Konopka could be leading the NHL in faceoff %, but...

[The Crow]

So, let's consider Zenon Konopka for a moment. Tough guy, once told me he doesn't mind fighting, as in he doesn't hate doing it. Fourth-line scrounger. But, and here's the kicker, a hell of a faceoff guy. Konopka, a center, has won 70.2 percent of his draws (40 of 57). That would leads the league, but Konopka is not listed among the leaders because he hasn't taken enough faceoffs.

League rules say players must take at least 15 percent of their team's draws before they can be listed. With the Lightning having taken 518 total faceoffs, Konopka would need 78 to be among the leaders.

Right now, Buffalo's Paul Gaustad leads the league with a winning percentage of 69.2 (83 for 120).

What would it mean for Konopka, who is getting his first real shot at the NHL, to be listed among the league leaders? "It would mean a lot because of how much emphasis I put on faceoffs all my career," he said. "It's something, definitely, I want to get to."

Konopka said he first got into being a good faceoff man when he was 12 years old and his coach kept the stat. He had the same coach when he was 15, and when he began playing junior hockey, he said, he realized "Being able to take draws meant a little more ice time, you know, late in a game, penalty kill, power play."

What's the key to winning faceoffs?

"For me, it's like raw power," he said. "There's always a way to beat a guy. There's no guy that can't be beat. You've just got to figure out a way. There's probably seven ways to win faceoffs. You just have to pick the right one at the right time."

Konopka said he hasn't yet asked coach Rick Tocchet to get out for more draws, but Tocchet said, "He's already bugging me."

Tocchet said it might not be a bad idea.

"You know, there's probably times now I'm going to have to start getting him out there more. He's producing, and I'd be crazy not to use him."

Full

http://tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/...aceoffs-except

[dipandmitts]

great read. i am happy to see him having success in the big leauge. thnx crow

[moxie]

If there weren't already enough reasons to like this guy...

Thanks for the post, Crow.

[Word]

LOL.

Would lead the league except that he doesn't qualify for whatever reason.

Here is the kicker...if he actually got enough ice time to qualify, it means he is a better player than 4th line....which means he would be up against other face off men who would cause his average to drop.

"Am the best there is as long as you don't count everyone better than me."

[Killah_punk]

Now if he could only find a way to win more fights.

[Skorka85]

Originally Posted by Word

LOL.

Would lead the league except that he doesn't qualify for whatever reason.

Here is the kicker...if he actually got enough ice time to qualify, it means he is a better player than 4th line....which means he would be up against other face off men who would cause his average to drop.

"Am the best there is as long as you don't count everyone better than me."

For shyts and giggles while waiting for the World Series to get started, I went and broke down the numbers so far.

October 3rd vs. Atlanta:

TOI: 6:17

Faceoffs VS:

Todd White 2-2
Jim Slater 1-2

October 6th vs. Carolina:

TOI: 5:23

Faceoffs VS:

Matt Cullen 1-1
Tuomo Ruutu 1-1
Rod Brind'Amour 0-2
Stephane Yelle 1-2

October 8th vs. NJ:

TOI: 9:26

Faceoffs VS:

Dainius Zubrus 3-3
Rod Pelley 0-1
Rob Niedermayer 2-3

October 10th vs. Carolina

TOI: 6:20

Faceoffs VS:
Matt Cullen 2-2
Rod Brind'Amour 1-2
Stephane Yelle 1-2

October 12 vs. Florida

TOI: 9:34

Faceoffs VS:
Gregory Campbell 1-2
Steven Reinprecht 3-3
Kamil Kreps 1-1

October 15 vs. Ottawa

TOI: 8:30

Faceoffs VS:

Chris Kelly 2-3
Ryan Shannon 0-3

October 17 vs. Pittsburgh

TOI: 6:42

Faceoffs VS:
Jordan Staal 2-2
Craig Adams 3-3
Sidney Crosby 1-2

October 22 vs. San Jose

TOI: 9:45

Faceoffs VS:
Joe Thornton 2-2
Scott Nichol 1-2
Manny Malhotra 1-1
Jody Shelley 1-1
Ryan Vesce 1-1

October 24 vs. Buffalo

TOI: 7:34

Faceoffs VS:
Derek Roy 1-2
Tim Kennedy 3-3
Tim Connolly 1-1
Paul Gaustad 1-1

Hardly typical 4th line minutes, and he's not taking his draws against stone handed 4th line guys. There's nothing to suggest he couldn't keep that percentage up if he were regularly used for important draws.

[5min4fighting]

Thats awesome, I wonder what the percentage he is taking of overall faceoffs?

[Humpzilla]

And all of this sucks because its keeping him from fighting.....the Bolts suck at face-off...hence why he gets to take draws, only to rush off the ice

[The Crow]

If anything this stat solidifies his spot in the lineup and gives him a legitimate, new nhl reason (which seems to be key nowadays) to stay up the whole year. And knowing Konopka, I don't think anything other than a serious illness or injury will keep this guy from fighting. Win or lose, when he wants a fight, he usually gets it.