Miro's Poor Play

[Alyosha0999]

It's becoming more and more obvious that Miro is not a great player. He's above average defensively but even that is somewhat overrated. He gives the puck away constantly by making poor reads.

When it comes to his offensive game there are huge holes in his ability to create openings for himself and teammates. He's incredibly predictable and easy to defend. He's unable to break down defenses.

This is his fifth season and he's shown no real improvement in his game offensively for sure, and even defensively. He's not feared at either end of the rink. It's a huge problem that no one seems to want to talk about. And it's effecting his teammates. You can sense the funk that's come over the team. Obviously it's not all heiskanen's fault but he's definitely a major part of it.

[wonko80]

He either isn't creative offensively or just chooses not to do it. Either way it results in him not really driving offense at all. If he uses his speed and skates into the zone, he basically just gets angled off to the boards where he dumps in around the net. So yes, other teams know how to defend him. For someone that I presume can stick handle well (given that he dekes around forecheckers when exiting the zone), he's a very straight line player when in the offensive zone. There's hardly ever any change of direction.

All of this is fine too as long as he isn't billed as a Norris level defenseman. He can be a great defender (who is in a bit of a funk lately) who has some offense. Just let him be that. But to keep billing him as the next Lindstrom or whatever does him no favors.

[slaps]

He's a half-point a game player, which is pretty good for a defenseman.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

He creates offense when the game is a heavy transition game but he never walks the blue line like a Klingberg type player.

When they play well defensively is when he generates the least.

I disagree that he's not great defensively though.

[Troy McClure]

He's a half-point a game player, which is pretty good for a defenseman.

But pretty good isn't why they handed him that contract.

[slaps]

Offense isn't why they handed him the contract.

[Troy McClure]

It's a big factor. They expected a huge jump from him.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

I think lots of teams would take him at his current contract, although I'd like him to score more.

[slaps]

He's top 15 in scoring this season.

[slaps]

It's a big factor. They expected a huge jump from him.

He's already on pace for a career best and tracking to be in the mid 60 point range. That would be almost double his career best and 20-24 points shy of Makar last season, who did pretty well.

[Math]

He's more on the radar right now because of his current cold spell. Also, playing behind a putrid offense and QB a non-efficient PP doesn't help his numbers either. His shooting pct. is abysmal at 4.5% so there's room for improvement and he should be back on the scoring sheet soon.

I think he's very good defensively and at all the little details we can barely notice on TV. Maybe his offensive game is a bit predictable he shows his potential in that field too. Don't forget that he's still young and Dman reach maturity and full potential later than forwards.

[wonko80]

. Don't forget that he's still young and Dman reach maturity and full potential later than forwards.

Is that still true? Or is it that coaches/GMs believe that and so they don't give younger players a chance to play until they're older?

[Troy McClure]

It's a big factor. They expected a huge jump from him.

He's already on pace for a career best and tracking to be in the mid 60 point range. That would be almost double his career best and 20-24 points shy of Makar last season, who did pretty well.

Miro's even strength production last season was 0.36 points per game. This season, it's up a bit to 0.39. In terms of total even strength points by d-men, he's tied for 26th in the league.

Almost all of his offensive increase has come from taking over Klingberg's spot on the top PP. His previous high was 11 PP points, but he's up to 19 now with 20+ games left. On a per game basis, he's doubled his PP output, which is good to see. This shouldn't be a big surprise because the 2nd PP unit has been bad for two straight seasons.

All of the excuses we heard for years have been removed (coach, PP, line matches, partners, etc.), and I think "pretty good" remains a nice way to describe his offensive game. He's 14th in points per game among d-men. To simplify it, this means of all the guys playing the #1 d role, he's the 14th best offensively. That's not bad. It's a bit above average. It's pretty good, but it's not great. And given his amazing skill set, it's why I'm always wanting more. Skill wise, he's better than a number of the guys ahead of him on the list.

[Alyosha0999]

to Math: Miro is a lot of the problem with the putrid offense and PP. He doesn't positively effect his teammates. He seems very robotic, mechanical, predictable.

i think he needs major improvement in his lateral skating, edge work. He doesn't have the illusiveness and shiftiness to be very effective offensively it seems. Can that be learned?

[Alyosha0999]

Watching Hughes, Morrison, Makar, Florida dman((can't think of his name offhand) lately....and noticing almost every team has a couple of dmen who are smaller and illusive that can really possess the puck and create.

Nils fits this mold more than Miro. I still feel that Miro can be much more effective. But maybe this is as good as it gets?

[Alyosha0999]

I think Nils will QB the PP sooner than later.

[Troy McClure]

I think Nils will QB the PP sooner than later.

Nils is fine, but he has a long way to go to show he can create a lot of offense. But he's a rookie.

[ScubaSteve]

I think Nils will QB the PP sooner than later.

Yes, best to pin all hopes on a player that can’t consistently beat out Joel Hanley for playing time.

[B Kat]

I think Nils will QB the PP sooner than later.

Nils is fine, but he has a long way to go to show he can create a lot of offense. But he's a rookie.

And defend, which is Miro's best asset. He may have more offense in him, and you can see how hard he is trying, especially lately, but when Miro is on the ice, less bad things happen.

[Troy McClure]

I think Nils will QB the PP sooner than later.

Nils is fine, but he has a long way to go to show he can create a lot of offense. But he's a rookie.

And defend, which is Miro's best asset. He may have more offense in him, and you can see how hard he is trying, especially lately, but when Miro is on the ice, less bad things happen.

It is funny. His first few weeks this season, he looked looser and better than he has most of the rest of the season. This is where coaching can get in a guy's head. It's ultimately good for the player, but you see a young guy overthinking and losing the loose, natural reactions that make good things happen.

[mookie1010]

I think Nils will QB the PP sooner than later.

Yes, best to pin all hopes on a player that can’t consistently beat out Joel Hanley for playing time.

A baptism by sarcastic fire.