Libin takes a look at the best left wingers in the Western Conference…

This week the focus does not so much change as shift to the left side of the ice as this week examines the top 10 left wingers in the Western Conference. The criteria are the same as they were for the right wingers: ice time, even strength and power play, usage (offensive-centric usage is obviously preferred). linemates (better linemates equate to more production), shot rate (more shots mean less chance of a drastic drop-off in production) and positive trends.

Honourable Mentions: It is not clear as of yet where Patrick Sharp will play in Dallas. If he lines up with Seguin and Benn he probably cracks last week’s list of top right wings otherwise he just misses this list. Either way expect a bounce back season after last year saw his role change in Chicago. Patrick Marleau’s shooting percentage has been trending downwards for the last six seasons and finally fell under 10% last year. This was worrying enough to cause him to just miss this list.

10. Milan Lucic, Los Angeles

This is a bit of a reach given that Lucic has had two weak seasons in the past three years. He largely plays around the net when at the top of his game, which should fit in well in Los Angeles especially if he plays alongside Kopitar. Los Angeles plays a similar game to Lucic’s former team, the Bruins, in that they drive possession and without scoring a lot. This is a change of scenery that should put some jump back in Lucic’s game and make him a version of the multi-category beast he has been in the past.

9. Andrew Ladd, Winnipeg

Ladd has received first line minutes for the Jets over the past five seasons culminating in him receiving more than three minutes per game on the power play last year. At 30 Ladd is nearing the end of his time as a first line forward, especially as talents like Nik Ehlers, Nic Petan and Mark Scheifele get increasingly integrated into the Jets’ lineup. Ladd still has a year or two left of receiving around 20 minutes per game for the Jets and as such getting around 200 shots a season, with approximately 250 scoring chances. With his traditionally high shooting percentages this makes him a virtual lock for 20 goals every year he is put in such a situation. 

8. Zach Parise, Minnesota

Parise should succeed based on his ridiculous shot totals alone as he regularly bests three shots per game and occasionally flirts with four shots per game, even though he has not reached the mark in five seasons. This means that even if Parise’s shooting percentage dips closer to 10% next year he should still score 25 or more goals. Playing with a dedicated pass-first center like Mikael Granlund should enable him to keep up his volume shooting ways. With a little more power play success, it could not be worse, for the Wild, 30 goals and 65 points is on the radar for Parise this year.

7. Daniel Sedin, Vancouver

It has been a good run for the Sedins but it looks like it is coming to the end. There have been three consecutive seasons where his shooting percentage has been below 10%. His shot rate also fell to well under three shots per game for the first time over a full season since 2006/07. His numbers last year were buoyed by his seven points with the opposition’s net empty, bettering his totals for the last five seasons combined. It looks as if the Sedins will need a sniper on their line given the way Daniel is trending. Given all those negatives Sedin’s presence on this list may be a surprise, but they still drive possession while getting better zone starts despite still facing tough competition and they get the majority of the power play time in Vancouver. The days of the Sedins being an elite force are likely done but they will still be productive for a couple more years.

6. Alex Steen, St Louis

Until the 2013/14 season Steen was would never have been considered for such a list. When he was traded to St Louis he began to receive the equivalent of first line minutes playing more than 19 minutes per game, but in 2013/14 he started pouring in the goals. In 2013/14 he did it with a high shooting percentage and three shots per game, but last year he did it with a more sustainable 10.8% shooting percentage and the three shots per game that are now expected from him. The big jump for Steen came with him getting 3.4 minutes of power play time per game, up a minute from the previous season. With Kevin Shattenkirk running the Blues’ power play at a high level Steen will continue to have the success he first enjoyed two years ago.

5. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado

The Avalanche slipped in a big way from their playoff high of 2013/14 last year, as such Landeskog’s numbers slipped as well. That slip can largely be accounted for in the drop in his shooting percentage. There is more to his tale than just a drop in shooting percentage though, as Landeskog struggled at even strength last year while having his best year on the power play. Landeskog was at his most productive when playing with Iginla, Tanguay or Barrie. That is probably because it meant he was playing on a scoring line, thus if he draws Mackinnon or Duchene as his center it should mean big numbers.

4. Jaden Schwartz, St Louis

Schwartz found himself on one of the league’s top lines last year as such he benefitted from the re-uniting of KHL linemates Jori Lehtera and Vladimir Tarasenko. Schwartz’s position in these ranking is based on the assumption that he retains his spot on the ‘STL’ line as in his 511 minutes away from the KHL duo he was on for just under half as many goals, going from 3.62 GF60 to 1.53 GF60. The fact that Tarasenko was Schwartz’s most common linemate (as a forward) in 2013/14, although there were four others with whom he also played over 300 minutes, is of comfort though. He was also much better when he played without Tarasenko in 2013/14, which bodes well for Schwartz succeeding apart from Tarasenko this coming season. Playing with Tarasenko comes with a number of benefits; he drives possession, gets huge offensive zone starts and he is a dynamic offensive presence. Schwartz would be fine without Tarasenko he just would not be on this list.

3. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary

Barring a sophomore slump Johnny Gaudreau should have another very good year. As an older rookie Gaudreau should be less susceptible to the second year blues. There are a couple of worrying factors from his rookie season in his 14.4% shooting percentage and 13.1% on-ice shooting percentage. Both of those are numbers are on the high side, making Gaudreau a prime candidate for regression but there are also a couple factors working in his favour. First, he should face easier competition this year as Backlund returns for a full season. Even though he saw a lot of offensive zone starts last year the level of competition was still quite high, a full year of Backlund as the second line center should ease that burden. Second, if Gaudreau’s shooting percentages do regress he should be able to compensate with more shots as he only took two per game last year.

2. Taylor Hall, Edmonton

After two seasons with more than a point per game Hall had a down year in 2014/15 with only 38 points in 53 games. A bounce back season would be expected even if the Oilers had not won the lottery and subsequently landed Connor McDavid. With Hall expected to be paired up with McDavid on the top line the chances of a bounce back season rise significantly. A major reason to expect a bounce back, even without McDavid’s arrival, is that Hall produced the same number of shots as he had in previous years, three per game, but his shooting percentage fell by almost two points. He had four previous years of shooting percentages over 10% and he should return there, or higher, this coming year.

1. Jamie Benn, Dallas

The reigning Art Ross trophy winner is the obvious choice for the top left wing in the West Conference. His performance was especially impressive given how much of the season he was forced to play without Seguin, the other half of Dallas’ dynamic duo. Since Seguin arrived Benn has scored at an elite level ranking 14^th in P60 in 2013/14 and 9^th last year. Part of the reason Benn was finally able to push his P60 above three is he took more shots the last two years, at more than 250 shots each year. With a shooting percentage regularly around 12% there are no signs of Benn slowing down.

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