Eric Fehr: Making the Most of His Minutes
by J.P. on Jan 23, 2010 2:30 PM EST
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PrintWhen Eric Fehr scored his thirteenth goal of the season on Thursday night, it set a new single-season career high for the 24-year-old winger (who is still healthy and still scoring). His next goal or assist will tie his one-year best in points with 25, and he hasn't yet played forty games on the campaign.
As Fehr's breakout 2009-10 marches on, it's worth noting that nearly all of what he's been able to do scoring-wise has come at even strength (he's eighth among the team's regular forwards in power play time) and in limited minutes overall. The result? Some pretty impressive scoring rates. For example, here are the top-five players in the League in terms of goals scored per sixty minutes of five-on-five time (minimum 30 games played):
- Alex Ovechkin (2.06)
- Sidney Crosby (1.89)
- Ilya Kovalchuk (1.75)
- Eric Fehr (1.72)
- Patrick Marleau (1.71)
The four players in that group that aren't the subject of this post are currently the top four goal scorers in the NHL.
As for total points per sixty minutes of five-on-five hockey, Fehr again finds himself among the elite:
- Alex Ovechkin (3.95)
- Henrik Sedin (3.94)
- Daniel Sedin (3.85)
- Sidney Crosby (3.46)
- Ilya Kovalchuk (3.24)
- Loui Eriksson (3.04)
- Brad Richards (3.04)
- Patrick Marleau (3.01)
- Eric Fehr (3.01)
- Joe Thornton (2.99)
Seven of the League's top-ten scorers are in that group... not bad, eh?
Considering the ice time he has gotten and the quality of the teammates with whom he's played (Fehr has the lowest 5-on-5 QualTeam of any top-nine Cap forward), Eric Fehr's season to date is fairly remarkable. Hopefully, you've noticed.
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I’ve long defended Fehr against the “we coulda had Getzlaf!” crowd, so it’s been great to see him doing so well this season.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Jan 23, 2010 2:43 PM EST reply actions
I have noticed. Fehr always seemed to be a “feast or famine” sort of guy last season, going through hot and cold stretches, but does seem to be more consistent this year.
I forget what started the conversation, but a friend of mine and I were talking one day about a month (or two) ago, asking the question: “If you could only keep either (a) Alex Semin or (b) Fehr and Flash, which would you choose?” (the premise being that each option would probably cost about the same…) We both agreed that while keeping all 3 would be ideal, we’d both take F&F over Semin if it came down to it. Extremely hypothetical, of course.
"I am ready for his provocations"
by PaintDrinkingPete on Jan 23, 2010 2:44 PM EST reply actions
Nice work. Hopefully the coaching staff knows this stuff.
I tend to doubt it, because while I knew Fehr has been having a nice season, I had no idea his rate stats were so impressive.
I will note that he has the lowest QualComp numbers for any Cap forward with a minimum of 30 games played
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
That should change now that his linemates are Chimera and Morrison, and they’re being used in a third-line role.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Jan 23, 2010 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
Right. But his production to date has come against lower quality opponents is the caveat to the info presented in the post, that’s all I’m saying.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
I was about to mention QoC, but
You beat me to the punch.
Anyhow, I think it’s indicative of the fact that his scoring would certainly not go up in a linear fashion should he get more ice time.
This is not a game of who the f*ck are you...
Small sample size, but wasn’t Fehr very productive playing with Ovechkin and Backstrom on the 1st line? His points almost certainly wouldn’t increase linearly with more playing time (that would lead to some truly outrageous totals) but they could find less diminishing returns than one might initially think.
As a side note, I’m not advocating moving 16 to the first line, I like Knuble right where he is, thank you very much. My totally unscientific impression is that Knuble on the 1st line + Fehr on the 3rd > Fehr on the 1st and Knuble on the 3rd.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Jan 23, 2010 5:26 PM EST up reply actions
Actually, Fehr hasn’t played much with Ovi and Backstrom on the 1st line. I think when he was on his goal scoring streak last year, Flash was on his line, along with a variety of centers (Backstrom, Fedorov, Stecks, and even Nylander).
Fehr/Backstrom/Flash worked great for 2 or 3 games.
Rocking the Red since 1975
The Montreal game that was won in the SO by Backs comes instantly to mind – he looked great going to the net and digging pucks out of corners for those two and had a couple of goals, did he not? I remember very much liking the combination.
Fehr’s already exceeded his season totals from last season and he the beginning of this one with injuries. I have to think that those results speak for themselves as better than whoever his ’mates were last year.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Jan 23, 2010 11:52 PM EST up reply actions
I wouldn’t necessarily put the asterisk there, especially when you look at his QUALTEAM. Over the last three years, his QUALCOMP/QUALTEAM numbers are:
’07-08: .055/.021
’08-09: .001/.038
’09-10: .030/.069
Kinda makes his goals/60 all the more impressive, no?
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by Bald Pollack on Jan 23, 2010 5:04 PM EST up reply actions
Pity that hyphens double as code strikes, but still.
If you don't know how to write or what to think, or have a question about something on an elitist blog, read its community guidelines for assistance.
by Bald Pollack on Jan 23, 2010 5:04 PM EST up reply actions
Minor nitpick
The pts/60 list has “Sydney” instead of “Sidney”
I wonder how Fehr will play given more ice time.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
Jesus. Thanks. No clue how I biffed on that one.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Really like the 25 – 9 – 16 line. I think it’s really well balanced, and gives Fehrsie a clear role. Morrison should wake up at some point (all slumps come to an end) and when he does, watch out.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
To me, BMo looks like a guy who really could use two weeks off. Hopefully the Oly break recharges the batteries and gets him ready for the following 3+ months.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I am thinking the same thing. Plus by then Chimera should feel totally comfortable with the system and his teammates. I just hope BB doesn’t go all line change happy down the stretch.
A man gotta have a code
I just hope BB doesn’t go all line change happy down the stretch.
This. One would like to think that given the fantastic success of the line-up the last few weeks (scoring at least 4 goals in 8 of the last 9 I believe…yikes that’s impressive) BB would let his lines stay put. But his track record of constant changes makes me hesitant to assume anything.
by SeattleCapsFan on Jan 23, 2010 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
I agree. He doesn’t look as explosive at this point. I just hope if he does get recharged he’s able to keep it up through June.
Now let's say you and I go toe to toe on bird law and see who comes out the victor.
by Rob Parker on Jan 23, 2010 4:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I’ve got to believe guys like Knuble, Green (Oly break will be good for recovering from recent injury) and Morrison can use the break. As long as Semin, OV, and Backstrom stay healthy Olympics can be good for us.
Wow! I knew he was having a good season, but didn’t realize it was that good. Bodes well for the post season when the 3rd and 4th lines are going to need to pitch offensively.
A man gotta have a code
Damnit CP2, you’re saying everything I would’ve said if I’d checked out this post a few hours earlier!
Basically yea, I knew he was having a good season but the numbers posted above are ridiculous. Yea sure it’s against weaker lines, but that’s what’s awesome about the depth we have on this team. When a team spends all their energy and resources defending our top guys, it leaves openings for our not-so-top guys to do their thing. And our not-so-top guys are still pretty effing fantastic when it comes down to it.
by SeattleCapsFan on Jan 23, 2010 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
For better or worse.
Now let's say you and I go toe to toe on bird law and see who comes out the victor.
by Rob Parker on Jan 23, 2010 4:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Isn’t Fehr on the wnd line of the PP though? What percentage of his minutes come on the PP and how does that compare to others on the list?
I think that’s almost negligible since the 2nd PP unit hardly gets any time, anyways.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Jan 24, 2010 2:40 AM EST up reply actions
(judging by the D combos BB uses—maybe he changes the forwards more frequently than I realize)
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Jan 24, 2010 2:40 AM EST up reply actions
The second PP unit scored twice yesterday. Not bad for a unit who hardly gets any time. (I’ve noticed the secondary point men, B Morrison and Poti didn’t get much time.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
Boudreau started the 2nd unit at the beginning of a power play/period a couple of times yesterday. A positive development, in my mind.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Jan 24, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
I’m a card carrying member of the Fehr for 2nd line right wing lobby. (Usually, his productivity is best on the 2nd line, or at least that was the case last year.) But moving the “normal” 2nd line center (Morrison) to the 3rd line seemed to be the ingredient to get the third line going.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I was initially for a move like this. But all three lines are showing pretty good chemistry right now. I’m not sure who, if anyone, I’d move at this point. I guess I’d be intrigued to see how 28-14-16 looks.
I could see moving Semin to LW, and moving Brooks Laich down a line (but then what do you do with Chimera?)
I can’t see moving either Knuble or Semin off the top two lines. So as long as Semin does stay a RW, there ain’t no space on the top two lines for Fehr.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Jan 23, 2010 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
Creative solution to the problem of what to do with the wingers. Fehr is most productive as 2nd liner. So is Laich. So is Flash. Along with the question of whether or not Ovi and Semin should be on 2nd line.
So, Bruce came up with a very creative solution. Move the “regular” 2nd line down to the third line with Fehr. Have Flash center Laich and Semin. Ergo: 3 scoring lines and very brilliant creative solution for Bruce. And Fehr is scoring on the 3rd line.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Is it sick that I keep hearing “one of these things is not like the others” when I look at that first list? Sesame Street FTW!
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
I guess you spent too much time watching Sesame Street as a child. (And I spent too much time watching it with my kids.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
Actually, it was my children watching it. Pretty sure you and I are about the same age.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
it makes me happy as someone who grew up with Sesame Street that it’s still around…i loved that show as a kid
by SeattleCapsFan on Jan 23, 2010 5:07 PM EST up reply actions
With about 20 seconds left in the 2nd period of the Phoenix game, Fehr exited the penalty box, turning a 5-on-3 into a 5-on-4 again. That gave Fehr some rare PK time. I know it was a very small sample size, and I know he was probably hopped up on adrenaline trying to keep the team from being hurt by his mistake (the penalty), but I thought he looked great. He made a couple of nice plays, skated hard, and ultimately cleared the zone.
E. Fehr — penalty killer?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Jan 24, 2010 12:16 PM EST reply actions
Despite his efficiency, Fehr is one of the least aesthetic Caps. He doesn’t have the speed or puck skills that most Caps fans have grown to love. He gets more fluky goals than anyone. Even his prettier goals seem like they come after bad bounces, but he has really improved this year in getting to the front of the net and being in position to take advantage of those bounces. I don’t know if BB thinks he’s just getting lucky and not really earning all those points or what he doesn’t like, but at some point you’d think these numbers would earn him some more, and more quality, ice time.
Now let's say you and I go toe to toe on bird law and see who comes out the victor.
My boy Fehr
Also didn’t get the benefit of playing preseason games. Only practicing while completely recovering from the shoulder surgeries.
He has done an amazing job this season. I hope we can get him on the cheap for a few seasons this summer.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
53 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 61 |
|
Washington
|
54 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
56 | 26 | 24 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
53 | 23 | 24 | 6 | 52 |
|
Carolina
|
55 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 50 |
(updated 2.10.2012 at 9:27 AM EST)
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