Nashville Predators: Jarnkrok Deserves At Least The Third Center Spot

Peter Laviolette made a curious decision by placing Colton Sissons into the third line center role over Calle Jarnkrok for the Nashville Predators.

I have a staggering amount of respect for Peter Laviolette and the rest of the Nashville Predators coaching staff, but they’re not perfect. Sometimes lines don’t work out or strategies fail, and that’s a part of hockey. Hell, that’s a part of life. But some situations can be avoided. Some situations, like, say, playing a young guy who had a hot playoffs over an established veteran. Especially when that established veteran is one of the better shot suppressings centers in the NHL.

I know what people are going to say, that Colton Sissons has offensive talent, Calle Jarnkrok isn’t an exciting player. But why sacrifice a good known quantity for a player who, most likely, isn’t ready. A look at the stats doesn’t help Sissons case.

Offensive Stats

31

14:55

0.38

Sissons

58

10

11:07

0.17

Sissons had a very decent season for a fourth liner, as he played fourth line minutes against fourth line talent. He showcased a good scoring touch as he potted eight goals in 58 games, but why would we think that translates? In fact, there are more reasons to doubt the translation as Sissons shot at an absurd 19%. More than Alexander Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos! Meanwhile, Jarnkrok shot at 11.19, a high number but not out of this world. Still, though, Jarnkrok doubles Sissons points per game while playing in a defensive role, and against tougher competition.

Jarnkrok doubles Sissons points per game while playing in a defensive role, and against tougher competition. Why would the Nashville Predators move a key shut down center for someone with more “scoring potential.” Maybe it has something to do with possession stats?

HAHAHAH No It Has Nothing To Do With Possession Stats

It’s at this point I should mention that I hate dumping on Sissons. He’s a fine player and maybe one day he’ll grow in the third center role, but he’s not ready. That being said, here are some of the advanced stats to paint a better picture. These stats are at all strengths (pk,pp,5v5).

47.06

48.62

41.80

Colton Sissons

40.97

41.46

57.14

26.40

A quick glimpse will show that Jarnkrok is a better possession player. But what it doesn’t say is that Jarnkrok’s Corsi and Fenwick jump to slightly above 50 in five on five situations. The only stat where Sissons beats out Jarnkrok is the goals ratio. Goal ratio being goals scored versus goals against while on ice. Now, keep in mind that this is all strengths and includes Jarnkrok’s penalty kill time. Let’s also remember that Jarnkrok consistently goes up against top-six talent each night while Sissons played against fourth line talent. Sissons had worse offensive zone starts, but Jarnkrok also had some bad ones too. I’m not sure why Sissons and the rest of the fourth line didn’t receive more protected starts. But I guess that’s on Peter Laviolette.

Sissons had worse offensive zone starts, but Jarnkrok also had some bad ones too. I’m not sure why Sissons and the rest of the fourth line didn’t receive more protected starts. But I guess that’s on head coach Peter Laviolette.

My Solution

I’m trying to be more positive in all aspects of my life, so here goes. I have a serious weakness for shot suppressing centers, whether it’s a big name like Patrice Bergeron or a smaller one like Tomas Hertl. They’re often times key to their team’s success and so I think that burying that center is an unwise move. Now, enough of my dribble, onto the solution.

Keep Jarnkrok in the center position and move Sissons into the third line wing spot. Let him play on his natural left side or right with Scott Hartnell. That’s a very big, dangerous line right there. And hey, you might as well, it’s not like Pontus Aberg is getting those minutes. That’s another issue, but that’s for another time. So my bottom six will look something like this. Sissons-Jarnkrok-Hartnell for third, and Watson-Gaudreau-Salomaki for fourth. I know that the Nashville Predators will have to bring up Frederick Gaudreau and send someone down. And it’s no secret who I want sent down, or in this case, fired into the sun.

Next: Predators Set To Take The Ice

Putting Sissons over Jarnkrok on the depth chart is a terrible mistake in many ways. But the Nashville Predators will realize that soon enough.