Monday Musings: Offence MIA

QUICK HITS

• I’m surprised how many articles and blogs I read about Kris Russell and his next contract. Russell has been an outstanding signing. One year at $3 million has been a steal for a player who plays against tough competition and has solid numbers. His offensive numbers are down, but he has filled a defensive role and he’s been very good at it. I’m perplexed at all the concern over his next contract, while none of the same people have written anything substantial on the absolute garbage of a season Benoit Pouliot is having, and he still has two years remaining on his $4 million/year deal.
  How is Russell’s next contract more concerning than Pouliot’s next two years? With Darnell Nurse emerging, I’m sure GM Peter Chiarelli will be very cautious with the length of contract he signs Russell for, if he does sign him.
  At least Russell is adding something on a nightly basis.
  Pouliot has been a ghost since early November. Tyler Pitlick only played 31 games and he still has more points than Pouliot. What concerns me most with Pouliot is besides not scoring, he simply isn’t providing any offensive chances or creating turnovers. His best asset the past few seasons has been his ability to disrupt teams with his forecheck. He would apply pressure that led to turnovers or strip pucks himself.
  For the past three months he hasn’t been a threat on the forecheck and he’s added absolutely nothing offensively. He’s played mainly with Eberle and RNH — Eberle has 22 more points while RNH has 16 more. You can’t use the excuse he’s played with non-skilled players. He simply needs to play better, and for those concerned with Eberle, RNH and Lucic’s production relative to their salary, then Pouliot should be just as much of a concern. He’s done nothing for months, and considering his track record, I’m more concerned about him for the next two seasons than I am about any of the three aforementioned forwards. 
  Pouliot has no goals in 26 games and he only has 20 shots. It’s not like he’s getting good chances and not producing, he’s bordering on invisible. And the most concerning aspect for me is he’s getting worse, not showing signs of breaking out of his slump. He has two goals and six points in his last 44 games.
• “We obviously need more guys, especially myself, to contribute more,” said Milan Lucic. Lucic has usually produced well at 5×5, but this season he only has 15 EV points. “I just have to create more, create more chances, be better on the forecheck, better on the cycle and a big part of it is just bearing down. My shooting this year compared to the past is way down. Only one goal and two assists since the Christmas break is not good enough. I’ve always been my toughest critic, and I know I’m going to break out of this and stay positive, but there is no denying I need to do more,” Lucic said. 
• In Lucic’s last seven 82-game NHL seasons he’s averaged a 15.8SH%.  He had 144 goals on 909 shots. During the 2013 lockout shortened season he had a career-worst 8.9SH% scoring only seven goals on 79 shots.
  He has 115 shots thus far, and is on pace to have the second most shots in a season (168) in his career. He had 173 in 2011 when he scored 30 goals. Lucic’s 9.6SH% this season is well below his average, and I appreciate how he said part of it is just bearing down. Yes, goal scoring is difficult, but the top scorers should be able to finish when they get chances. When goalies let in weak goals they hear about it, but too often I think we give scorers a free pass when they don’t bury chances they should. Lucic admitted as much and recognizing our shortcomings is the first step to improvement. He is still confident he’ll emerge from his funk, and the Oilers need him to sooner than later.
• Darnell Nurse was practicing in a regular orange D-man jersey today. He said mentally he feels great, but admitted he isn’t ready yet, physically, to play. I’d guess he is still a few weeks away. They won’t rush his return, especially because an ankle endures a lot of stress and pressure in the games during battles. His original return date was around March 10th. I’d be very surprised if we saw him return to action before March.