cshea said:
Fraser strikes me as a one trick pony. He's got the laser shot but doesn't bring much else to the table. If he gets a puck in a shooting position, like he did last night, he'll bury them more often than not. The problem is that he's not all that physical, is a below average skater and he lacks the ability to create his own shot. He's in no mans land in trying to break into the lineup. I don't think he has the talent for a permanent top 9 role, but in order for him to be successful he needs to play with a skilled center who can get him the puck in a shooting position. I think Griffith is a better fit on the Krejci line than Fraser, and when Krejci comes back the only other opening would be a potential 4th spot in a rotation with Gagne. That doesn't seem like that great of an idea.
I am more optimistic, but not by a whole lot. Last night he got himself involved, positively, in more ways than just the shot. For example, the nice backchecking play I mentioned that stopped a 2-on-1. To have any kind of a future, he needs to develop some semblance of an all around game, not just be a shooter. But he did show some of that yesterday so I am not going to write him off just yet.
That said, I am generally skeptical of players who put up AHL stat lines such as his:
2011-12: 73 games, 37 goals, 18 assists
2012-13: 62 games, 33 goals, 13 assists
2013-14: 44 games, 20 goals, 10 assists
That some nice goal production, but to me the lack of assists shouts out "One trick pony!". It's pretty rare to see a good goal scorer who somehow cannot pick up an assist to save his life.
If he can adapt his game a little bit, enough to play a 4th line role, it could be an asset just having access to that shot when it might be needed. M
