Ahh. My pet peeve man!! U play any sports growing up besides Hockey?? @pharrow ?? Or like and follow any other sports and are as knowledgeable about them as u are hockey??

?? No other sports u want h and follow and are just as knowledgeable about??

I mean when I was much younger I played american football and Basketball, like 12-14 years old. I was tall so that was just natural. But By the time I was 15 it was just hockey. Took too much time up and my parents had got me the equipment which was kind of a huge expense on them so I stuck with it.
I admittedly watch a lot of Europe football, Rugby, and hurling when in Ireland. But those are the main sports on TV here. Everyone watches those.

Ok, I’m not too sure about Zucker b/c I’m not super Familiar with him yet. But I’m sure by his size he can’t be great at playing his weak side. I’m sure u know, but I was trying to find an analogy with another sport to compare to switching a wing from his strong side to his weak side.

In basketball it would be like telling a right handed NBA player, he has to shoot with his left hand the whole game. Without really practicing, and playing in the NBA game against other NBA players, and NBA defenders and after he shot with his right hand all growing up and his whole life. And hundreds of thousands of people are watching, and your contract is on the line. That’s sort of what it’s like to move a player that plays LW to RW. And I would say it actually harder.

The reason I don’t think Zucker would be good at his weak side, is cause his size. When u bring the puck down on your strong side (obviously right handed shot right side, and visa versa) you have the puck guarded by your body and the boards. And all the passes from the Defense behind u, you take on your forehand. Easy.

If you are on your weak side, carrying the puck up ice on your forehand, the puck and stick will be in middle of the ice. With Nothing protecting the puck. Most players that are able to play their weak side..skate down, and use one hand, the hand against the boards, on the stick and controlling the puck, and use their othe hand, the free hand to guard the puck and fight off the defender. But you have to be very strong to do this. Like Ovi, he plays the LW and is a right-handed shot. Plays his weak side. And u have to take all the passes off the boards on your back-hand and switch it to your forehand. And everything against the boards, like Keeping the puck on sides along the boards, u have to stop it on your back-hand and either back hand it back in, or stop it back-hand and switch it to your fore-hand.

On your strong side, you just stop it along the boards on your forehand and wrist it back in. Easy. And Fighting for the puck along the boards. All on your forehand. The puck is always protected by your body and the boards too.

And on your weak side, when the puck is on your forehand is always in the middle of the ice with nothing protecting it and where all the defense is. And u can see why this is a huge problem for defenders. Having there forehand always in the middle of the ice in your defensive zone!! Always passing on their forehand and it’s in the middle of the ice. No good!! Where a defender on his strong side. His forehand is away from the center of the ice and he can just wrist it up the boards out of the zone.

I’m sure u understand all this..u seem very knowledgeable!! But when people want to put Guentzel on the RW. It makes me want to scream. He’s played LW his whole life, growing up, always been the best player on his team, always skated on his strong side. Now people want him to switch to his weak side, something he isn’t used too. Do your trial run and trial and error in a NHL game, against other NHL players and NHL defenders. And all your teammates and fans counting on u. And when your contract is coming up soon. Or u are in a slump and u might get sent down. So lets move him down a line and put him on the opposite side he’s played he’s whole life and is used too..lol. It’s drives me crazy. It’s not as easy as people think. People think they are inter-changeable. They are completely different positions. Especially on defense too. The LWs are much more defensively responsible. They have to be. The RW has more freedom. Again, I’m sure u know this, but people u want to switch wingers sides. Just copy and paste..lol. People don’t understand how hard it is to do and to change.

Zucker has been playing RW for a couple years now. He is perfectly fine on the off hand. Not sure how size matters for that, just look at Kane.

Size 100% matters when u are playing your weak side and not your strong side.

And like P.Kane..lol..One of the best stick handlers in hockey. Ya, Patrick Kane’s alittle different my man. He has the skill to do whatever he wants. He’s an outlier. Not included.

And all the wingers on here have RW/LW eligibility b/c they are PP guys. And it’s very common to switch sides and play on your weak side on the PP. you get the advantage of your shot being in the middle of the ice and able to get off quicker shots. One- timers, wrist shots, etc. most wingers don’t play both LW and RW. It’s not that easy

of course NHL players are skilled enough to take all their passes on their back-hand and switch it to their forehand. But at what cost too.?? To lose a second. Against other NHL players and NHL D-Men.

And of course they are skilled enough to make passes with their back-hand. Again, at what cost though? Not as hard, not as accurate??

And again, most being the best player on their team their whole life. They grew up and always played their strong side. Let’s change now in the NHL, during an NHL game, literally at the highest level and the highest stakes. Where There are no excuses for mistakes.

And yes, u have to be strong on the puck to play on your weak side. It’s realky hard to protect the puck.

On your strong side, it’s always naturally protected by your body and the boards. The defender has to go through u to get the puck.

On your weak side, you are so venerable to poke-checks. Just play one game and imagine the boards being around u.

Or imagine your walls in the room u are in as the boards. And image a goal on each end of the room. And see the difference when u are on your strong side and weak side. Imagine fighting along the boards on your weak side. How your stick is always on your back-hand. And if you are at the blue line and the puck comes around the boards and u have to stop it and keep it on-sides. Everything on your back-hand!! On your strong side. Simple stop on your forehand a quick rister back in. Or even a one-timer back in along the boards. U can’t do that playing your weak side.

I never found one time, one game, Zucker played RW.?? Please help!! This is the only site that has RW even as another option.

https://triblive.com/sports/penguins-expect-to-line-jason-zucker-up-with-sidney-crosby/

I can literally find like 25+ other examples of smaller players that have played a fair share on their off hand in top 6 roles for you.
Teuvo Teravainen, Jeff Skinner, Tomas Tatar, Brandon Gallagher, Evgeni Dadonov, Ondrej Palat, Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson, Gustav Nyqvist, Cam Atkinson, Kyle Palmeiri, Nikita Gusev, Anthony Beauvillier, Artemi Panarin, Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny, Jake Guentzel, Brian Rust, Alex DeBrincat, Mats Zuccarelo, Kevin Fiala, Victor Arvidsson, Clayton Keller, Andrew Mangiapane, Dominik Kahun, Tyler Ennis, Kevin Labanc, and Johnathan Marchessault.

Just on this site man.. I know its long but read my posts man. Guentzel does not play both. Its just on this site. I explained this already in the long posts. please read my post man. It’ll take 6-7 minutes. It’s worth it man. I read everything u post. I can tell u arnt reading them. U would be saying this if u did. I promise it’s worth it man. Stop taking it so personal and being so stubborn. Just take 6-7 minutes and read the post. Please dude. It will explain everything.

@Ledge_And_Dairy

Just on this site man.. I know its long but read my posts man. Guentzel does not play both. Its just on this site. I explained this already in the long posts. please read my post man. It’ll take 6-7 minutes. It’s worth it man. I read everything u post. I can tell u arnt reading them. U would be saying this if u did. I promise it’s worth it man. Stop taking it so personal and being so stubborn. Just take 6-7 minutes and read the post. Please dude. It will explain everything.

Guentzel played RW when they had Sheary up there for a bit. Also was RW when McCann was there for a few games too, at least on the lineup sheet. Not often, but he has.

I read them and most of your reasoning is bad and an extremely outdated way of thinking.

Any links?? I believe u, I’d just never seen it. I know how hard it is. On the PO, yes, like I said in the longer posts. Players switch all the time. It gives u a shot advanced on the PP plying your weak side. Your forehand shot is in the middle of the ice. U can get off quicker shots, and u cut down the length of passes being made to you. I said all this in the longer posts already. If u care, and want to maybe learn something. Maybe u already knownit!! U seem knowledgeable too!! But I’m sure there will be something in there that will surprise u. Again, I know they are long, but u can read them in 5-6 minutes tops.

What?? Come on man. It’s will always be like that. Players can’t switch from RW to LW. They are different positions. Google it dude!! I promise. I played hockey throughout HS. It’s 100% true and will always be true. Any player that plays their weak side is usually a big guy, or really strong on the puck, or a great stick handler. See Ovi,, Kovalchuk, Martin St.Louis. Probably the 3 best players ever to play on their weak side. And still most don’t. Most still play on their strong side.

I'm not taking time for link honestly, you will have to take my word.
Agree, some guys have zero problem off hand, some do, that's all hockey 101, pros and cons. Not really worth a big ole post. Tons of guy play both equally....and not just on PP
Hossa is probably my favorite example of a guy with no weakness playing offhand.

Also Zucker played RW a ton in MN.

Copy and paste!!

When new players hit the ice, the first thing we often ask them is, “Do you shoot left or right?”

Based on their answer, we decide if they should play on the left or right side. The general advice is that if you shoot left you play left, and visa-versa.

On the Defensive

In the defensive zone, playing on your strong side puts you in a better position to help clear the puck out of your end. This is especially important for defensemen, who want to maximize the amount of control they have when the puck is in a dangerous space.

For wingers, it’s a similar story. In the defensive zone, a key role of the winger is to help move the puck up ice. When a defenseman wants to pass the puck up the boards to the winger for a breakout, the winger will be in a position to receive the pass on their forehand and make the next play. Wingers who play the off wing have to receive the same pass on their backhand; this is a tricky skill to master, which can weaken the breakout. To offset that, the winger on the off wing should put their back to the boards to receive the pass.

For those who may be left- or right-eye dominant, playing the off wing can be a benefit. In this instance, it may help to compensate for a player who shoots left but plays on the right (or vice versa).

Even in the offensive zone, defensemen are better positioned on their strong hand because it helps them control the puck along the boards at the blueline more effectively. Plus it sets up them for good D-to-D passes.

For wingers skating into the offensive zone, they often find it difficult breaking out when they play the off wing. That’s because they enter the offensive zone with their stick toward the center of the ice, which doesn’t allow the player to protect the puck with their body. Wingers coming in from their strong side will have their stick along the boards, which takes the player into a advantageous position to protect the puck and shoot the puck at a more difficult angle for the goalie to control the rebound.

Zucker never played one game at RW. I googled it. And can’t find one game where Guentzel started on a line as a RW. Sorry!! I wish it was there bud!! I have no problem saying I’m wrong. Like I said, I’m not super familiar with Zucker yet. But I just spent the last 10 minutes googling and reading more articles about him.

Copy and Paste

In North America, norms for positional play in ice hockey are well established. From some of the oldest training manuals to the current ones, young players are taught to “stay in your lane” (Smith, 1996). The left-handed shooter automatically is placed on the left side, the right-handed shooter on the right?

Sorry, but you are wrong. I live in Minneapolis and follow them. He played on a Parise-Staal-Zucker for a good ole while. Google harder or don't bother and just trust me here. Another useful tip: Yahoo sports only gives a guy LW/RW after they get in 10 games as both on a lineup card I believe.

No offense, I am not trying to come off as a jerk. Just sure on this

https://www.fearthefin.com/2017/3/21/15014096/sharks-vs-wild-lines-gamethread-and-where-to-watch

there happy

^ found one. Googled "wild lines 2017 2018"

No no man. Not at all. If he can play the RW too that would be great. Pens just came out with an article saying they are giving Poulin some time on the RW too. We need Right Wingers!! We actually need right handed shots too!!

But my man, it’s hard to tell intent when u are writing. It’s just a huge pet peeve of mine. I played hockey growing up and throughout HS. I understand it. And understand the difficulties in it. And everything I wrote is more than true. And again, not trying to be a know it all or try to tell people things that are obvious. But some people think they are just inter-changeable. They are not!!

Again, it would be like telling a baseball player. Hey, we need more lefties in our line-up. U need to start batting left handed. And to have him start that in the Majors, against major league pitching, and after he’s been right-handed his whole life and through this whole career. But I’m wrong all the time man, daily..lol. I have no problem, saying I wrong and u are are right!! And learning something!!

I know this site is crazy with the position eligibility though too. And I know players often move to their weak side on the PP. it’s an advantage with your shot. And I know players get a RW or LW eligibility from playing a bunch of PP shifts on their weak side. And only some shoots are an advantage taken from your weak side too. On a break-out, it’s good to shoot from your strong side. Better angles, harder rebounds for the goalie to control, than straight up the center of the ice!! U know.

Lol. I got a bunch of “wild betting lines” and articles about sports gambling. I had one Minn. Wild page and it was hockey reference and had Zucker listed as a LW.

You are delving way too deep in to this. You play where the coach tells you to play. He says you go right wing then you go right wing. Its really not that difficult. Besides a majority of these forwards grew up playince center anyways and Hockey is a very fluent game. Where you stand at the fave off circle doesnt mean you are prohibited from being on the other side of the ice.

Here's a site that will let you see line combinations for any given tean or player for any given season. For example you can check Pittsburgh in these more recent playoffs at EV and Guentzel and Sheary were the 2 wingers most commonly with Crosby. Both players are under 6 feet and shoot left, one of them had to play the right side

That’s what I’m telling u. RW and LW arnt just interchange positions. Very different and for more reasons than what hand the player shoots with and playing their strong side or weak side. LW has more more responsibilities defensively. Do u know why that is?? LW drop down and play in a lot of defensemen’s positions.

Again, it would be like telling a baseball player. Hey, we need more lefties in our line-up. U need to start batting left handed. And to have him start that in the Majors, against major league pitching, when 100,000 people are watching. There are no excuses for mistakes. Your playing for a contract. They are so different, playing your strong side and your weak side. Imagine the room u are in and the walls are the birds. And put a goal at both ends. And see what it’s like playing on your strong side and then your weak side. See all the huge differences.

and I clicked on that site. It’s says generating and doesn’t pull anything up.

And the lines last year were Guentzel/Crosby/Hornqvist and Kuhan/Geno/Rust started off. They gave Kuhan every opportunity to win that spot. And then it was mixed b/ween Sheary/Simon and McCann on that 2nd line LW when Kuhan wasn’t producing. Until Zucker got there.

And Guentzel got hurt 3 games b4 the all-star break. Season ending shoulder surgery.So ya, Sheary moved up to take Guentzel spot on the LW. Again, they gave Kuhan the 1st shot and every opportunity to win that spot. And Hornqvist stayed on the RW. And so did Rust. 2 right-handed shots, playing on their strong sides.

The LW defensive thing isn’t a thing anymore. That’s a thing a lot of people get wrong. Teams change their f1 f2 f3 line to line. It’s not always the LW anymore, that’s outdated and was pretty much immediately after Left Wing Lock became a thing

Each wing covers for his side’s D outside a trap too

That LW has more defensive responsibility than RW and RW has more freedom defensively?? Interesting take!!

And I clicked on that site. It’s says generating and doesn’t pull anything up.

And the lines last year were Guentzel/Crosby/Hornqvist and Kuhan/Geno/Rust started off. They gave Kuhan every opportunity to win that spot. And then it was mixed b/ween Sheary/Simon and McCann on that 2nd line LW when Kuhan wasn’t producing. Until Zucker got there.

And Guentzel got hurt 3 games b4 the all-star break. Season ending shoulder surgery.So ya, Sheary moved up to take Guentzel spot on the LW. Again, they gave Kuhan the 1st shot and every opportunity to win that spot. And Hornqvist stayed on the RW. And so did Rust. 2 right-handed shots, playing on their strong sides.