Aaron Volpatti wasn’t cut out for NHL work. I don’t want to write this review. Is there anything on TV? Tumblr? Maybe I can finally beat 2048 for once? Nope. Alright, here we go.
By the Numbers
| 41 | Games played |
| 7.1 | Average time on ice per game |
| 2 | Goals |
| 0 | Assists |
| 39.5% | Shot attempt percentage during 5v5 |
| 36.4% | Goal percentage during 5v5 |
| 4.0% | On-ice shooting percentage during 5v5 |
| 95.4% | On-ice saving percentage during 5v5 |
Peter’s Take
This is a tough one to recap. Aaron Volpatti got outplayed pretty much constantly since game one, but it’d seem unsporting to pore over the details. It’s not like he’s a bad guy– or even a bad hockey player– just perhaps not one who should’ve been playing on this level and on this team.
And Volpatti’s shortcomings as a player aren’t easy to isolate from his circumstances: playing very few minutes on a bad 5v5 team with a bad 5v5 system and a weak defense and virtually no special teams time. For a marginal player looking to prove himself on the big stage, these were absolutely rotten circumstances.
Real quick: The Caps owned 9.1 percent fewer shot attempts when Volpatti was playing. That’s the worst relative possession score on the Caps by a mile and the 6th worst in the whole league. Volpatti enjoyed a ridiculous 95.4 save percentage from Caps goalies while he was playing, which probably earned the Caps a couple more wins than they deserved. On the other hand, Caps players shot just 4% when he was playing– turning everyone into John Erskine until Volpatti hit the bench. In short: nothing happened when Aaron was playing, which was both a blessing and a bore.
This is the paragraph where I express my continued disbelief at Adam Oates. Dude played Volpatti for half the season despite the Caps’ purported dedication to statistical analysis. Even without the nerdery, the eye test (which sounds very ableist if you ask me) was screaming, “Yo, maybe switch it up on the bottom line, dude.” Oates, man. I don’t even know.
I sincerely doubt Volpatti will see Caps ice time next season. If he did, I’d be willing to bet he’d look like a different player– though I’m still skeptical if that different player would be up to snuff.
Volpatti on RMNB
- An oldie but a goodie: Chris Gordon asked why Volpatti was even here— fifteen months ago. Still a good question.
- I spent a big chunk of my year obsessing over Tom Wilson’s rookie season. His usage next to Volpatti was the cause of great consternation.
- And, you’ll recall, Oates continuing to give Aaron a sweater was one of a handful of reasons I thought Oates might not be the bees’ knees.
In Pictures
A one-timer rebound got Volpatti on the scoreboard.
Um.
Your Turn
What did you think of the Mad Men finale? I had a hard time reading Don’s reaction to the dance number, but I thought the whole thing was terrifically well done. Even Pete “I’m always constipated” Campbell seems like a Real Person and not just cartoon. I dunno, I just love that show. But what do YOU think?
Read more: Japers Rink, Peerless
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