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Jordin Tootoo: 2008-9 Forechecker’s Forecast
by Forechecker on 10/01/08 at 11:31 AM ET
Comments (5)
Is there a more controversial Nashville Predator than Jordin Tootoo? His penchant for dishing out big hits without apology puts him at the center of a firestorm at least a couple times each season, it seems. Unlike most other agitators around the NHL, however, Tootoo has recently developed into a more well-rounded player, and looks to provide some offensive punch to go along with his more traditional, physically aggressive fisticuffs.
Let’s take a look at Jordin’s offensive production since the lockout:
| Jordin Tootoo Production & Ice Time, Last 3 Seasons | ||||||
| GP | EV Pts/60 | PP Pts/60 | EV TOI/G | PP TOI/G | SH TOI/G | |
| 2005-06 | 34 | 1.96 | 0.00 | 9:00 | 0:14 | 0:01 |
| 2006-07 | 65 | 1.01 | 0.00 | 8:13 | 0:08 | 0:02 |
| 2007-08 | 63 | 1.77 | 0.00 | 9:40 | 0:08 | 0:05 |
Clearly, we’re not talking about a player with major ice time here, but as his game has matured, Barry Trotz has gradually increased his role on the team. This season, if Tootoo can continue doing a fine job goading opponents into taking penalties and stay out of the box himself (he was among the team leaders in Penalty Plus/Minus last year), he may well earn the opportunity to play alongside Jason Arnott or David Legwand, and could also get some power play duty as well. Jordin has a good shot and is developing a sense of where to set up while calling for the puck. One should also recall that in junior, Tootoo led his WHL team in scoring in 2001-2 and 2002-3 while piling up massive penalty minute totals as well, so it’s not like he can’t contribute offensively.
I’ve said before that huge leaps in player production are relatively rare, and require a combination of increasing player ability along with the opportunity (in terms of ice time and linemates) to put up greater numbers. If there’s one player on the Nashville Predators who is positioned to make such a leap, it would be Jordin Tootoo. Particularly in those fantasy hockey leagues that reward penalty minutes, Tootoo can be a useful late-round acquisition.
So for the official Forechecker’s Forecast…
| Forechecker’s Forecast, 2008-9 NHL Regular Season | ||||||
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | Shots | Sht % |
| Jordin Tootoo | 70 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 130 | 12 |
Filed in: Fantasy Hockey, Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
Tags: Jordin+Tootoo,
Comments
I immediately thought of Avery while reading this, although he had a bit more of the verbal assualt factor in his agitative methods (on and off the ice). But he did make his mark on the scoreboard, which is why I will miss him on the Rangers.
Posted by Lucky13 from NJ on 10/01/08 at 12:04 PM ET
Tootoo is no Avery. He’s not a complete jerk and doesn’t have zero friends for starters. And he doesn’t run his mouth like Avery does. Yes, I’d hate Tootoo if he didn’t wear my team’s jersey, but he’s no Avery.
Posted by PredNeck from Hicktown on 10/01/08 at 12:08 PM ET
Tootoo is no Avery. He’s not a complete jerk…
You’re right. He’s not a jerk. He’s a punk! He ranks right up there with Chrissy Pronger and Dion Poof. If he ever decides to stop being a punk and concentrate on being a gritty, hard-nosed hockey player, I think he’ll be a solid third-liner...and maybe even a second-liner. But as long as his focus is on being a cheap-shot artist and dirty player, it won’t matter how many goals he scores. He’ll just be a punk!
Yes, I’d hate Tootoo if he didn’t wear my team’s jersey…
There are guys, like Iginla, who every team hates to play against...but who you’d love to have on your team. We had one last year in Dallas Drake. But TooToo doesn’t fall into that category. He could. But my guess is he’ll always be the guy that runs people from behind and cheap-shots them after the play is dead.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 10/01/08 at 12:47 PM ET
But my guess is he’ll always be the guy that runs people from behind and cheap-shots them after the play is dead.
As a fan of the ultimate cheap shot artist, Chelios, you are throwing stones in a glass house.
Toots hits hard, can back it up, and it p***** off the other team, kinda like what he is supposed to do. He has had a couple of questionable hits, but the vast majority of the hits are completely legal. Many times the opponent sees him coming and turns their back to him after he has commited. But hey if Modano can swing his stick at him and make contact, fortunately he is a lousy shot or it would have been in the head, and get nothing for it, it must just be Tootoo’s fault, like everything else.
Grow up people, Hockey is a hard game, not for the pansy asses that harp about hard hits and fighting.
Posted by Big Bear from The Boro on 10/03/08 at 06:07 PM ET
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About On the Forecheck
Dirk Hoag is the Forechecker, churner of NHL stats and analysis. Having started over 10 years ago writing for websites like In the Crease and e-Sports, Dirk launched On The Forecheck in 2005 to cover the Nashville Predators as well as apply statistical analysis to NHL hockey.
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Wondering if Preds fans would be happy if TooToo turned into a player like Avery? A little more offense which would probably mean more ice time too.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 10/01/08 at 10:39 AM ET