The dynamic duo of Adam Ruzicka and Elias Lindholm connect on their second goal of the night. Lindholm feeds Ruzicka this time. 2-1 #Flames
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Where is the best fit for Adam Ruzicka in the Calgary Flames lineup?
Photo credit: © Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2023, 15:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 19, 2023, 14:13 EST
One of the more interesting players on the Calgary Flames this season has been Adam Ruzicka. He has had one of the most up and down seasons of any Flames player in recent memory.
He started the year being scratched in 10 of the Flames’ first 11 games. Ruzicka’s game took off after becoming a regular in the Flames top 9 forward group. But then his play dropped off and was demoted to the fourth line on Dec. 19 in San Jose.
That leads us to the question of “Where does Adam Ruzicka best fit in the Flames lineup?”
The numbers
Ruzicka played some great hockey for the Flames once he got into the lineup on a full-time basis. Ruzicka played in 21 games from the time he got put in the lineup on Nov. 8 against the New Jersey Devils to being demoted to the fourth line on Dec. 19 in San Jose. In those 21 games, Ruzicka scored 6 goals and 11 assists, good for 17 points which put him second on the Flames in scoring only behind Elias Lindholm. He was tied for the second most goals and assists on the team. He did that despite playing the ninth-most minutes among Flames forwards during that time.
His underlying numbers were even better. Ruzicka ranked in the top four among Flames forwards in important statistical categories.
CF% | GF% | xGF% | HDCF% | |
Adam Ruzicka | 56.86% (4th) | 63.13% (3rd) | 58.25% (3rd) | 55.70% (2nd) |
(Ruzicka’s stats at 5v5 and ranking among Flames forwards from Nov. 8-Dec. 19)
Ruzicka’s production has fallen off a cliff since his demotion to the fourth line on Dec. 19. In that time, he has played in 13 games. He has no goals and 3 assists. He’s played by far the least amount of minutes at 5 on 5 among 11 Flames forwards who played in all 13 games in that span. He has been getting the fewest amount of ice time, playing with the least skilled players on the roster. So it’s no coincidence that he is struggling to produce.
The interesting thing to note that he is still putting up strong underlying numbers compared to most of the forward on the roster, despite playing in a lesser role.
CF% | GF% | xGF% | HDCF% | |
Adam Ruzicka | 59.43% (4th) | 50% (8th) | 53.94% (4th) | 47.37% (6th) |
(Ruzicka’s stats at 5v5 and ranking among Flames forwards from Dec. 20, 2022-Jan. 18, 2023)
Linemates
Lets take a look at who Ruzicka has had the most success with this season. Ruzicka has played in a few different spots in the lineup at 5 on 5 including stints with Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli, Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman, and on the fourth line with Trevor Lewis.
Line | Ice Time | GF – GA | CF% | xGF% | HDCF% |
63-28-73 | 86:19 | 6-3 | 55.43% | 53.18% | 48.48% |
63-11-20 | 81:13 | 4-2 | 58.90% | 63.08% | 60.00% |
63-22 | 119:19 | 6-5 | 57.21% | 56.24% | 50.00% |
The number would indicate that Ruzicka’s best fit was on a line with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. No surprise there as Backlund is known for elevating his linemates (aka the “Backlund Bump”).
From an eye test perspective, Ruzicka has fit in well on each line he has played on this season. He is obviously not productive from a points perspective on the fourth line, but he is still an efficient player in that role.
Where should he fit in the Flames lineup right now?
Here are the Flames lines as of Jan. 18, 2023 (please don’t read into the positioning of the lines, the Flames currently have three equal lines, or three second lines if you will):
Andrew Mangiapane | Mikael Backlund | Blake Coleman |
Milan Lucic | Nazem Kadri | Jonathan Huberdeau |
Dillon Dube | Elias Lindholm | Tyler Toffoli |
Adam Ruzicka | Trevor Lewis | Walker Duehr |
These are not the most optimal lines for the Flames and Ruzicka. You love what you’re seeing from 88-11-20, so you’re not going to want to break them up.
There is a case to be made to fix up the other three lines.
Here is what I would like to see with who is currently on the Flames roster.
Andrew Mangiapane | Mikael Backlund | Blake Coleman |
Dillon Dube | Nazem Kadri | Jonathan Huberdeau |
Adam Ruzicka | Elias Lindholm | Tyler Toffoli |
Jakob Pelletier | Trevor Lewis | Walker Duehr |
My two cents
The place for Ruzicka to have the most success and for the Flames to get the most out of him is in the top nine on a line with Lindholm and Toffoli. There is clearly some skill and offensive instincts in Ruzicka’s game that can complement Lindholm and Toffoli. He is a very smart player and a decent play maker and finisher. He should not be a fourth line player based off who is on the roster.
Tyler Toffoli scores on a gorgeous shot. Great little play by Ruzicka to get the puck to Lindholm and create the 2 on 1. 4-2 #Flames
All stats are courtesy of Natural Stat Trick
Let’s hear from the people!
Ruzicka is a shooter and would mesh well with a playmaker. Huberdeau has said he’s used to playing with a left shot on his line — Ruzicka is a lefty. Feels like a natural fit.
No idea who I see him with, but I'm shocked that with such a hot start that he found himself on the 4th line playing only a handful of ES minutes each night.
He definitely needs to player higher in the lineup but it won't happen until Lucic is gone. I have to admit I do fantasize about a future 4th line Ruzika - Zahorna - Klapka.
He’s one of our most effective forwards when used properly, easily helped us win a couple of games earlier this year. I’d be willing to go back to Ruzy-Lindy-Toff bc that seemed to have worked for everyone on that line.
I’d love to see him swap places on 2nd line RW. I also feel like he was pretty solid on the top line. Just think he needs some fine tuning to better utilize his size/body down low on the boards; I think he’s really great at protecting the puck and driving the to the net.
I know I’m against the majority here. While I am impressed at how quickly he adjusted and adapted to LW, I am even happier seeing the coaches invest the time into developing him at centre as well. Could be a key centre icemen for years to come. + if an injury occurs this season.
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