The following is a repost of a rant I made last season about the statistical shortcomings of using a defenseman in a shootout - a practice that then-coach Lane Lambert followed far too often.

Using a defenseman in the shootout

February 10, 2011

Much has been said over the years about the Milwaukee Admirals having a great player development system for the NHL's Nashville Predators. For the most part, I agree. We've seen several success stories of players moving up to the next level and making a decent career out of this crazy game called ice hockey.

However, there is one part of Milwaukee's development program that I have a serious issue with. Developing players for the shootout.

The idea behind the team's development package is to prepare players to fit in with the Nashville Predators system. The teams differ quite a bit in the shootout when it comes to picking participating players. On any given game going to the shootout, Milwaukee Head Coach Lane Lambert will pick 1-3 defensemen for the penalty shot tiebreaker. Nashville seldom uses a defenseman.

The NHL began using the shootout to prevent ties 5 2/3 seasons ago. The Predators have used a defenseman for a grand total of 16 shootout attempts (2-3 shots per season). I grabbed the numbers from nhl.com...

05-06
Marek Zidlicky 1 goal - 5 attempts
Kimmo Timonen 0-1
06-07
Zidlicky 0-1
07-08
no defensemen used all season
08-09
Ville Koistinen 3-4
09-10
Shea Weber 0-1
Francis Bouillon 0-1
Cody Franson 0-1
10-11
Franson 1-2


Grand totals (through Feb. 9, 2011)
Nashville defensemen (all-time) 5 goals in 16 attempts (less than one shootout goal per season)
Nashville defensemen (all-time, minus Koistinen) 2 goals in 12 attempts (about one goal every three seasons)
Nashville entire team (all-time) 70 goals in 192 attempts

So, if Nashville (wisely) does not use defensemen in the shootout very often, then why in the %&*$#@!!! does Lane Lambert keep trying to develop defensemen in the shootout?!?!? Nashville, and just about every NHL team, uses FORWARDS for shootout attempts because that's what they are trained for. Using stickwork and accurate shooting to beat a goaltender from up close. Of course, defensemen can score from up close, but most of their regulation goals come from shots from beyond the faceoff dots, usually with traffic in front of the cage.

Now, if Lambert doesn't consider the shootout as part of the development program, then he's not providing Nashville the complete package with players who are called up. He's also not doing what needs to be done for the Admirals to earn that precious extra point after a long night of hockey.