The Washington Capitals are getting set to take on the New York Islanders for the first time all season long. As far as players to add to your fantasy lineup, Jakob Chychrun is a good add, especially to the power play. Here's why and don't just take our word for it.
Sean Allen of ESPN.com wrote this on Tuesday a day before the Caps faced the Tampa Bay Lightning:
"With Alex Ovechkin out of action, the Capitals have opted to go with a two D attack on the top unit, with Chychrun joining John Carlson, Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael. They generated 16 shot attempts in 6:04 across the past three games, so the early suggestion is that the advantage will get by without Ovechkin; maybe not excel, but certainly remain passable."Sean Allen/ESPN.com
Chychrun has six goals and six assists for 12 pionts in 17 games including a plus/minus of +9 while averaging 19:54 minutes of ice time. The advantage worked again on Wednesday night at the Tampa Bay Lightning in the form of the game winning power play goal to Tom Wilson to silence the Bolts fans. In fact, that assist was primary.
Monday night in Florida he provided the game winning goal against the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers. That turned out to be a three point night for the for the 26 year old defenseman who's listed at six foot two and 220 pounds with a left handed shot. Son of fomer NHLer Jeff Chychrun and uncle NHLer Luke Richardson.
Among Caps defensemen, Chychrun is third to Martin Fehervary and John Carlson, respectively, in corsi for percentage at 49.55 percent. His expected goals for percentage is at 45.77 percent and his high danger scoring chances for percentage is at 45.92 percent per Natural Stat Trick.
Chychrun's top skating speed per NHL Edge is 21.63 miles per hour which is 67 percent above the League average by a forward/defenseman at 21.26 percent. His speed bursts over 20 miles per hour came 17 times which is 81 percent above the NHL average of 10 percent. His skating distiance in miles is a whopping 49.59 percent which is Area 51 percent above the NHL at 45.83 percent.
It gets better. His top shot speed is 98.17 percent which is 96 percent above the league average at 87.67 percent. He also has 36 shots on goal which is 80 percent above the league average of 22.6 percent. So yeah he's got the tools for the blueline to protect whoever starts in net today. Spencer Carbery talks to media at 12:45 p.m. before the 3 p.m. puck drop on Monumental Sports Network.