Sloan vs. Jurcina

Okay, I can see the argument that Jurcina played well in the playoffs this year, or that he at least looked like he did. The reality is that he was the only one without injury issues (though you could count Pothier in this group as well). There's something to be said for that in itself, but I think Jurcina's useful life with the Capitals is over, and his replacement is Tyler Sloan. I'll take you through what Tyler can do versus Milan and a comparison of them from this past year.

Just hear me out on this.  Sure, Milan Jurcina was #2 in defenseman scoring with the Caps this year, with 3-11-14 in 79 games (the most of anyone on the defense corps).  That only put him ahead of Poti and Morrisonn by one point, though, each of them had 3-10-13.  That, and 14 points isn’t exactly impressive offensive output.  Take Sloan.  He had 1-4-5 in 26 games.  A simple calculation to triple games and his points on the season gives you 3-12-15 in 78 games.  Even if Jurcina fired four times the number of shots on goal per 60 minutes than Sloan (4.5 to 1.1), he and Sloan had a similar ratio for missed shots versus shots reaching the net, so their shots seem to be just as effective at reaching net when they take them, and Sloan has a much better shooting percentage (1/8, 12.5% versus Jurcina’s 3/95, 3.2%).  Even with all the extra shots, Jurcina didn’t produce offense at a higher rate.  Sloan scored his goal, as you’ll recall, from in front of the goal because of his speed, not because of a booming shot that’s not uncorked enough.  You won’t be missing Jurcina’s offense much.  He has displayed some nasty moves on offense before, but usually isn’t fast enough to make them work. 

Ice time per game:  Jurcina had the lowest time-on-ice per game in the regular season of any Capitals defenseman not named Kronwall or Collins.  That’s right, everyone else played more.  Jurcina played 16:09 per game on 21.7 shifts.  Sloan played 16:38 on 22.5 shifts.  That comes out to a shift length of roughly 44.5 seconds for both of them.  The big difference comes in Penalty Killing.  Sloan averaged 2:28 of Shorthanded time per game to Jurcina’s 0:56.  Not to mention Sloan had the second lowest GAA among Caps D on the PK, next to Green, according to Dr. Pepper of Japers Rink.  For both, Powerplay time was negligible.

Penalties:  If Dr. Pepper is right, Sloan drew more penalties that he took, including a 9 minute powerplay in Calgary.  Jurcina’s 34 Minor penalties tied for most on the team, and he took 3.2 PIM/60, whereas Sloan took only 1.9 PIM/60 minutes.  Sloan’s speed looks like an advantage here, as well. 

Jurcina finished the year as a +1.  Sloan was a +4.  Again multiplying by 3 and Sloan would have come out in a full season at a +12. 

Size:  Jurcina is 6’4, 233. Sloan is 6’3, 205.  Jurcina is a big boy, leading Caps defensemen in hits and blocked shots, but his size shows when he skates.  With a premium on mobile defenders, Jurcina is often caught flatfooted while Sloan is capable of keeping up with the faster forwards, leading to fewer penalties.  Sloan had a much smaller hits/60 minutes than Jurcina, 4.6 to 7.4, but had a higher blocked shots per 60, with 6.9 to 6.2, meaning Sloan would have led Caps D in Blocked shots in a full season if everything else were equal. 

Juice is a right handed shot, while Sloan is a lefty.  With Green as the only other righty, it might make it challenging to keep Sloan over Jurcina for this reason.  Also consider Sloan is cheaper than Jurcina.  Sloan is a UFA who made the league minimum last season, $475K, and could probably be resigned for not much, if any, more.  Jurcina is finishing up his contract and would need a qualifying offer of at least $925,000, to say nothing of what he might actually receive.  Jurcina is 26, Sloan 28.  Jurcina may also fetch something in a trade. 

For the playoffs, I’ll quote Dr. Pepper directly, “I even suggested that Sloan could've, perhaps should've, seen more playoff action, later in the second-round Penguins series, over an severely injury-compromised Green.  Think I'm crazy?  Well, the Penguins didn't score while he was on the ice in his two GP (Games 2 and 3), either at even-strength or on the PP.  And Sloan stayed out of the penalty box.  According to Brian Pothier, after Sloan's NHL playoff debut, "[H]e just makes great decisions....I don't think he made a mistake [in Game 2]."  Green was a -4 at ES during the post-season; Sloan, a + 1.  So for what that's worth.”  

As for that decision making, Sloan knows he’s a defensive defender and would be a good foil for an offensive minded defenseman, like Green, Pothier, or Poti, though I think Pothier is the most likely on the third pairing.  Sloan also has the speed to make up for mistakes, his or his teammates’.

Jurcina had a solid playoff.  He finished +6 and scored 2 goals in 14 games.  Again, he had the lowest time on ice per game of the defensemen, excluding Jeff Schultz who only played one game and left early.  Jurcina played 16:46 versus Sloan’s 18:23.  Jurcina also had 12 penalty minutes.  Again he led the defensemen with 52 hits and was second with 20 blocked shots, and had the second most giveaways (13) and takeaways (4).  It would not be fair to compare Sloan here because he only played 2 games, but for the record:  Sloan had an assist, 2 hits, 3 blocked shots, and 2 giveaways in two playoff games versus the Stanley Cup Champions.