Category: Sports News

Two weeks ago, on March 6th, Ottawa Senators winger Fabian Zetterlund was a member of the San Jose Sharks, preparing for a game against the Colorado Avalanche. That night, Zetterlund played almost 19 minutes, took seven shots on goal, and scored his 17th goal of the season.

On Thursday night, Zetterlund is preparing for another game against the Avalanche, only now he's preparing as a fourth-line player. So far, the 25-year-old is averaging 9:43 of ice time with zero goals, zero points, and four shots on goal in his first five games with the Senators.

The deadline-day deal for Zetterlund and a fourth-round pick seemed at the time like an absolute steal. He was San Jose's leading goal scorer last year with 24 goals and only cost the Senators Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, and a second-round draft pick. That felt inexpensive, especially when viewed through the lens of a scoring upgrade for the top nine, maybe even the top six.

But Senators head coach Travis Green hasn’t yet viewed it that way. Green has had Zetterlund on the fourth line for each of his first five games in Ottawa.

His usage initially raised eyebrows in some circles, but since the Senators were in the middle of a winning streak, the assumption was that Zetterlund would eventually get his chance when the team cooled off. The Senators did cool off in Montreal on Tuesday night, losing 6-3 to the Canadiens and ending their six-game winning streak.

But at practice on Thursday morning, there was Zetterlund again, skating on the fourth line.

Green’s intent isn’t to bury Zetterlund, nor is it a reflection of his play. And he’s trying to keep the lines of communication open with the player.

“You know, I've had good conversations with him,” Green told the media after Thursday’s game-day skate. “Probably three times, I've just talked to him. The coaches have done a good job showing video. He's learning a lot on the fly, system-wise, different players. He's a younger player who hasn't played a whole lot in the league. And also, being patient—it’s not always easy.

“I think if we, as coaches, can have open dialogue with a player, it’d be different if we were saying, ‘Hey, we don’t like your play. You know, this is where you're slotted,’ but that's not the case.”

That said, despite an uninspiring effort in Montreal on Tuesday, Green doesn’t want to start tinkering with his lineup yet.

“Our team's been playing well, and (Zetterlund) is going to have to wait for more ice time. I'd like to get him some more ice time here and there. But that's the reality. We're also here to win every night. And it’s a fine line, making those decisions on who goes on the ice and who doesn't.”

Interestingly, Green’s strategy wasn't also applied to fellow newcomer Dylan Cozens, who arrived in Ottawa with fewer goals and points than Zetterlund. Cozens got here ice cold, with one point in his previous five games, all losses with the Sabres. His coach, Lindy Ruff, said the kid "just couldn't find his game."

What he found here was the second-line centre role and a boatload of power play time. As a result, Cozens has five points in six games as a Senator and now stands tied with Zetterlund at 36 points.

In a parallel universe, Green could have made Cozens his fourth-liner for his first five games to ease him in and not mess with a winning formula, just as he has with Zetterlund. When Cozens arrived, the Sens had just pulled five out of a possible six points out of their previous three games. Centre Shane Pinto had three goals in those three games and could have easily moved up until further notice.

We know now that it's good that Green didn't choose that route. So why is he choosing it with Zetterlund? Zetterlund isn’t here to be a fourth-liner, nor is he particularly well-suited for the role.

And while having plug-and-play scoring depth in the event of a slump or injury is a nice notion in theory, the Sens are playing with fire in assuming Zetterlund will be unfazed by any of this. They're trusting that he can flick the switch on command when they finally move him up and give him a chance.

That's a lot easier said than done, but hopefully, for the Sens' sake, he can.

Because the longer the player goes without providing secondary scoring, the more people will start to wonder why they bothered to make this trade.

By Steve Warne
Site Editor at The Hockey News Ottawa

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While some big trades at the NHL trade deadline had immediately positive results, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquiring Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers isn’t one of them.

Laughton has yet to produce a point in six games as a Leaf, and his role diminished on Wednesday as Max Domi improved his play. Leafs coach Craig Berube cut Laughton’s minutes on Wednesday night against Colorado. Laughton played just 11:13 – his lowest time-on-ice total since Dec. 8.

Laughton's current woes must be humbling as someone who averaged more than 15 minutes of ice time as a Flyer before being traded to the Leafs. But not every trade will be an immediate success, and what matters most is how Laughton handles the transition to a new club and what he does by the playoffs.

“I think he’s trying to probably play the game without making mistakes, and he’s overthinking things instead of just playing,” Berube said of Laughton. “Just play. Be aggressive, do your thing, and that will come around. I do believe that. He wants to do well. He’s just got to loosen up and go play. Use your ability. You’re a good player. You’ve played in the league a long time. Just go play. I think he’s holding back a little bit. Just too safe, almost.”

When you don’t have any offense to point to, and when the Leafs are only 3-3 since the trade deadline, it’s easy to grow frustrated. 

Laughton’s under a huge microscope in Toronto, where every shift is hyper-analyzed, and Leafs fans constantly compare him to the best the Buds have had to offer.

But if Laughton can shut out the naysayers, he will work out of this funk and show everyone why Toronto GM Brad Treliving gave up a first-round pick and decent prospect in Nikita Grebenkin for his services.

Woll Or Stolarz: Who Should Be In Net For The Maple Leafs In The Playoffs? The Toronto Maple Leafs do not know who they will be playing if the playoffs were to start today. But regardless of the opponent, it appears they might finally have settled on a starting goalie for Game 1.

The Maple Leafs don’t need Laughton to do all the heavy lifting. They have Auston Matthews and John Tavares doing that by centering the top two lines. He just has to settle in – either at center on the third line or on the wing – and read the game.

Toronto beat the Calgary Flames and the Avalanche to regain second place in the Atlantic Division. That will set up the Leafs for a better position in the playoffs, where Laughton’s game best suits the team. 

Scoring isn’t his specialty, as his career highs are 18 goals and 43 points. He had 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games for the Flyers before the trade. But his two-way play, penalty-killing, physicality, flexibility between center and left wing and his hockey IQ are what the Leafs need in their bottom six. Since the trade deadline, he ranks second among Leafs forwards in blocked shots, with six, and he has 14 hits.

It’s a matter of time before Laughton fully acclimates to his home team.

“He’s from here, and he’s got a lot going on and people and everything else. You want to please, right,” Berube said. “You’ve got to forget about pleasing and play and do your thing. You’re a good player. That’s why you’re in the National Hockey League for a long time.”

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