Criticism Building in Toronto

[der meister 3,390]

"It's nice to see Toronto win again, but where is the growth?"

 

That was the line that closed a segment on the Toronto-based Fan590 sports radio about the Legion's winger-turned-center, Konstyantyn Shevchenko. Through 51 games, Shevchenko has 17 goals, 35 assists, and 52 points, along with a +13 plus/minus rating. He has been credited with 64 hits, and has 5 power play goals along with 3 game winners. Even though he's above a point per game pace, it's not hard to see why some are starting to question Shevchenko's future in Toronto.

 

Shevchenko's shooting percentage this season is at 5.4%, a significant drop from last season's 7.9%, which itself was a significant drop from the prior season's 9%. Continuing the pattern, in his rookie season, Shevchenko scored on 10.1% of his shots. 

 

With 21 games remaining, it seems like a safe bet the massive Ukrainian will set a new career high in assists, as he is only 4 shy of the 39 helpers he notched two seasons ago. His special teams production has been steady, with this season's 5 power play goals being the same as he finished with last season and in his rookie year. He is averaging 6.14 shots per game this season, which is improvement over his prior best, last season's 5.58, but unless he goes on a sudden tear, he will fall well short of the 32 goals he potted for the Legion in Season 97. 

 

Small area games are a great practice drill

 

Physically, he's a shell of the player he had been with the D.C. Dragons. In two seasons - 144 games - in D.C., Shevchenko totaled 419 hits. Compare that to his first 123 games for Toronto where he has amassed 149 hits.

 

He has more or less performed well at the faceoff dot, at least, finishing 30 for 45 at the dot in the Legion's most recent game, a 6-1 drubbing of the Los Angeles Stars, though he was below 50% against the Helsinki Titans in the previous game.

 

Perhaps it's simply the case of a team identity of protecting their own end before looking for individual accolades. Toronto's 108 goals allowed is just 1 more than the VHL's best in the Riga Reign, and the Legion's scoring by committee approach has helped them be in the top third of offensive generation, with 165 goals scored. The league leaders in the Titans are at 175.

 

Then there's the elephant in the room, the topic that needs to be explored as delicately as possible. Shevchenko's homeland, the proud, independent nation of Ukraine, has been embroiled in a hostile invasion from Russia for over three years now. Ukraine still stands independent, but what was once an ally in the United States has become a self-serving and at times outright abusive relationship. The current government in the United States is demanding a massive sacrifice from Ukraine in order to continue supporting the nation, in the form of an absurd mineral rights proposal. For a player with as much patriotic pride as Shevchenko - not to mention his family's foundation that helps refugees flee Ukraine - the situation back home is undoubtedly a massive distraction.

 

How this season ends for Shevchenko and Toronto remains to be seen, but one thing that cannot be in doubt is how big his heart is. "The people of Toronto have been so supportive of me," Shevchenko said after a weekend practice. "They know about the situation my country is in, and even when people stop me in the street or at the grocery store, they express their solidarity to Ukraine. I want to do everything in my power to bring a championship to Toronto as a thank you. It would be for them, the city's championship, not mine. Slava Ukraini!"

 

Never forget what you're fighting for