysis
Motte makes up for his lacks in size and slightly above average technical skills with hustle and hockey sense. He is a strong skater and moves around the ice with ease. His offensive game is not flashy but he works well with his linemates and knows where to go to score. Motte continues to improve his shot and add strength at the college level and must continue to do so to play pro hockey. He is strong on the penalty kill and is a willing checking line forward. Motte, despite his lack of stature, fits the "speed, hockey sense, and character" mantra of the Blackhawks' front office.




Blake Lizotte (undrafted) 22 year old Challenge #2

Challenging his current ratings 76SP & 77SK; ASK: 78SP & 79SK

Currently rated 65 overall

Comparables: Dvorak 78 SP, Adam Johnson 78SP/78SK, Marner 78SP

Lizotte played 65 games, putting up 23 points; as a smaller frame player (5’7) its his speed and skating he uses to his advantage

https://dobberprospects.com/player/blake-lizotte-2/

“A small framed center who relies on his strong skating ability, speed and hockey sense to be effective and can carry goal scoring upside” -


https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/2019 ... hl-forward

“What he does have — speed, namely — is something LA can use more of, though.”

[anthgrt-la]

Los Angeles King

Patrick Laine:

SP: 75 requested 76
SK: 75 requested 76
DF: 58 requested 63

Many mistakenly label him a one-trick pony, and this is a great disservice to a player that’s shown some tremendous two-way growth in recent times.

One notable area of improvement is Laine’s defensive contributions. He occasionally handles the puck like a hand-grenade, but has redoubled efforts to win puck recoveries along the boards and disrupt offensive zone entries by opposing skaters. He’s certainly no expert in either category, but his improvement has been reflected in a surprising decrease in his expected goals-against. In Laine’s first two seasons, he was expected to account for 43.79 and 41.21 goals against. This season, he’s reduced that rate to a much improved 33.22 xGA. Make no mistake, that delta is huge, especially for a winger branded as a liability.

https://www.arcticicehockey.com/2019/2/ ... yle-connor

Remember the Patrik Laine of yore who was a liability when he wasn’t lighting the lamp?

That player is long gone.

Laine’s Game Has Exponentially Evolved

That’s an incredible swing, and one of the biggest signs the Finn has developed from a one-trick pony into a total 200-foot workhorse.

The fact Laine’s taking pride in his defensive game shows he is maturing: “you always got to backcheck, it doesn’t matter what the score is. That’s going to look stupid if you stand there and don’t try,” he said of the play that resulted in his third goal Saturday. “I’m proud of that. Even, if after that, the result is not a goal, that doesn’t matter. I still take a lot of pride from that play and got to keep playing like that.”

To hear Laine say he wants to learn, be continually better, and “not only be that guy who just puts it in” is also encouraging. For the first time, it seems genuine and not just lip service.

https://thehockeywriters.com/jets-laine ... evolution/

The Winnipeg Jets winger has been drawing praise from head coach Paul Maurice for his recent defensive and physical play while skating on the top line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, but scoring is still a challenge for the 20-year-old Finnish sniper

Laine’s promotion to the top line has been more about a learning process than producing results on the score sheet. Maurice believes he has handled the defensive responsibilities well and has fought through the challenge of playing against the other team’s best players every night.

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/n ... to-come-by

"Especially of the D zone and picking up rims and getting pucks out," Laine said. "That's something I'm really happy with myself so far, that I'm not the liability anymore that I used to be a little bit maybe. I don't think I was probably the best defensive forward in the League. It's great that I was able to work with [assistant coach] Todd [Woodcroft] this summer on those little details of the game, and it's been helping me so far."

https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets- ... -311173124

He looked multi-dimensional and dangerous and used his speed and hands to generate offence from many different areas on the ice rather than from just his power-play ‘office.’

https://thehockeywriters.com/winnipeg-j ... rformance/



Nick Ritchie:

SP: 68 requested 72
SK: 71 requested 74
DF: 57 requested 64

Career 2.0 CF%rel, 2.2FF%rel

https://www.hockey-reference.com/player ... hni01.html

He has a powerful skating stride, and excellent balance

One thing that really helps though, is that he has a very quick first step and good acceleration. This really helps him to pounce on loose pucks in all three zones. While he might not win a 100 foot race to the puck against a quicker NHL player, he is going to win plenty of 10 foot races to loose pucks.

He just loves to hit and can back check hard and get involved with the physical game in his own zone and supporting his defence. Sometimes this can get him into trouble as he needs to be disciplined to ensure he doesn’t take penalties, and also needs to avoid getting out of position looking for that hit. Still he’s a committed defensive player, and appears to be improving over time, showing a willingness to learn this aspect of the game.

https://lastwordonsports.com/2014/04/07 ... k-ritchie/

Despite his size, Ritchie is still quick on his feet, which will aid him well as the Anaheim Ducks transition into a more relevant style of hockey.

https://pucksofafeather.com/2019/07/24/ ... new-light/

Getzlaf, who had three assists, has lauded Ritchie’s improved skating and ability to now play at a higher pace. In this instance, it was Ritchie getting himself into position to take advantage of the high, kind bounce.

https://www.dailynews.com/2016/10/24/ni ... pener-4-2/

Ritchie’s top end speed appears to be quite average, and on the other side, his acceleration over the first couple steps appears to be really quite quick. That is to say, Ritchie won’t beat many players in a race to the puck over 100 ft, although he very well may over 10 ft.

https://www.anaheimcalling.com/2018/9/1 ... should-too

Ritchie's skating is above average for a power forward and displays a nice touch with the puck in addition to his shot.

https://dobberprospects.com/2017/09/03/nick-ritchie/

[Juliet-Bruins]

Anders Bjork

SP- 75->79
SK- 75->79
DF- 58->63

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/player-bio/anders-bjork/bio

Is also an adept two-way forward with sound work ethic and excellent skating ability. Can play a complete game.

Career potential Talented, two-way forward with upside.

https://dobberprospects.com/player/anders-bjork/

Bjork is a speedy winger with the upside to have a meaningful scoring impact for an NHL team. He is shifty with the puck and is able to use his smooth skating or quick hands to create opportunities.

https://thehockeywriters.com/anders-bjo ... t-profile/

Bjork is also a strong skater that can turn it to another gear in a few strides.

Strengths:
Speed

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/bruins ... ise-season

Bjork still had the skating speed and the raw skill that saw him turn into Boston’s top forward prospect

and he’s established himself as a top-9 winger at the NHL with speed and an offensive game that’s continuing to build as he grows in both confidence and maturity.

https://thehockeywriters.com/bruins-bjo ... eer-games/

He boasts speed, a masterful puck-handling ability and a true scoring touch that cannot be taught.

[BigMac3110]

Jeff Petry
Current SP: 72
Requested SP: 76
Current SK: 74
Requested SK: 77
Current DF: 72
Requested: 74


"Jeff Petry is one of the smoothest skaters around"
https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/they ... -309425326

"smooth skating puck-moving defenseman with tremendous mobility"
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/12265/jeff-petry

"Petry — although not quite on the same level as some of the names listed above — is the best example of this type of defensemen on the Canadiens roster. The Canadiens are a team built to play and fast and attack quickly in transition.

He plays this style effectively and contributes both offensively and defensively. He makes a good first pass and helps with quick exits out of the zone, eliminating long shifts of defensive duress. In addition, he is able to make up for positional mistakes with his smooth skating."

"Notably, this season he averaged 23:39 in ice time through 71 regular-season games and 25:27 through 10 playoff games. As a result of his heavy workload, he finished with 11 goals and 40 points and once again established that he is a stalwart on the blue line in all situations"

"The benefits of mobility and speed for a defenseman are that they can prolong a career and help a player maintain their stamina and longevity within a season. Petry, for example, has only missed two games in the last four seasons"
https://thehockeywriters.com/canadiens- ... ov-mentor/

"Their ability to skate the puck out of their own end and create the breakout on their own is a huge benefit to the Montreal attack, especially when considering how often both players jump up to join the play. In today’s NHL, having a player who can smother an attack at one end, then join the attack to create chances of their own, is a huge key, and one that both JPetry and Kulak thrive on"
https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2020 ... lysis-goal

Assets: Is silky smooth in his own end and on the breakout. Skates well and can jump up into the play. Owns a good hard shot and offensive acumen. Can log huge minutes, in all situations.
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/player-bio/jeff-petry/bio

"Is silky smooth in his own end and on the breakout. Skates well and can jump up into the play. Owns a good hard shot and offensive acumen. Can log huge minutes, in all situations"
http://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/player/5701

"Petry is a smart two-way defenseman who is an excellent skater with good mobility, which he uses to shut down opponents"

"Likes to use his skating and stick skills to make accurate passes out of the zone or to skate the puck up himself, which he has the speed and stickhandling to do"
https://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/jeff_petry/

"Jeff Petry is a mobile right-shot defenceman"
https://awinninghabit.com/2020/08/26/mo ... eff-petry/

He is considered a strong skater
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/je ... -1.2978193


Phillip Danault
Current DF - 69
Requesting - 75
Current SP - 73
Requested SP - 76
Current SK - 72
Requested SK - 76

Danualt has proven to be one of the best two-way forwards in the game today, the most prominent piece of evidence for this is the past 2 season's he's finished in the top 10 for the Selke voting (7th in 2018-2019 and 6th in 2019-2020). This year in particular he got 10.29% of the votes, well ahead of 7th place and some of the players way behind him in voting have a way better DF this year (Kopitar - 74DF, Barkov - 74DF, Backlund 73DF, etc...). This is not me saying that these players suck, this is just me pointing out that in this year in particular he was seen as a better two-way forward than these guys as seen from the voting. The DF i have requested puts him on par with the 5th placed player Mark Stone who received slightly ahead of him with 12.35 percent of the votes. I am pointing these factors out just to showcase requesting a 75DF for him is more than fair as Danault has established himself as a two-way force in Montreal.
https://www.hockey-reference.com/awards ... -2020.html
https://www.hockey-reference.com/awards ... -2019.html


"So much talk is devoted to his awesome defensive play that the fact he’s a first-round pick (26th overall in 2011) can get overlooked"
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ma ... p-centres/


"Danault has become one of the best two-way players in the league. In an article for The Athletic, Pierre LeBrun referred to Danault as a throwback shutdown centre extraordinaire who would have had a better chance to win the Selke in the ‘80s or ‘90s because his offensive production is behind his closest competitors"

"His 43 points at even strength rank him 16th in the NHL among centremen, one point ahead of last year’s Selke winner Ryan O’Reilly of the St. Louis Blues. Danault also sits ahead of Elias Pettersson (42), Aleksander Barkov (41), and John Tavares (39). Not surprisingly, the Victoriaville, Quebec native was vital to Montreal’s penalty kill. He had the third-most shorthanded ice time among centres with 178:12. Plus, he took 1,336 faceoffs this year and won 728 of them, numbers which place Danault sixth in the NHL in both departments"

"While his wingers provide the trio’s offensive spark, Danault is their defensive pillar"

"Marc-Antoine Godin of The Athletic wrote an article making a case for why Danault should be a Selke finalist using a plethora of advanced stats to highlight the dominance of the Habs’ first line. More specifically, how Danault’s impressive puck possession numbers and ability to control shot attempts while facing the stiffest competition positively impacts his team" - Please note that I don't have a subscription with the Athletic so I can't access the specific stats they are taking about, but it's the Athletic and with them being such a reliable source it gives more case to Danault's DF bump if they are saying he is one of the best two-way players in the game

"Not only will they be expected to produce offensively, but they will also be tasked with shutting down Sidney Crosby and former 40-goal scorer Jake Guentzel, who is expected to return from shoulder surgery. Not to mention, Danault’s role on the Habs’ penalty kill means he will have to defend Evgeni Malkin as well"

"Not only did Bergevin get a player in Danault who has become one of the top shutdown centres in the NHL, proving more than capable of playing on the team’s first line, but he also brought in a Quebec-born athlete who has really blossomed and reached his potential while playing for the Habs"

"While Danault may not take home the Selke Trophy this year, the numbers he put up in 2019-20 thanks to strong play in all three zones certainly make him a very deserving first-time finalist. For a player who often flies under the radar and whose contributions to his team are sometimes understated, this recognition would validate Danault’s growing value around the league and especially with the Canadiens"
https://thehockeywriters.com/canadiens- ... nder-2020/


"The Canadiens have a surplus at center, so the trade rumors make sense. But the two-way maven Danault should not be the one to go. The Habs can learn from the Ryan O'Reilly trade"

"Per naturalstattrick.com, Among the 334 forwards who played 1,000 or more minutes at 5-on-5 this season, Danault and linemates Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar held the top three spots at third, first and second, respectively, in team shot attempts per 60 minutes. With Danault on the ice, the Habs held the following advantages for the year in 5-on-5 play:

Shot attempts: 1,191-815

Shots on goal: 652-447

Scoring chances: 560-381

High-danger attempts: 231-152

Goals: 59-39

…and that was despite the fact Danault’s line was regularly tasked with shutting down the other teams’ best forwards. His most common opponents in terms of minutes played against included the likes of David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Artemi Panarin and Auston Matthews – and Danault still had the best possession numbers in the league."

"Danault, then, has very clearly established himself as one of the sport’s elite defensive forwards. Fair or not, Selke voters seem to want a guy on their radars for a few years before handing over the award, as we saw with O’Reilly last year and, after years of flirting with a win, Sean Couturier this season. So Danault could easily work his way up to winning a Selke within a year or two"

"Danault is harder to replace, and it would be a mistake to move him. With only a year left on his deal, he’s a threat to depart as a UFA next summer, but here’s an idea: re-sign him. Championships are won these days with top-end centers who can play monster minutes at both ends of the ice against top-tier competition"
https://www.si.com/hockey/news/no-not-d ... ve-mistake

"Displays plenty of versatility and hockey sense in his game, as he is capable of killing penalties and playing a shutdown role"

"Versatile, two-way center"
http://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/player/9016

"He has been a fixture on the third line, showing off his great speed and hustle"
https://dobberprospects.com/2016/03/03/ ... danault-2/

"two-way center who can play in all situations"

"A strong skater and an active player in all three zones"
https://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects ... p_danault/

"Cuts to open ice and uses his motor and speed to separate from defenders heading to net"
https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/the ... t/c-567556

Bob McKenzie - "Danault scouting report: Bottom 6 F. Can play up/down lineup. Speedy puck hound. Strong PKer/faceoffs. Great work ethic. Beloved by coaches"
https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/stat ... danault%2F

"The centreman has good acceleration, which allows him to track opponents while on the backcheck. He has good body positioning, always staying close to his man and is therefore able to keep opponents from finding inside lanes"

"but he has good control of his skating and balance, allowing him to get to areas quickly and catch opponents trying to set their positioning on him off guard"

"His ability to read the play in his defensive zone, make smart passes up the ice, and relentlessly forecheck"
https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/top- ... highlights

"Speedy center-forward who reads and understands the attack zone well, and separates himself. Plays on both the PK and PP. High motored player"
https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/player/ph ... ult/16933/

"He's third-most in shorthanded ice time among NHL centers with 175:19"

"The 6-foot-1, 201-pounder is the sixth-busiest center in the NHL this season. Danault has taken 1,321 faceoffs in 2019-20, winning 54.7% of them"
https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/phil ... -315891672

"Bergeron had more takeaways and a better faceoff percentage, but Danault was used more in the defensive zone than him. Additionally, there isn’t much separation in their respective shot suppression stats even though Bergeron has the edge again"

"Similar to my breakdown between Danault and Bergeron, we’ll focus on RelCA/60 (shot suppression) as well as RelSCA/60 (scoring chances against) and HDCA/60 (high-danger chances against) at 5v5.

Danault: -4.84, -1.45 and -1.06 (TOI – 990:49)
Bergeron: -5.24, -0.28 and 1.09 (TOI – 735:25)
O’Reilly: -5.63, -2.18 and -0.03 (TOI – 1015:12)
Couturier: -6.23, -1.12 and 0.46 (TOI – 964:36)
Again, we can look at relative CF%, which tracks the proportion of chances on either net when said player is on the net. Danault is at 7.04, Bergeron at 6.77, O’Reilly at 2.78 and Couturier is at 7.48. All players see more shots head towards their opponent’s net than their own when getting on the ice, but Couturier has the most while O’Reilly has the least."
https://awinninghabit.com/2020/07/21/mo ... minations/

"1 forward ranked top-25 in the following..
*min. 750 mins at 5v5

Goals For% (24th)
XG For% (5th)
Strength of Opponent (17th)
Puck Battle Wins (2nd)
Puck Recoveries (10th)
Blocked Passes (5th)
Stick Checks (5th)
Turnover Rate (16th)
PK TOI (4th)"
https://twitter.com/MikeKellyNHL/status ... nations%2F

But it is clear that Danault is used as a defensive specialist
https://thehockeywriters.com/canadiens- ... -nhl-best/

Danault continues to establish himself as one of the top two-way centres in the NHL
https://thehockeywriters.com/canadiens- ... -penguins/





Ilya Mihkeyev(rookie)
Current SP/SK - 72/72
Requested SP/SK - 77/77
Current DF - 66
Requested DF - 68

"He has good acceleration and good top speed"

"Defensively, he uses his hockey smarts for good defensive reads"

"He’s a good back-checker, and a capable penalty-killer as well"

"The transition from Russia can be a hard one, but he made it an easy decision in pre-season thanks to his smart ply with and without the puck."
https://dobberprospects.com/player/ilya-mikheyev/

"His speed and puck possession are qualities that simply add to what makes him a player to watch as the season progresses"
https://thehockeywriters.com/ilya-mikhe ... favourite/

"He can fly," observed Matthews. "He's super fast, strong on the puck, I think probably the biggest adjustment for him was getting on the smaller ice and he's adjusted really well and been a force for us so far"
https://www.tsn.ca/as-comfort-level-ris ... -1.1381172

"Once you compare Mikheyev to the rest of the team’s regular penalty killers, it becomes clear just how much he (and Pierre Engvall) stood above the pack this season. Although the hulking winger did create his fair share of shorthanded chances, where he really shined was in limiting shots and goals for opposing power plays. And while killing penalties isn’t necessarily sexy, it undeniably adds even more value to a player that already scores at an exceptional rate"
https://thehockeywriters.com/maple-leaf ... ract-2020/

"but also the two-way awareness and size to fill a complementary role at the highest level"
http://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/player/17641

"In the words of Leafs Head-Coach Mike Babcock, Mikheyev “can really skate, he’s very intelligent, he’s heavy on the puck, can shoot it and make plays.”
https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/201 ... ple-leafs/



Dominik Kubalik
Current DF - 55
Requested DF - 60
Current SP - 75
Requested SP - 78
Current SK - 75
Requested SK - 78

"Kubalik’s shooting ability, transitional play with the puck and backchecking prowess made him the most important forward for the Blackhawks in a 200-foot game"

"Kubalik, however, with that same two-way dominance, showed he can have that production like Hossa"
https://www.secondcityhockey.com/2020/5 ... andon-saad

Toews told the Chicago Sun-Times, ‘‘He showed right away, early in the season, that he’s a gifted goal-scorer. Now, if you get moved to a top line, you’re expected to play good two-way hockey against other teams’ top lines. And he’s shown that he can be a top player in all facets of the game.’’
https://thehockeywriters.com/dominik-ku ... ark-horse/

“He’s very fast, an excellent skater"

"he was deployed quite a bit on the penalty kill for Ambri-Piotta last season, so he can be trusted"

"Kubalik can be a versatile asset who can play and produce up and down the lineup. He will also be in the mix to play on the penalty kill, only adding to his value"
https://thehockeywriters.com/new-blackh ... k-kubalik/

"His biggest strengths are his shot, speed and playmaking ability
https://www.overtimeheroics.net/index.p ... k-kubalik/

“I’m trying to use my strength, and that’s my speed and my shot,”

"That speed has always been present for Kubalik"
https://blackhawkup.com/2020/01/11/domi ... s-impress/

“He’s got a real hard shot, fast skater, some good hands,” Strome said
https://thehockeywriters.com/kubalik-bl ... djustment/

"He is a tall player who can skate well and move the puck"
https://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects ... e%20future.



Jack Hughes
Current SP - 82
Requested SP - 85
Current SK - 82
Requested SK - 85

The brothers all seem to have an elite level of skating ability

Jack Hughes’ 4-way mobility, speed, and agility are among the best in the league

Hughes is as dynamic as they come. He’s Patrick Kane with more speed

A tremendously gifted offensive player, who blends speed, skill and smarts
https://dobberprospects.com/player/jack-hughes/

Is an exceptional skater, both in terms of sheer speed and also his edge work. Can make outstanding plays while flying up and down the ice. Is already among the most dynamic players around

Is a true game-breaking forward, mostly due to his combination of speed and skill
http://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/player/17963

Hughes has a complete offensive game and it starts with his skating ability. He is an elite-level skater, with outstanding speed and excellent acceleration. Once he gets a step on a defenceman, he is tough to catch. Hughes can make a move to the outside and cut to the net. He also has top-notch agility and edge work, making him very hard to defend in one-on-one situations. Hughes ability to change speeds as well as his quick cuts makes him difficult for defenders to cover both with and without the puck. Hughes also has good balance and power in his stride at the junior level

Hughes marries his elite skating with the soft and quick hands to handle the puck and make quick moves while skating at that top speed
https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/201 ... ng-report/

Elite skating

A very agile player with incredible speed
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/3 ... ack-hughes

Jack is super quick
https://www.nhl.com/news/quinn-hughes-i ... -314176880

[RichBasterd]

Florida Panthers

Roster Players
C Frank Vatrano
Current DF = 60, Requesting DF = 67

This season was the best of his career and the Panthers were at their best — at least in Quenneville’s mind — when Vatrano was playing with Florida’s top unit.

Vatrano and Barkov already had a sort of chemistry from playing together on the Panthers’ penalty-kill unit, and Vatrano is trying to emulate some of what made the tandem work so well in shorthanded situations.Both can be defensive-minded and both like to use their speed to create on the counterattack with more open ice. Vatrano, who leads Florida with two shorthanded goals, has some first-line offensive tools and a role player’s mentality.

“Get to the puck as best as possible and just drive to the net, be hard on the forecheck, be hard to play against,” said Vatrano, whose 34 points were on pace for a career high. “That’s kind of my job on that line: Create space for them.”

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nhl/ ... 40742.html

Nevertheless, Vatrano would demonstrate how phenomenal he was on both ends of the ice for the Cats in 2020. The once offense-only winger developed into an improved two-way winger for the Panthers. In only 69 games, Vatrano recorded 43 blocked shots, 102 total hits, and a spectacular takeaway to giveaway ratio of 32 to 18 on the year.

https://therattrick.com/2020/07/05/flor ... id-season/

Frank Vatrano took on a new responsibility during the 2019-20 campaign.

After being used sparingly on the penalty kill throughout the early stages of his NHL career, the 26-year-old forward managed to carve out an integral role for himself among Florida's top killers this season, skating a career-high 86:36 while also leading the club with two shorthanded goals.

"I love it," Vatrano said when asked about killing penalties earlier in the season. "I think the biggest thing we talked about on the PK is making sure that I'm using my speed. That's going to be my biggest factor. On the PK, it's just killing plays and creating offense when you can."

Vatrano saw his greatest success on the penalty kill when he skated alongside Aleksander Barkov -- an elite two-way center and perennial threat to win the Selke Trophy. Over the 45:52 the duo shared the ice while shorthanded, opposing teams were limited to just three total goals.

https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/jetbl ... -319046950

“I just have a to keep things simple, try and get them the puck as much as possible, drive the net and be good on the forecheck, be hard to play against. My job on that line is to try and create space for them.”

“He gives us some physicality, blocks shots and is willing to do things to set up the shot as well,” Quenneville said.

He is big and strong. He does everything, plays defense and blocks shots. That tells a lot about his character. He is a very important player for us.”

https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-pa ... -paid-off/

Furthermore, Vatrano also developed into a dependable two-way winger on Florida’s third line, playing a proficient game on the defensive end, too.

While averaging roughly 15 minutes of ice time per game, Vatrano recorded a whopping 139 hits as well as 74 blocked shots. As well, he even registered more takeaways (33) than giveaways (30) on the season. While things didn’t necessarily work out with Vatrano’s hometown Bruins, the Panthers certainly found themselves a diamond in the rough.

As well, Quenneville has given the versatile, speedy Vatrano with opportunities on the power-play and penalty kill units. Despite producing mostly during 5-v-5 action, Vatrano has already recorded one goal on the PP and one goal on the PK, thus far.

On the defensive end, Vatrano has continued his brilliance in his own zone. The lightning-quick winger has produced 16 blocked shots as well as 14 total hits, along with more takeaways (5) than giveaways (3) on the season.

https://therattrick.com/2019/11/15/flor ... hird-line/

LW Zach Sanford
Current DF = 59, Requesting DF = 64

“Since he’s been in, he’s made an impact — not only on the score sheet with making big plays and getting points but just overall wearing teams down,” O’Reilly said Thursday night. “He’s being physical at the right time or making plays and having that puck possession. He’s been a huge piece in us finding a way to create against this team.”

I’ve just been trying to work on the things I need to get better at, and everyone says to stay good at the things that you’re good at. I think recently I’ve been doing a pretty good job at the things I’m usually pretty good at.”

Said Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo: “Even if he didn’t get a point, if you just watch what he did on the forecheck — a second effort every single time he’s on the puck — he’s relentless. He’d be a pain to play against if I was a defenseman. It’s not easy to come in on this level, Stanley Cup finals, and play at this level. It’s a testament to his work ethic.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2 ... up-finals/

They’re generating more chances than they’re giving up. As a line, they sit at a 54.06 Corsi for percentage and a 54.11 Fenwick for percentage.

While their opposition is generating more high danger chances against, Sanford and his line mates have outscored opponents eight to four in those opportunities. They also have the edge in total scoring chances for at 51.62 percent (143-134).

Whether it’s being more assertive in his play or not being afraid to use the body, Sanford has found a way to make an impact on the game more often than not.

So Sanford clearly isn’t the set up man between the three. He has his own role to fulfill. And it’s becoming more consistent in that role that has helped him during this recent stretch of solid play.

https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2020/2/ ... igh-season

“I don’t know if I ever thought about myself as a third wheel, but for me it’s just putting in that work and those little details,” Sanford said via Zoom call earlier this week from St. Louis. “They’ve helped me grow so much over the last year or two. For me, it’s doing as much as I can to help better them, too, and make them better players, help them have more success.”

Sanford may not be driving the bus. Or even riding shotgun. But as his game has continued to develop, he has become anything but a third wheel.

“He’s looked great in camp,” Berube said. “I think he’s moving really well. He’s obviously playing with a lot of confidence right now it looks like to me. His puck skills are high-end. But to me, he’s moving and working right now, competing at a high level.”

We could tell that he had a lot of talent. He’s a very smart player and we liked that. We like people with real high hockey IQs. And he has one.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/ ... 0b36e.html

Along with his offensive skill, Sanford’s size allows him to play a physical game and establish his presence on the ice. At 6’4” and 207 lbs, he has dished out 92 hits while only taking 62. In comparison, last season Sanford had 48 hits and took 75. He does not shy away from contact, and the increase in hits this year demonstrates a confidence and comfortability on the ice. His offensive production has not suffered but, in fact, has improved with this more physical style.

He has that ability, and should he realize his potential, the Blues will have gained not only a talented offensive player but also a complete forward who can contribute in all areas of the game.

https://therunnersports.com/what-is-the ... h-sanford/

And since Oskar Sundqvist suffered his right foot injury a week ago, Sanford also is seeing some duty on the penalty kill unit.

“I’ve always trusted ‘Sanny,’” Berube said. “He’s a good defensive player and responsible. He’s a smart player that way. But he’s harder on pucks now. He’s making more puck plays. He’s getting scoring opportunities. And that’s why (he’s playing more).

He’s missed the net a little bit, but his puck play’s been good and he’s been a harder player. That’s the key. He’s getting in there on the forecheck, he’s banging bodies around. He’s using his big body more.”

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/ ... 6bae4.html

Prospects
D Ryan Lindgren
Current DF = 70, Requesting DF = 72
Current SK/SP = 72, Requesting SK/SP = 74

The hard hitting defenseman was seen as a potential rock on the left side, one that may not provide much offense but will be a dependable guy in the defensive zone.

The pairing together is solid, and while Lindgren is always going to have better numbers with Fox, he is more than holding his own without him.

Sometimes you can’t explain it, and pairings just work together. Lindgren/Fox is one of those pairings. They’d probably survive without each other, and while we know Fox is a potential star in the making, Lindgren is no slouch. He went from “forgotten” prospect to legitimate top-four defenseman within two months. The sky may not be the limit, but the Rangers don’t necessarily need him to play that role. His rise as a complementary piece in the top-four is just as important.

https://blueseatblogs.com/2020/02/14/ny ... -lindgren/

While they have never competed against one another in anything more than neighborhood games, Skjei knows a bit about Lindgren's style, which has taken him along the same path as Skjei as a blueliner at the University of Minnesota.

"He's a really good player," he said. "He's hard to play against., He's a smart defenseman. I'm happy for him and I'll give him a call to welcome him."

"He's definitely a character player," Skjei said of Lindgren. "He's hard to play against. He plays with an emotion and compete level. What I know of him, he shuts down the other team's top line. He's a really good player.

https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/skjei- ... -296349098

Everyone you talk to, the first thing that comes to mind is this kind of ‘warrior’ mentality and how hard he competes and how hard he plays. Those are things that we identified as important and we’re excited to get him in our organization.

“He’s more of a shutdown type who will pretty much do anything you ask of him. Not a huge offensive guy anywhere he’s been, but as far as being a shutdown guy and playing hard and playing the right way, in the trenches, defending in your own zone, he’s right there.”

Gorton said Lindgren is “a game player who can move the puck, jump into the play.

https://theathletic.com/262913/2018/03/ ... anization/

“He gets all the intangible stuff that normally most Minnesota defensemen don’t. His skillset is pretty good, but he’s got the grit, that hardness, that toughness you don’t always normally get from kids from this area.”

But Lindgren’s value, Guentzel says, comes from his skill playing with someone who is a good offensive player because Lindgren is so conscious and aware defensively.

Lindgren plays the heavy minutes — against other people’s best players, on the penalty kill, and in situations when his team is ahead by a goal with the clock ticking down.

“Their trust in him to shut games down at the end, it’s a lot of the same he’s doing here.”

https://theathletic.com/213561/2018/01/ ... -guentzel/

The New York Rangers' all-rookie defensive pair of Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren started the last 12 games, transforming into the Blueshirts’ No. 1 unit in the middle of a playoff push.

With increased responsibility has come more matchups against opponents' top forwards. For the most part, the rookies have been up to the challenge.

"Watching guys like (Alex) Ovechkin or (Connor) McDavid, it’s pretty cool being out there against them and trying to shut them down," Lindgren said. "That’s definitely a pretty special thing."

"Lindgren, to me, has made as big a jump as anyone in our organization in the last year," Quinn said. "Not only has he been able to defend, but I love the way he's gotten us out of our end, his awareness on breakouts, his positioning — just so many good things he's done."

https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/nhl/ ... 027372002/

He also showed great improvement in his quickness after working hard on his skating and losing weight in the offseason.

His work over the offseason made a big difference. When he was called up, he looked much more comfortable getting back to defend and more confident pinching in, in the offensive zone. He also looked much more decisive with and without the puck.

He excelled on the penalty kill and quickly formed chemistry with his defense partner, fellow rookie Adam Fox. His steady defensive play allowed Fox to become more aggressive offensively.

Following the trade, Lindgren became the top and most trusted left-handed defenseman on the Rangers. In addition to being essential on the penalty kill, he also became a steady presence in big situations late in games, whether the Blueshirts were holding on to a lead or trying to make a comeback.

Lindgren’s strong defensive play and physicality remain the strengths to his game but his improved skating and ability to make clean passes out of his own zone are also impressive for a young player.

https://thehockeywriters.com/new-york-r ... ey-future/

So far this season, Lindgren has put up admirable numbers in the NHL. Going into the January 9th matchup against the Devils, he’s notched eight points and most importantly, a plus/minus rating of +4.

Although he won’t light up the scoreboard, Lindgren is seen as a reliable stay at home defensemen with some mobility in his legs and an edge to his game.

Lindgren skates well, move the puck “competently” and is a “great defender who battles at a high-end level.

A character player with high compete levels and a strong defender are exactly the things the Rangers hoped for Lindgren, and so far the youngster has lived up to those expectations in his time in New York. His toughness and compete level can be compared to a Dan Girardi type and his defensive play and skating ability, along with his leadership qualities can be compared to traits similar to that of Ryan McDonagh.

The key to building a strong defense is mixing skill, size, and speed. Ryan Lindgren brings the size and speed to that equation, along with being a skilled puck handler in his own right.

https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/adam- ... r-rangers/

C Cody Glass
Current DF = 57, Requesting DF = 65

Glass has good size, and can impact the game both offensively and defensively.

Glass thinks the game fast, has a high hockey IQ and has great vision combined with soft hands and excellent puck skills. His compete level is elite...

Glass is still eligible to play for Canada in the 2019 tournament and there is a decent chance that he’ll be looked upon as a two-way pivot if he is unable to stick with the Golden Knights and returned to the WHL in 2018-19.

He went into this season with his typical work ethic, positive attitude, leadership, and has rattled off a remarkable 20 points in only eight games and has posted points in every game.

Glass was able to display his soft hands and two-way hockey sense on the world stage at the World Junior Championship where he solidified himself as one of only a handful of true blue-chip prospects.

Even at the ripe age of 20, he has shown that he can handle prime deployment at regular strength and special teams which bodes well for his future as an NHL star.

Fantasy Summary
Top-six playmaking center with two-way ability.

https://dobberprospects.com/player/cody-glass/

SCOUTING REPORT
Assets Has very good passing skills and creativity as a playmaking center. Also displays sound two-way acumen and a very projectable (6-2) frame. Moves well for his frame and usually displays an exemplary work rate.
Flaws Needs to add significant bulk, since he is rather lanky at this point in his development. Also, must start using his imposing frame far more to his advantage in order to maximize production at the highest level.
Career potential Talented, two-way center with upside.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/player-bio/cody-glass/bio

Glass shows a very strong two-way game. His hockey IQ translates to the defensive end of the ice, where he shows good positioning and excellent anticipation. A strong and active stick creates turnovers, which he quickly translates into offence. He also is willing to block shots. Glass can kill penalties, as well as being strong in the face-off circle.

Glass could grow to be a top line centre if everything goes well. However, it is more likely that he becomes a top notch second line centre, with an excellent two-way game. The ability to provide offence, while also playing against other team’s top lines, and killing penalties is something that is always valuable and in high demand in the NHL. In terms of a stylistic, but not talent, comparison, Glass’ game reminds one of Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins.

https://lastwordonsports.com/2017/04/03 ... l-draft-6/

A strong positional player who plays well on both sides of the puck…

…plays a gritty game and uses his body and quickness to create space…strength in a two way game and displays a big active disruptive stick in the defensive zone…supports his defensemen down low and ties up his check in front of the net…not a brute physically but uses his size effectively…shows great compete to get quick on pucks and make decisive plays…

Glass is extremely effective at taking away pucks and plays a sneaky good defensive game, utilizing his long reach and deceptively quick feet. He has a knack for causing breakdowns in opponent’s offense and is a pest on the fore-check. Cody shows really good back pressure on puck carriers where he can isolate the stick and frustrate even some of the top-end offensive players in the WHL.

This coupled with his strong defense are a testament to his strong hockey IQ; he thinks the game at a very mature level.

Cody Glass has evolved in to a very good two-way center with an impressive skill set that plays strong in both ends of the ice. He is a complete player that has good size and who works hard to keep improving his game. He does so many little things around the ice, and is very responsible in his play.

Terrific 200-foot pivot with strong hockey sense who finished with a team-best 62 assists and 94 points while centering their top line, anchoring the first power play unit and killing penalties.

While his straight-line speed and first-step quickness are both solid, Glass also displays excellent footwork and balance, and is a hustler with a nonstop motor who will get in on the forecheck or pressure the heck out of power play point men. His transition game is outstanding, but a lot of it has to do with acute hockey sense and making the right reads, especially in the neutral zone.

He’s a tremendous distributor of the puck, playing a very cerebral 200-foot game.

“He’s our No. 1 centre, plays on our power play and just started killing penalties. He’s playing a lot of minutes.”

https://theleafsnation.com/2017/06/17/n ... ody-glass/

His positioning as a center is basically flawless. His ability to see the game at such a high-level has him making the correct pass most of the time. And the way he skates allows him to cover massive amounts of ice making him a spectacular defensive player.

That’s why today, I’m here to illustrate something Cody Glass constantly does on the ice that creates turnovers, opens up space for himself and teammates, and frustrates the heck out of opponents along the way.

Just about every time Glass is near the puck and a defenseman at the same time, he’ll go to his trusty stick lift.

It really is a tiny piece of the game, but when it’s deployed correctly it can make all the difference in any of the three zones. Forechecking or backchecking, you can look for Glass to have an active defensive stick and consistently hound his opponents’ sticks.

https://sinbin.vegas/the-stick-lift-one ... n-the-ice/

Tuch is driving offense, Glass is controlling the defensive end, and Carrier is winning puck battles helping set up the cycle to spend time in the offensive zone.

https://sinbin.vegas/an-idea-on-how-to- ... n-returns/

[Nick - Philly]

Mario Ferraro
Current SK/SP - 74
Asking SK/SP - 78

Ferraro made the Sharks out of camp and showed he belonged all season playing regular minutes for the big club. Ferraro’s game is full of speed and energy. He’s an excellent skater, with quick-twitch feet that allow him to gain speed quickly. He has excellent footwork, walks the line at a high level and is able to evade pressure very well. He closes gaps quickly and with force, showing the ability to win puck battles versus men, even with his 5-foot-11 frame.

https://theathletic.com/1997844/2020/08 ... se-sharks/

Ferraro is built in the mold of the modern NHL defenseman. At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, he depends more on his skating speed and puck-moving skill than brawn.

https://www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-shark ... -290471710

The adjustment to professional hockey has been more of a mental one for Ferraro, who showcased the requisite speed and physicality last season for the Minutemen.

https://www.gazettenet.com/Former-Minut ... s-29840525

“His skating is so powerful,” Cohen said. “Each stride, it feels like, is coming from a power forward, yet he is totally smooth the way he transitions back to front.

https://theathletic.com/1275578/2019/10 ... %20Ferraro

He’s also a high-end skater, which combined with his compete level adds so much speed and pace to his shifts.

https://theathletic.com/1143661/2019/08 ... se-sharks/

Matt Grzelcyk
Current DF - 69
Asking DF - 72
Current SK/SP - 75
Asking SK/SP - 77

Most of his value comes from his defense, where he has been consistently great at suppressing quality chances against.

Grzelcyk has shown an ability to drive play on both ends of the ice, as he had the second highest relative expected goals for per hour (second only to Charlie McAvoy) and the best relative expected goals against per hour rate among Bruins defensemen. What’s more impressive is he’s done this despite starting the third-most shifts in the defensive zone per hour among Bruins defensemen

https://puckprose.com/2020/10/17/boston ... k-signing/

His combination of offensive and defensive skills has made him a valuable part of the Bruins d-core.

https://dailyfreepress.com/2020/10/29/o ... -increase/

Matt Grzelcyk makes his biggest impact on defense

https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/10/17/br ... eno-chara/

Always an elite skater, he’s gotten more adept at using his speed and smarts defensively, while building on his natural strength of moving pucks quickly out of his own end and being a big boon to the transition game.

https://scoutingpost.com/category/matt-grzelcyk/

Has incredible mobility from the back end, plus supreme puck-moving skills. Is a proven point producer at lower levels, too. Plays the game with excellent hockey smarts

http://www.forecaster.ca/wizardfoundati ... r.php?9360

Last season, the Carlo and Grzelcyk pairing played 149 minutes together and were the Bruins best defensive pair when it came to expected goals against

https://puckprose.com/2020/02/06/boston ... -grzelcyk/

Grzelcyk’s speed and playmaking stood out to Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy

“He’s got the footspeed to be able to match that part of the game when they take off,” Cassidy said

“He’s a guy that can get it up in a hurry. That’s a part of the game that we missed the other night. Nick was fine, but that’s Grizz’s strength. I think he’s defended very well for a young guy in the league. For a guy that’s 175 pounds, he’s done a real good job figuring out how to defend. So we missed him the other night.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/brui ... story.html

He is able to use good skating to weave his way around defenders

For Grzelcyk, he is able to make solid defensive plays when needed and he often is able to use that precision skating to either catch up to an opposing player on an odd-man rush or a breakaway or he can use his feet to get back in position or even bail out one of his linemates who may have found themselves out of position.

Grzelcyk’s speed and skating as mentioned, he was able to strategically hit the stick of Rust and the puck went wide before Rust could even get a shot off of his stick.

https://blackngoldhockey.com/2018/11/27 ... -grzelcyk/

Grzelcyk has also been a consistent contributor on the PK playing over 1:00 per game on the PK.

[smallz]

D Miro Heiskanen
Current DF = 70, Requesting DF = 74
Current SP/SK = 74/75, Requesting SK/SP = 77

"He's at that same level as Connor [McDavid], as Nathan MacKinnon," Seguin said on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio at BioSteel Camp on Tuesday. "His skating is next level. I skate with a lot of good players in the summer, like Connor McDavid, and Miro is special like that."

https://www.nhl.com/news/dallas-stars-t ... -308696176

The driving force for the Stars has been defenceman Miro Heiskanen. Normally a team does not want a defenceman to be their leading scorer in the playoffs, but for the Stars, everything starts from the back end. As the series progresses the most important player for the Dallas Stars will be Miro Heiskanen.

Heiskanen is a brilliant defenceman whose game is predicated on being an outstanding skater. And his speed was on display during Game 2 when Heiskanen recorded two goals kick-starting the offence. In addition, Heiskanen commands and controls the game on both offensive and defensive sides of the puck. Not to mention Heiskanen has a great transition game.

https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/202 ... heiskanen/

Heiskanen is trusted to take secondary shifts on the penalty kill, which is not something often given to young offensive defencemen, but once again Heiskanen acquits himself well. He’s within the top-15 per cent of all defencemen in the playoffs in loose puck recoveries, defensive plays causing possession changes, and entry denial rate while shorthanded.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/miro-heisk ... efencemen/

There are little things to his game, stick positioning, defending the rush. He's so good with his defensive stick causing turnovers that sometimes he relies on it too much and it takes away from his skating ability and being able to pivot and go."

https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-s ... -309631388

Last year, as a 19-year-old rookie, Heiskanen instantly became one the Stars’ best players and a vital part of their defense that allowed the second-fewest goals in the NHL. He was speedy, he was shifty, and he was versatile, capable of playing either an offensive or a defensive role.

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars ... situation/

[anthgrt-la]

85SP/SK on a D seriously? That would literally not sarcastically be several points higher than any D ever in DHL history. I'm on the RC and can say that literally will have me ignore the requests and keep it as is. There is asking a little higher, a lot higher, and being straight asinine.

[Habs GM]

85SP/SK on a D seriously? That would literally not sarcastically be several points higher than any D ever in DHL history. I'm on the RC and can say that literally will have me ignore the requests and keep it as is. There is asking a little higher, a lot higher, and being straight asinine.

This is something that would have been better served by a pm but it does call into question what the hell you are doing of the RC given you're looking to increase the DF of Laine (sheltered with 67.1% of his starts in the offensive zone that are much in-line with his career stats) and a grand total 2.9 minutes of shorthanded time last season and 9.4 minutes in his career. A quote by the player lobbying for more ice-time holds no merit. I suggest that Laine is too highly rated and DF and other subjective ratings should be reduced to match his actual production.

As for Nick Ritchie, your quote works against you as it illustrates the due to his size he is relatively quick of the block (longer stride) but over a longer stretch, he's as fast as moss growth. To have the audacity to ask for him to have SP/SK ratings that land him as a top-6 option for his position shows how out of touch you are to reality but are willing to grasp at insignificant player quotes to justify the unjustifiable.

[smallz]

85SP/SK on a D seriously? That would literally not sarcastically be several points higher than any D ever in DHL history. I'm on the RC and can say that literally will have me ignore the requests and keep it as is. There is asking a little higher, a lot higher, and being straight asinine.

Did you read the quote where Seguin compared his skating to being on par with McDavid and Mackinnon?

I can find you at least 3-4 more in that same vain if you like

If SP/SK are judged differently for forwards vs D then I can understand you being so mortified that you felt the need to call me out in this thread (even though it's really improper for you to do so as a member of the re rate team).

I was not aware that no D-man in DHL history has eclipsed that mark in SP/SK. I guess that answers my question if forwards vs D SP/SK ratings are judged differently.

Don't really understand why that would be though unless its a FHL sim formula thing that I was unaware of. Otherwise, SP/SK seem pretty universal for me no matter what position a player plays

The funny thing is I was going to request that Quinn Hughes' skating get bumped up as well as a newly created player and I actually think he's an even better skater than Heiskanen lol

[Nick - Philly]

85SP/SK on a D seriously? That would literally not sarcastically be several points higher than any D ever in DHL history. I'm on the RC and can say that literally will have me ignore the requests and keep it as is. There is asking a little higher, a lot higher, and being straight asinine.

Must be a real Luca Sbisa

[Nick - Philly]

Did you read the quote where Seguin compared his skating to being on par with McDavid and Mackinnon?

I can find you at least 3-4 more in that same vain if you like

Noted non-bias scout Tyler Seguin.

Who are the other 3-4 quotes from? His dad? His uncle Tom? His girlfriend? Victor E. Green?

[RichBasterd]

85SP/SK on a D seriously? That would literally not sarcastically be several points higher than any D ever in DHL history. I'm on the RC and can say that literally will have me ignore the requests and keep it as is. There is asking a little higher, a lot higher, and being straight asinine.

Did you read the quote where Seguin compared his skating to being on par with McDavid and Mackinnon?

I can find you at least 3-4 more in that same vain if you like

If SP/SK are judged differently for forwards vs D then I can understand you being so mortified that you felt the need to call me out in this thread (even though it's really improper for you to do so as a member of the re rate team).

I was not aware that no D-man in DHL history has eclipsed that mark in SP/SK. I guess that answers my question if forwards vs D SP/SK ratings are judged differently.

Don't really understand why that would be though unless its a FHL sim formula thing that I was unaware of. Otherwise, SP/SK seem pretty universal for me no matter what position a player plays

The funny thing is I was going to request that Quinn Hughes' skating get bumped up as well as a newly created player and I actually think he's an even better skater than Heiskanen lol

I think you should put those other quotes in there to fully justify your case for that request. More is always better with these challenges, especially with SK/SP requests. But I agree its not really something that should be called out here and better handled as a PM.

The only thing I would recommend on a challenge is finding a comparable player for your ask and see what the highest values are currently. Like take DF for example, the highest DF among d-men is 76 which is Roman Josi (who won the Norris trophy). I think guys who finished in the top 10 of Norris trophy voting likely would be in that next group where they're likely around 75 for DF that you can justify easily. I think you're not wrong for asking for an increase on Heiskanen but maybe lower the ask to 73-74 which seems more inline with how guys are currently rated and should be something that the RC can accommodate.

There absolutely is a different calculation of ratings with d-men vs forward so I think it does need to be a bit more in the context of a d-man. The best skating d-man in DHL at the moment is Erik Karlsson and I think you could have a strong case that Heiskanen is equal to him but his SP/SK is 79 (Doughty has 80 SK and 77SP, Rielly has 78/79 and Dahlin has 78/78). If you ask me, I think he should at least be in-line with Dahlin, Makar, Chabot, Rielly with his ratings but I doubt the RC (even if you take Adrian out of the equation for a moment) would see him be as high as you're asking.

Sorry for commenting on this too but felt it was worth a little more of a polite convo to actually have something be constructive out of this (and i think it could help newer GMs with how they can set their expectations for rating requests too).

[smallz]

I've been in this league for what over 5 years now?

But this legitimately is the first time I've submitted a challenge in all those years. So yeah while I took a gander at comparables I actually had no idea that certain stat categories are calculated different for forwards and D. SC and DF I figured would be as such but SP/SK seemed more universal to me, the more you know I guess.

I'll adjust my asks but certain public comments like "I'm on the RC and can say that literally will have me ignore the requests and keep it as is." should not be tolerated. Thats comparable to an arbitrator in an RFA negotiation in real life straight up laughing in the face of either the agent/player or team, highly improper.