{"id":3660,"date":"2016-11-28T00:02:42","date_gmt":"2016-11-28T05:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=3660"},"modified":"2016-11-28T00:02:42","modified_gmt":"2016-11-28T05:02:42","slug":"matt-puempel-walks-back-comments-boucher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2016\/11\/28\/matt-puempel-walks-back-comments-boucher\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Puempel Walks Back Comments on Guy Boucher"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ottawa Senators<\/strong> meeting with the New York Rangers<\/strong> wasn\u2019t meant to be the drama filled affair it became, but over-zealous comments from former-Senators Matt Puempel<\/a><\/strong> changed that. Here are some thoughts on Puempel\u2019s original comments, head coach Guy Boucher<\/strong>\u2019s reply, and on a pair of surprising developments for the Senators.<\/p>\n

Matt Puempel walks back comments\u00a0faster than a Karlsson backcheck<\/h3>\n

Earlier in the week Matt Puempel created some controversy with his post-game comments. Puempel had just scored his first as a New York Ranger after being claimed by the team off waivers. He told the New York Post<\/a> \u201cThey let you play here, they let you play to your strengths. They know there are going to be mistakes. They\u2019re not barking at you every time you come off the ice. It\u2019s beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n

The critique frustrated Sens fans who were critical of his performance in a Senators uniform.<\/p>\n

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@ian_mendes<\/a> 3 different coaching staffs in OTT when Puempel was there, 1 common theme: he failed to impress any of them.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Morgan Rooney (@Morgan_Rooney) 26 November 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Boucher’s Response<\/h3>\n

In response Ottawa Senators head coach Guy Boucher told TSN\u2019s Brent Wallace<\/a> \u201cI don’t want to hear about another team’s player.\u00a0 He’s not on our roster. I wish him good luck. That’s it.” It left a bitter taste, to a departure that was otherwise uneventful.<\/p>\n

Prior to the first game between Puempel and his former team, he took time to restate his stance, saying he believed the quote was a \u201cmisinterpretation from mouth to paper.\u201d Puempel emphasized that he respects the Senators coaches and management, assuring them he didn\u2019t mean anything negative by his comments and that he had enjoyed his time in Ottawa. When asked about New York he surmised the change of scenery had brought positivity to his game, and to his mentality that had been missing.<\/p>\n

The quotes are unsurprising, and it\u2019s good of Puempel to walk back his statements. He was a good soldier for Ottawa, and while it\u2019s unfortunate that it didn\u2019t work out, it\u2019s been best for both parties to separate. Though he\u2019s never been one to be particularly energetic in front of a microphone, he did seem sincere in his apology. This isn\u2019t a\u00a0Brandon Prust<\/a><\/strong> and Paul MacLean<\/a><\/strong> situation<\/a>. Hopefully, this clarification will make the situation water under the bridge.<\/p>\n

Erik Karlsson<\/a> looks like a man possessed<\/h3>\n

Erik Karlsson<\/strong> has 17\u00a0points in 22\u00a0games, and has been one of the best players for the Senators all season, but that doesn\u2019t mean his play has been without fault. In fact, the season has by all accounts been somewhat sub-par for the 25-year-old Swede. According to Dom Luszczyszyn, Karlsson projects for some 67 points.<\/p>\n

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This is what happens when you actually delete the guy out for the year… #HeyChucky<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/YxHkFSgsug<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 dom (@omgitsdomi) 27 November 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That would lead all defensemen, and leave him 15th<\/sup> in the league, but would be his second lowest full-season total since 2011<\/a>. It\u2019s just one point higher than his 82 game low of 66 points, in 2014-15.<\/p>\n

Beyond the dip in scoring, Karlssons\u2019 underlying numbers have also suffered a massive hit. Karlsson is boasting a negative raw Corsi percentage for the first time in his career: just 48.29 CF%. That\u2019s sandwiched between Cody Ceci<\/a><\/strong> and Mark Boroweicki<\/strong>. That phrase alone should be concerning for Sens fans. His relative CF% of -0.32% wouldn\u2019t be overly concerning for most players, but Erik Karlsson is not most players.<\/p>\n

Previous Years<\/h3>\n

This is a player who over the last two seasons leads the team with a 5.91 relCF%. It\u2019s true the team has struggled territorially, but they were never particularly strong in that aspect. One of the team\u2019s few constants was Karlsson. To see him posting \u2013 frankly \u2013 pedestrian numbers is very concerning.<\/p>\n

I won\u2019t pretend to know why Karlsson has struggled in this aspect of his game, but I do wonder if his increased shot blocking has a role to play in the dip. One other observation I have noticed is that he has been reluctant to carry the puck into the zone. In the 4-3 win against the Montreal Canadiens<\/strong> Karlsson carried the puck out of the defensive zone a whopping 15 times<\/a>, but entered the offensive zone just twice, both times without control. This is a pretty strong change from years past, and could be a factor in the unusual numbers.<\/p>\n

Breaking: Ryan Dzingel<\/a> can skate fast<\/h3>\n

Stop me if you\u2019ve heard this one before, Ryan Dzingel<\/strong> used his speed to split the defense and get a breakaway.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Dzingel gets at least one Grade-A scoring chance per game with his speed.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) 28 November 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The 24-year-old has been the surprise of the season for the Senators, and gives the top six a dose of blinding speed that it was desperately missing. Between Mike Hoffman<\/a><\/strong> and Karlsson the Sens had the ability to be\u00a0quick, but their speed was predictable. There were only two options. Now adding a third, it gives the Senators speed to spread throughout the lineup, and better breakout options on the man advantage. In their 4-3 win over the Canadiens, Dzingel brought the puck into the offensive zone five times (twice carrying it in, three times dumping it in), the second most on the team. \u00a0Add to that the fact the Dzingel has shown he\u2019s able to fill the net and use his speed defensively, and the Sens have the top six forward they expected Matt Peumpel, and Shane Prince<\/a><\/strong> to become.<\/p>\n

Stats from Corsica.Hockey<\/a> unless otherwise stated.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n