David Pastrnak considered overrated by NHL Networks recent top 20 current wingers

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Joshua Deeds
August 19, 2024 (2:18 PM)

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David Pastrnak without question is one of the NHL's best goal-scoring forwards and could be considered one of the best in the league to do it.

However, according to the NHL Network, they may not think so highly of him. The NHL Network ranked him just behind Matthew Tkachuk, Mikko Rantanen, and Nikita Kucherov.

Whether you believe Pastrnak is elite or not, there's a debate to be had about this list.

While the list is ultimately flawed, it's not wrong in some areas.

Kucherov

While Pastrnak did produce at an elite level with 110 points, he wasn't close to Nikita Kucherov who scored 144 points in 2023-2024. Unlike Pastrnak however, Kucherov benefited greatly from playing with Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel.

According to Moneypuck.com, the line that Kucherov most often skated on with Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel generated 19.1 xGoals For, which was 28th in the league among forward lines.

While Pasta was placed on a line with Danton Heinen and Pavel Zacha, and who has 9 GF in xgf%. But individually Pastrnak is one of the best:

Over the last three seasons, no player has been more dominant when on the ice than Pastrnak, whose 2,005 individual Corsi is the most of any player during that span, according to Natural Stat Trick.

He could see a jump in production being paired with Elias Lindhom in 2024-2025, and will undoubtedly be neck and neck with Kucherov once again, as the Lightning brought in elite scorer, Jake Guentzel.

Tkachuk

Compared to Tkachuk, Pastrnak may not be a complete power-forward like the buzzsaw Tkachuk. He forced the Bruins to surrender 16 goals while he was on ice in 13 games, while Pastrnak only forced eight.

Tkachuk is the perfect kind of power-forward, capable of playing in multiple scenarios and ready to put someone through the boards if he has to.

Tkachuk not only beat Pastrnak on the ice, but he also fed him his fist, unfortunately.

Rantanen? Him?

It appears on this list, Rantanen was rated far too high, whether it's because of a past Stanley Cup win or not he is overrated.

Neither numbers nor anyone who uses the eye test would place Rantanen above Pastrnak. While he's a skilled winger and a great goal scorer in the NHL,

Pastrnak leads Rantanen in even-strength goals, with 103 to Rantanen's 90. And while we're comparing Pasta to Rantanen, we should look at power-play goals, as Pasta also leads the way from 45 to 43.

Even with all the best help at his disposal, Rantanen typically doesn't draw the most attention from NHL defenses, as he is on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon.

If we compare lines from last season:

In over 1,000 minutes played together last year, Rantanen and MacKinnon generated 4.17 goals for per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick. When you take away MacKinnon and leave Rantanen on his own, that number drops to 2.06, while removing Rantanen has the inverse effect, resulting in an increase to 5.02.

As for Pastrnak's typical line, he, Zacha, and Heinen generated 5.4 GF/60 as a trio for the Bruins. Without Pastrnak on the ice, Zacha and Heinen managed a feeble 1.22 GF/60.

It seems that Rantanen may have been a negative force on the top line in Colorado, while the Bruins running a line with Zacha and Heinen grind out a better goals-for-percentage, with who could be considered 2nd or 3rd liners elsewhere in the NHL.

Source: Boston Hockey Now
What NHL Network Got Right And Wrong About David Pastrnak In List Of Top Wingers