Why is Fabian Zetterlund on the Fourth Line?

One week ago, Fabian Zetterlund was added to the Ottawa Senators in a last second deadline deal. While some (myself included) did not believe the Senators could add much more than a rental, Steve Staios proved the doubters wrong (myself included) with his big deadline day. The Norris for Cozens deal was quite the swap, but adding Zetterlund was a huge deal as well. Zetterlund is just 25 years old after all, and is set to become an RFA, not UFA, at the end of the season. So, how have things gone so far for Zetterlund? Well, he’s been limited to fourth line minutes, playing an average of just under 10 minutes per game in his first three games. Why the limited role? Let’s dive into the details on the matter!

READ MORE: Getting to Know Dylan Cozens

Zetterlund’s Role With San Jose

Here is where Zetterlund ranked in key categories this season among San Jose forwards at the time that he was dealt:

• Goals: 3rd (17)
• Assists: tied 6th (19)
• Points: 5th (36)
• Time on Ice Per Game: 5th (16:59)
• Power Play Time on Ice Per Game: 6th (1:52)

Put it altogether and it was clear that Zetterlund was used as a second line player, and his production matched his role. Let’s face it, though, Zetterlund was also playing for the worst team in hockey, so seeing a decrease in role upon joining a better team should not be a shock.

Amadio and Perron’s Impressive Play

In order for  Zetterlund to play more, someone would have to be bumped down the lineup. The two most likely candidates? Michael Amadio and David Perron. Here’s the problem- both Amadio and Perron are playing their best hockey of the season right now. Here are the numbers to back that up:

• Amadio’s last 14 games: 6 goals, 9 points
• Perron’s last 13 games: 4 goals, 8 points  

They both rank among the Senators top five forwards in points during their great stretches of play. As mentioned in last night’s recap, both the second and third lines have looked really good recently, thanks in part to the contributions of these two guys. Prior to these hot stretches, both players struggled mightily to produce points. Had Zetterlund arrived during their struggles, perhaps he would’ve been put into a more important role quicker. That’s not the case now, though.

Travis Green’s Approach

Much has been made of Travis Hamonic’s role this season. Not only has he played the majority of games, he’s been asked to play in the Senators top four at times when they’ve dealt with injuries. This of course, has left some of the fanbase frustrated. Inevitably, it’s not Hamonic’s fault, nor is it all that uncommon for a head coach to give veterans the first chance at extended ice-time. That’s essentially what Green is doing right now with the likes of Amadio and Perron. Fabian Zetterlund is the new guy, and he’s being asked to earn his minutes. Is Zetterlund a better offensive player right now than Amadio? Most likely yes. Does he offer more in the way of speed compared to Perron? Undoubtedly, yes.

Travis Green doesn’t know the ins and outs of Zetterlund’s game yet, though. He’s seen Amadio and Perron play their best hockey of the season in the lead-up to the trade deadline. Both of those players have continued to produce post-deadline. It would be a tough blow to their confidence to have their head coach push them down the lineup immediately, while they’re playing their best hockey, because a new player has arrived. In due time, Zetterlund will more than likely see an increase in minutes. He’ll have to earn that, though, and there’s nothing wrong with that approach.