Why the Mathieu Perreault Call-up Was 7 Games Too Late

You have some valid points here, but I think that the general response will be that you can’t compare MP85’s numbers from the AHL to MJ90’s numbers in the NHL. The AHL might very well be the 2nd best hockey league in the world, but the NHL is the number one league, and there is a significant difference between the two.

In your favor for this reasoning though is that I don’t think a lot of people would argue with you that on opening day Perreault wasn’t the better player right then. If all GMGM was trying to do was put together the best team that he could in September, 85 would have been playing either 2C or 3C for the Caps. However, hopefully, he was trying to put together the best team that could be available for the playoffs.

In the playoff scenario, it is hoped that with a season of NHL experience, MJ90 will be the better player. If not, MP85 would just be a call away (and would probably get a few call ups during the season anyway). In short, the feeling is that there was more upside to MJ90 playing in the NHL for development than having MP85 there.

The second part of the equation was that Johansson still had another season on his SEL contract. I know the fear around these parts was that if he had been sent down to begin the season, he would have gone home instead, and wouldn’t be available to the Caps until next year.

In the end the decision made was the most sensible. Perreault could be sent back and forth to Hershey without the risk of losing him to waivers, and we could keep Johansson in the fold developing and learning North American ice. With this scenario both would be available for use for the playoffs, and GMGM could ice the best team that he was able to in April, even if it wasn’t the best in September.

the problem is that this organization – mcphee specifically – values draft position over effort and results. there is no other way to explain why perrault was sent down. he was one of the best players all through camp. the caps have been lifeless, uninspired and ineffective. it’s almost like they are already in playoff mode.

While this is a good post, you are ignoring some critical factors that clearly show keeping Mackan up was the right thing. Mackan was kept up so he would be available for the whole season – he could have returned to Sweden if he had been sent to Hershey, and the Caps would have not been able to use him at any time during the season. He is also much better defensively than MP is (which makes him more suited for 3rd line/PK), and much better at setting other players up. The lack of points isn’t on Mackan – Chimera can’t finish, and Fehr has not been the same player we saw last season.

For what the Caps needed, which is a 3C who can PK, Mackan was clearly the better option. MP is stronger offensively, but Mackan is the better all-around player. MP will get his shot this season, but Mackan is working fine in the position the Caps are using him in.

All these people talking about MJ choosing to go back to Sweden if he was sent to Hershey, I thought it came out that was wrong and it’s the organization’s choice where he plays because he was a first round draft pick.

I think MJ will be fine, he just needs some more experience to adjust. He looked good in the last game against Boston. If that’s the MJ that we are going to get, I’m fine with him being here instead of MP.

I don’t disagree with you on any of the points individually but there are two things worth noting, in my opinion:

(1) The bigger issue is how the team’s performing come spring. Even if Perrault’s better now, having MarJo in the NHL at this point might mean the team’s better in April, and we’re all willing to sacrifice points in October to have a better chance to win in April.

(2) A large part of what gave MarJo the roster spot over Perrault was the fact that he’s better defensively, and that’s what the Caps were looking for out of their 3C at that point.

That said, well-written, quality post.

I think that the reason the Caps are bringing up Perreault now has more to do with the failure of Flash at #2C than the failure of Johansson at #3C.

Johansson hasn’t lit the world afire, but he’s had limited ice time and no PP ice time. Flash has decent boxcar stats, but he has been a liability on every line he’s played on, and his faceoffs are just as bad as Johansson’s. Despite getting the majority of his ice time with Semin and Laich, both of whom have great peripheral stats, Flash’s peripherals blow. Moreover, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that two guys with typically great peripherals (Fehr and Chimera), regressed massively on Thursday when matched up with Flash on the third line.

As others have pointed out, there were mitigating circumstances with Mackan’s promotion, and Mackan fills a different role right now. Given Flash’s demotion to the third line and Johansson’s promotion to the second, I’m hoping that Perreault and Mackan are both in the lineup tonight. Oh, wait, BB is still our coach. Well, nevermind then .

I’m actually intrigued as to why they recalled Beagle.

Rookies, even ones from North America, are just bad at face offs their first year. Its a long combination of things from playing against vets, and also guys who know the tendencies of the linesman and refs who drop the puck, as well as the tendencies of other centers.

John Tavares rookie season 47.5%
Nicklas Backstrom 46.3%
Evgeni Malkin 43.3%
Sidney Crosby 45.5%
Matthew Lombardi 47.9%
Henrik Sedin 44.1%
Brad Richards 41.4%

Going back to 2000 there were 9 of 35 centermen in their rookie year who posted above 50% (with 2007-2008 being a huge year for that having 4 of 7 post above 50%), those 9 boast the likes of Eric Belanger, David Steckel, and Jonathan Toews. Some of the guys listed above are huge in the face off circle now, its just something you have to get accustomed to and work on.

Crosby in particular last season was 11th in FO% at 55.9 but lead the league in the amount of face offs he took, beating out the next competitor by almost 100 face offs.

Just saying that the trend would indicate MattyP could also be rather poor on the dot over the course of a season.

I would have kept both – and sent down Steckel.

I’d have to say Johansson’s game Thursday night showed off his skating and vision skills playing the North American game just fine. Granted it’s a one game blip at the moment but it was also the first game he played at 2C and on most nights probably would have picked up 1-3 helpers on the night with some of the setups he was giving to Laich and Semin.

I agree he’s struggling at faceoffs but that was too be expected, I also remember MP getting pushed around on the boards just as much if not more. He may have moments of shiftiness helping him get out of tight spots but MarJo’s skating has done that more than once.

Overall I think it’s more of a “we’ll deal with the rookie mistakes for now” because they’re offset by the obvious +’s he brings being a better defender in our zone and the skating and play-making ability he’s starting to showcase. He’s been one of the better Caps on the ice this week and hopefully we’re just going to see more of the same.

Sasha would rec this thread.

My own personal feeling.

I noticed the Caps were playing well during preseason when Flash was out so both Perreault and Johansson were playing — on the 2nd and third lines. Note: the second and third lines were both performing pretty well. Having a true center on those lines is very helpful. Flash is a good player but he is just not a center.

Regarding Johansson, I think you’re 15-20 games too soon with this. Let the kid get some NHL game under his belt.

I posted that it was a huge mistake (and explained why) the day MP85 was sent down and got blasted by the most of this boards’ experts. I am very pleased to see MP is back and the reasons he’s been brought up are those that I described in my post.

Yes, it’s nice to have Mr. Perrault back in DC. Let’s hope he statys. We need him.

I’m not looking to argue with you knuckleheads; obviously there are revisionists among us and there’s not any way to have a reasonable discussion with dishonest people and/or people who refuse to admit they were wrong. In any event, I think it’s abundantly clear that we need what MP85 can bring. At least for 1 game he’s brought it. Personally, I believe he can and will play at a high level for this team and will make us a much more formidable opponent.

who ever wrote that mp is up because of flash’s “failures” obviously isn’t watching the same games i am. flash is performing better in EVERY category compared to marjo. points, goals, plus minus, draws, take aways…you name it. hell – after one game, MP has better stats across the board than marjo. simply put – marjo will be a good player eventually – but it is stupid to provide on the job training at one of the top six positions. let him learn on the fourth line, on wing or in hershey. right now, perrault and flash are better assets for this team…and they are proving it on the ice. i stand by what i wrote: perrault earned the right to be on the opening night roster…and the fact that he wasn’t is because this team’s managment has their head up their arse. plain and simple.

The Boss was impressed with Matty too:

We played some new players with jump who desperately want to play in the NHL who showed hunger and who helped us a lot last night. Thank you number 85. Welcome back.

I think MarJo might make an excellent center one day and while I don’t think MP might be exactly a 2C, I still think we should continue to play him at 2C for now simply because of his chemistry with Semin.

If just seems like every time Semin gets the puck within a 15 foot radius in front of the net, he scores. MP can’t score well, he’s fast but not that fast, but damn if he can’t always seem to out hustle whoever he’s battling with and get the puck to the person it needs to go to.

I say hive him one more solid week at 2C and just see what happens.

it simply comes down to nicknames for me.
Do we want “Mackan” or “Marjorie”
or do we want something that is styled after a submachine gun: MP85.

The choice is clear to me.
Besides, Johansson’s number were mediocre at best in the SEL.

Well, he was sent back down to Hershey yesterday (he scored a goal there) so maybe his call up was a little premature.