Nov 4, 2014; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing Mark Stone (61) and center David Legwand (17) celebrate goal score by Erik Karlsson (not pictured) in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
David Legwand was Ottawa’s only free agent signing this summer and has come in playing strictly a Center role. That is Legwand’s natural position and he has played 4th line minutes with Zack Smith and Chris Neil of late.
Legwand has been a good player for this team early on and continues to get 1st Powerplay unit time, which seems to be strange for a player who is being played in a 3rd/4th line role at even strength.
Legwand has 41:15 minutes of Powerplay ice time this season. Leaving only Turris, and MacArthur with more time in terms of forwards. This is strange as Legwand’s regular time usage mainly consists of Defensive Zone starts at around 37%. So Ottawa must like his Powerplay game, right?
Well, no kidding. Legwand was Nashville’s best on the Powerplay last season. This is where Legwand put up 16 points, a Nashville best. So, you can’t blame Ottawa for trying Legwand on the PP, he was essentially a wizard on an offensively poor Nashville squad last season.
Looking at the charts from Nashville in 13-14, they had 7 forwards play over 50 minutes of PP TOI. As is clear, Legwand led them all.
Legwand’s usage was a team best, and so was his CorsiFor/60; clearly generating more than anyone on the team. This includes, Patric Hornqvist the key player received by Pittsburgh in the James Neal trade. What’s more is that Legwand’s Fenwick Relative% held up compared to his usage.
Legwand’s PP squad consisting of Fisher and Hornqvist led the team in Fenwick Rel% due to their time usage on the PP. Using Fenwick, which disregards blocked shots as they can change a penalty kill.
Nashville’s 2nd unit of Cullen – Smith – Wilson had less PP TOI, hence a negative Fenwick Rel%. Representing size here is PP TOI/Game where Legwand was again among the team lead.
Legwand has never been a dynamic offensive player, but he’s been a guy who’s been trusted and relied upon. Last season, Nashville’s offence squad was in the bottom half of the league, where Ottawa’s was in the 2nd in terms of CF.
Taking a look at this year, we see that Legwand’s usage on the Powerplay has made him as a utility type player, where he’s been used consistently on the PP but has a different role come even strength.
As we see here, Legwand’s usage is greater than most Senators forwards, which may come across as strange due to his 4th line EVS role. Bobby Ryan is at or around Legwand, yet Legwand has found a way to generate more offensively; as seen by his higher CF60. Alex Chiasson and Mika Zibanejad have generated with less TOI, where Alex Chiasson has found all of his goals this season.
Looking at Fenwick Rel% which shows a player’s On-ice FF% subtracted by the player’s off-ice FF% displaying the amount the player generates in comparison to the rest of his team. Kyle Turris and Clarke MacArthur are the negatives here, where the Zibanejad unit is a positive in this case. Milan Michalek has generates less than anyone with greater than 30 minutes of PP time this season; something that if improved could lead to good season for Michalek
Legwand’s consistent powerplay time can simply be attributed to his success in Nashville, Legwand should continue to get PP time in Ottawa as he has been good with cycling the puck at the boards and has been good in-front of the net. Sens fans can be glad they have a player like Legwand who can play a role at even