Base Getzlaf Review
Blah blah intro stuff, let's review.
Line: Perry-Getzlaf-Parise
Skating 7.5/10 Getzlaf is a power forward and his skating reflects that, he doesn't have great speed and his agility is also pretty average. Where he is strong, however, is his ability to stay on his feet, his balance and strength makes him a great option to hold the puck in-zone, but don't expect him to start a play on the rush with his skating.
Shooting 8/10 Getzlaf is much more of a playmaker than a sniper, while he has great power behind both his slapshot and wristshot, his accuracy is somewhat lacking, he can pick corners occasionally, but don't let him be your go to shooter when you need a goal. I find that his slapshot and wristshot are both good options, just pick when to use it accordingly like you would with any other player, i.e. don't rip slapshots in the slot.
Hands 9.5/10 Getzlaf's greatest offensive asset is his hands, and he has great ones for someone that is 6'4. He dekes very smoothly, while he may not throw moves out the quickest, I find that he has very good puck control and does not lose the puck often. What separates his hands from a lot of other players is his passing ability. I find that he is very good at finding the open man with a pass even if there are many opponents in his path, a unique skill for a big player to have.
Checking 9/10 Getzlaf can use his big body to crush other players, on the forecheck he can effectively force turnovers and in the defensive zone he can bump players off the puck even when they are protecting it. He doesn't get blown up easily, but anyone is susceptible to getting knocked off the puck by Chara or Buff.
Defense 9/10 Getzlaf has some underrated defensive skills that make him a fairly complete center. He has good face-offs, bolstered by the fact that he has high strength he can win tie-ups and much the opposing center off the puck fairly easily opening the lane for your winger to pick up the puck. His stick checking and defensive positioning are both good, allowing him to create turnovers and intercept passes fairly often, and as discussed before, his checking brings another dimension to his game.
Overall... Getzlaf is a unique player in this game, not usually does a big man have hands like he does, he is a prototypical PWF with the playmaking ability akin to a Backstrom, Datsyuk, Kane, etc., and also has a strong defensive game to boot. He is versatile and can play on any line fairly effectively and still produce. For 100k he is maybe the best option at center you can have, besides maybe Lindros, I would recommend you give him a whirl for that price.
Prior Reviews:
Posted Jul 15, 2016, 3:39 PM UTC