The Repeated Benchings of Jacob Bernard-Docker
When the ink dried on Jacob Bernard-Docker’s entry-level contract and it was announced that he would isolate before joining the Senators’ roster, it was easy to assume the Senators would play him several games down the stretch.
One of the few luxuries afforded to teams outside the playoff picture is that they are often afforded more creative liberties when it comes to their roster. Having been eliminated from playoff contention, the Senators have the opportunity to dress a highly thought of prospect without worrying too much about how it could affect the team’s placement in the standings.
The wrinkle is that Bernard-Docker has only played in one game since his quarantine ended. The benefits of being immersed in the team will inevitably help Bernard-Docker’s development. Much can be made about being able to practice and travel with the club, but it’s probably more important for him to bond and develop closer relationships with his teammates.
It is odd that Bernard-Docker has not been given more games. Having dealt Erik Gudbranson at the trade deadline, the only veteran presence keeping JBD out of the lineup is Josh Brown. The same Josh Brown that during one stretch of this season was made a healthy scratch for 22 of 24 games.
Since the April 12th trade deadline, the Senators have won five of their seven games. They have been playing better hockey of late, so that may make D.J. Smith more hesitant to tinker with winning lineup — especially since it would require benching a player who has a relationship with Smith that goes back to junior.
The coach has cited the play of the Victor Mete and Brown pairing as being another factor in keeping JBD in the press box.
Interestingly, in their seven games together at five-on-five per NaturalStatTrick.com, the Senators have generated 45.05 percent of the total shots (CF%), 39.58 percent of the total shots on goal (SF%), 48.48 percent of the scoring chances (SCF%) and 47.49 percent of the expected goals (xGF%). The duo have yet to be on the ice for a goal against, but should these shot and chance metrics continue, it is only a matter of time.
In Bernard-Docker’s lone appearance, he looked fine considering he’s a defensive defenceman playing his first NHL game. Under the hood however, tools like HockeyViz.com’s isolated impact graphic can illustrate why D.J. Smith has not given him more games.
The majority of the chances that the opposition created when JBD was on the ice came from the territory of the ice that he was primarily responsible for.
It is a small sample size to analyze, however. Looking at the big picture, I am surprised that the organization isn’t making a concerted effort to identify whether the organization can bank on JBD being one of their top-six defencemen next fall. The Senators cannot identify that by holding him out of games. Keep in mind, the Senators held Artyom Zub out of the lineup for the team’s first eight games because he did not show well enough in practices and preseason intersquad scrimmages to warrant drawing into the lineup.
Missing games now is not going to adversely affect JBD’s development, but they also do not want to overextend themselves in money and term on a veteran defenceman (or two) who will be passed on the team’s depth chart within a year or two.
Without playing games, JBD’s relegation to the press box puts the team in a difficult position. Finding quality defencemen has been this organization’s Achilles heel for the better part of the last 15 years and with players like Drake Batherson and Brady Tkachuk being the first in a wave of the team’s talented young players to reach restricted free agency, the contractual commitments this front office makes will help shape the window of contention for this franchise.
In a season where the games simply don’t mean as much to the Ottawa Senators as they do to teams vying for a playoff spot, I’m just surprised their not taking advantage of the luxury they are being afforded. Unless there is an underlying nagging injury that stems from JBD’s season in North Dakota, there is no risk in playing JBD and gathering as much information as they can on his readiness.
Other News and Notes:
Yesterday the Senators signed their 2020 second-round pick (33rd overall), Roby Jarventie, to an entry-level contract. In their official press release, the Senators noted that the Finnish prospect will report to Belleville at the conclusion of his quarantine period — which is great news for those hoping to see more of Ottawa’s overseas prospects acclimatize and develop in North America.
In digging through some numbers on NaturalStatTrick.com this morning, I was particularly interested in Ottawa’s shorthanded numbers because of the attention that rookies Shane Pinto and Alex Formenton were receiving. In 31:19 of shorthanded ice time, Formenton has been on the ice for two goals against and one shorthanded goal for. That is pretty, pretty, pretty good.
Another Formenton shorthanded note, according to NaturalStatTrick’s data again, when the Senators are shorthanded with Formenton on the ice, the team generates 27.27 percent of the total shots. Of the forwards who have played in more than 30 shorthanded minutes, that rate is the 21st highest mark in the entire league. The top of the leaderboard is headlined by guys like Brad Marchand, Sebastian Aho, Mark Stone, Patrice Bergeron and etc. It’s great company to be in.\
In yesterday’s media availability, D.J. Smith indicated that Matt Murray may not be done for the season.
DJ Smith says the update around Matt Murray today is "better news than we originally thought." Says he hopes to get a couple of games before the end of the season now.Murray exited Saturday’s game in Vancouver during the second period with a lower-body injury. If Murray’s season is over, it would cap one of the most frustrating seasons by a Senators goaltender in recent memory.