A playmaker that doesn’t shoot, an offensive player who can’t play defense and a grinder is an interesting combination of players to form a line with.
Somehow it’s worked. Since they were put together, the unit of Alexander Wennberg, Thomas Vanek, and Boone Jenner has been incredible. They didn’t start out well, but after being called out by John Tortorella on March 8th, they have stepped up their game.
Vanek joined the Blue Jackets at the trade deadline, and in nine games with Columbus, he has a 56.15% Corsi at 5-on-5. For the month, that ranks second on the team behind Wennberg who has a 60.99% Corsi. Jenner is a little further down the list at 51.12%, but that is a significant improvement over the 46.67% he has this season.
They're not just driving play – they're also getting results.
Wennberg has seven points in eight games this month. Jenner has seven in nine, including points in five straight, and Vanek has five points in nine games with all five points coming in his last five games.
This trio has been together for 64:22 at 5-on-5 and when they have been on the ice, they have crushed their opponents; as a line, they have a 61.4% Corsi, they have taken 71.43% of the high-danger chances and have been on the ice for nine goals for and just one against. They have been just as good as the Jackets' top line over this stretch and have given Tortorella two No. 1 lines that he can use for scoring.
So what makes these three misfit type of players work so well together?
First of all, this gives Wennberg two wingers who like to shoot the puck. This season, Jenner has taken 9.03 shots per 60, a similar rate to elite snipers Nikita Kucherov and Phil Kessel. Vanek is 8.13/60 in his time with Vancouver and Columbus which is a similar rate to Johnny Gaudreau. Wennberg has numerous options now when he takes the puck over the blue line.
With Wennberg’s vision, he's going to find the right option more often than not.
Hot teams get bounces like this.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 13, 2018
Folks, the Jackets are hot. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/PA18Q3iJSH
On top of Wennberg’s prolific passing, he has the ability to make the players around him better. He has taken Jenner from a 45.83% Corsi player without him to 51.17% with him. He has taken Vanek from a 45.01% Corsi with Vancouver to a 60.45% Corsi with him in Columbus. Wennberg pushes play, and for two players who struggle defensively, this is huge. Wennberg makes the game simple for his line mates.
Jenner’s game has also simplified playing on this line. He knows his role is to use his size to win board battles and go to the front of the net.
Jenner does fantastic work with his stick and this slap pass from Johnson isn't too shabby either.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/K2K6Uxv8jn
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 15, 2018
This goal is everything from Jenner. He helps along the boards. The Jackets get the puck and he darts right for the net with his stick down and he’s rewarded with a goal. Vanek has the same simplified mindset – he needs to find the open space and the puck will find him.
Thomas The Point Engine ties the game up. He accepts a Jenner feed and has an easy goal in front.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/N481JxJoCw
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 9, 2018
The shot comes, Jenner goes hard to the net, Vanek shakes away the defender gets that little bit of space and boom! A goal.
One of the biggest factors in this line's success has been their deployment (they're sheltered). They have started 33 shifts in the offensive zone and just 12 in the defensive zone, a whopping 73.33% offensive zone start rate. This is something that has really helped Jenner, who's not a very good defensive player...yet early in the season, the Jackets were using him as such. Bringing in Mark Letestu helped with that, as he took those defensive zone starts and allowed Jenner to be put with Wennberg and Vanek.
Artemi Panarin has been the team’s MVP this season and has carried the load offensively, but the Blue Jackets have taken off once they got secondary scoring. This line has shown it can provide offense, and it's been a reason why they're playing their best hockey of the season at the right time.
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick
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